Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC ask, Will St. Ann Intergenerational Center be liken to the 30 pieces of silver? PART II

March 31, 2014

City Center Milwaukee | Part II - Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC asks, Will St. Ann Intergenerational Center be liken to the 30 pieces of silver?

Read this blog and listen to the VIDEO at the end of the ZONING, NEIGHBORHOOD & DEVELOPMENT Committee.

Sisters of Assisi
Sisters of Assisi lack of Due Diligence in oversight of Sister Edna Lonergan, board of St. Ann Center, St. Francis, Wisconsin, staff and partners (i.e., Tim Sullivan, Bucyrus-CG Schmidt-Zimmerman-Bow Partners) of the proposed "St. Ann Center for the Amani Neighborhood pilot" is now oozing out in:

• Failed "vetting" of St. Ann Center project - by Amanians in the Amani neighborhood.
• Failed African American "fingerprint".
• Failed from-the-jump "packaging" partnerships after vetting by Amanian.
• Pre-mature and flawed negotiation with DCD Commissioner Rocky Marcoux and staff.
• Pre-mature and flawed negotiation with ex-Alderman Willie Hines, 15th District.
• Pre-mature and flawed "whole-hearted support" by Supervisor David Bowen 10th district.
• Pre-mature and flawed "confirmation" of the Zoning, Neighborhood & Development Committee.
• Pre-mature and flawed "OK" of 15 member (13 ayes - 1 against, 1 absent).
• Pre-mature and flawed "OK" by mayor Tom Barrett.
• Failed to remember the Golden Rule.
• Creating "racial" tension.
• Creating "religion" tension.

March 6, 2013 - Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development

Enlarge - CLICK photo

Part II examines the Zoning, Neighborhood & Development hearing on March 6, 2013 and the common council committee lack of fudiciary responsibility to Amanians, contiguous neighborhoods, jobs earmark, business development, past mistakes (Boldt & Irgens), urban design, land, space allocation 3x the need, and city of Milwaukee returns in its coffers.  

NO documentation of claimed "support by Amanians and contiguous neighbors who will ante up the 100% public payment St. Ann Center plans to receive through Medicare and Medicaid.

Speakers: 

• Vanessa Koster, Department of City Development 
• Janet Grau, Department of City Development
• Matt Haessly, Department of City Development
• ex-Ald. Willie Hines, Jr., Common Council President and 15th Aldermanic District
• Mary Schanning, Assistant City Attorney
• Andy Wiegman, Bow Street Partners Doug Barnes, Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc. Sister Edna Lonergan, St. Ann Center President Individuals appearing in support: Nancy De La Torre, St. Ann Center Joyce Davis, St. Ann Center Sally Paltz, Neighborhood Improvement Development Corp

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Board of Zoning Confirmation

Listen closely to the first item on the Agenda, especially regarding criteria and admin consideration for decision making for due diligence.  Alderman Bohl spoke of compliance with law - U.S.-state and local.  

"Since Alderman Bohl asked the question and it has some relationship to their job - I question the timing and set-up of Bohls."  

"I find Henry Szymanski to be telling of his commitment (His statement about the importance to honor the people.  The body of work in-front of them)  and not necessary the same for those of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development," said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC.  His statement about the importance to honor the people.  The body of work in-front of them. 

Henry Szymanski was confirmed for Zoning and Appeal.

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L- R:  ex-Alderman Willie Hines, Alderman Michael Murphy
 Top Down:  Alderman Jim Bohls, Chair, Alderman Willie Wade, V. Chair, Alderman Bob Bauman, Alderman Terry Witkowski

The meeting commenced with 3 of the 5 members present - Alderman Bohls - Chair, Alderman Witkowski and Alderman Bauman - Alderman Wade - Vice Chair and Alderman Murphy to come).

This decision is on the heels of the electe-appointed-hired fiasco of 19 years of over-the-top failure of Boldt & Irgens Development with annual rent payments by the city of over $200,000 with mega bucks and taxes (TID 21) thrown to the wind; while Amanians and contiguous neighbors were fleeced of jobs and business opportunities.

Testifying first - DCD Staff, Matthew Haessly, Vanessa Koster and Janet Grau.

Grant Langley - Milwaukee City Attorney
By City Charter, the Office of the City Attorney handles City litigation, provides legal advice and opinions, prepares and reviews City resolutions and ordinances, drafts contracts and other legal documents, and prosecutes violations of City ordinances in Municipal Court.

Mary Schanning, Assistant City Attorney office prepared the Fair Share Payment Agreement - $1,929.75 ($1,629.75 for city services and $300 to BID 32).

L-R:  Damon Dorsey & Jacqueline Ward
BID #32

BID #32 was formed illegally by Damon Dorsey.  Rhonda Manuel and Rocky Marcoux were apprised more than once - correspondence and face-to-face meeting.

Mayor Barrett signed off and failed to respond to Mary Glass inquiries, documentation and notices regarding state statute violation.

Jacqueline Ward, Executive Director of BID #32 has been "in-hiding" and failing to respond to invitation, engagement of businesses and returning calls.

Common Council Zoning, Neighborhood & Development Committee 
The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee reviews issues relating to city development, zoning, historic preservation, incremental tax financing, building codes and housing projects.

Listen to the Zoning, Neighborhood & Development committee (Alderman Jim Bohls - Chair, ex-Alderman Willie Hines 15th District, Alderman Terry Witkowski, Alderman Willie Wade and Alderman Bob Bauman) comments, personal biases and laughter.

Notice the bias, far-reaching spin and unrelated personal references given by Alderman Bohls,  Alderman Wade and ex-Alderman Hines to sway the other members and audience. 

With these aldermen tunnel-thinking, no wonder the Amani and other city center lack economic development and quality of life opportunities for the census tract stakeholders/taxpayers.

Notice repeated to-the-point fiduciary comments and inquires were given by Alderman Bauman - with lack of convincing response from the speakers - DCD, St. Ann partners, Sister Edna and ex-Alderman Hines.

Notice ex-Alderman Willie Hines academy award performance of his family being the first African American family in the Park West D/Fond du Lac Avenue freeway fiasco and his representation of the area south that Alderman Bauman mentioned.  

His 40 years in the wilderness of the Park West D/Fond du Lac Urban Renewal Project area when NO ONE CAME (he was part of the problem for almost 20 years of the 40 - Yes. We came.  You blocked.  You would not return calls.  Hines's lemon to lemonade and WinWin for ALL scenarios were an insult to Amanians and the 15 district.

ex-alderman Willie Hines & Common Council President

Listen to ex-Alderman Hines tell-all statements of:  

"What we wanted to do - We wanted it to fit.  That was the essence of the design."

Who wanted?  Who are the "WE" - not Amanians, his constituents.  He was shooting from the hip as usual and exercising un-authorized proxy for Amanians - No can do.  That's disenfranchisement.  That's exploitation.  That's grounds for removal - Oh yeah.  He is gone from office isn't he?

Ex-Alderman Hines responded with rhetoric and hyperbole.  At NO TIME did he mention the townhall meetings, specific individuals, specific businesses and signed petitions of Amanians and contiguous stakeholders giving support.  Or, his office guidance for partnerships to support INFRASTRUCTURE growth.

Amanians were the folk who agreed in the first place to support the ASK by the city and ex-Alderman Fred Gordan; and was promised jobs and business development (neighborhood businesses and light industrial).  To the people's CHAGRIN, their elected-appointed-hired representatives RENEGED and SOLD-THEM-OUT.

Rocky Marcous - Commissioner, Department of City Development

Listen closely to Koster and Haessley of DCD defend St. Ann's project.

Janet Grau - DCD

Listen to Janet Grau giving testimony for changing the previous USE amendment for the land use.  She identified the development as the St. Ann's campus - Not Bucyrus Campus.  BAIT-N-SWITCH.

Grau referenced the Fond du Lac Comprehensive Plan that was commandeered by her, fellow DCD colleagues, hired consultants and city-state neighborhood gatekeepers with self-only interest in the Amani Neighborhood.

"I know because Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, was there calling for the Amanians interest, just as now.  CNI/Fondy North Business Association (ran by Glass) was there, though left out of the names of engagers and as the consultant for the Amani Neighborhood Strategic plan, lead Amani representative for the Fond du Lac Restoration Corridor Plan, hired consultant of WI Transportation (145) for Fond du Lac Restoration Plan and co-producer of Jazz & Blues @ Johnson Park for 4 years (partner was Bobbie's Auto Service &Towing)."

Listen to outsiders, speakers - Andy Wiegman, Bow Street Partners, Doug Zimmerman, St. Ann's board member and architect of project, Nancy De La Torre and Joyce Davis of St. Ann with promised positions (African American women), Sally Peltz, Legacy Development Corporation (survivor of Legacy Bank, its financial structure, connections and African American validation).    Newcomer Sally Peltz, with connections with Irgens bought Phase II (Family Dollar, Talgris and Lutheran school).

Funding of St. Ann's Center

In addition to the $1.00 for 7.5 acres, $1, 600 pilot city services and $300 for BID #32, less than $2,000 annually.

There is the boast that St. Ann did not ask for a dime from the city is insulting to the thinking person.  The mega gift and framework afforded by the citizenry government structure certifies additional grant funding.

The deep-pocket funding is based on the backs of Amanians and contiguous neighborhoods. According to Wiegman - Bow Partners (consultant of St. Ann), answer to Alderman Murphy, subsidized funding is 100% public funding.

For the five targeted groups - children, education, aging, disabled and alzheimers; 100% public funding, St. Ann plans to clean up billing Medicare and Medicaid.  It includes:

• senior center
• maybe band shell
• recreation
• education
• after-school 
• health care
• day care
• respite
• senior day care
• alzheimer

Sister Edna Lonergan sweeping statements of $52.72 analogy - "how African Americans do not have this and that".  Her push is to seize the wealth of land, children and aging using loopholes for Affordable Health Care funding  for St. Ann's Center. 

Her plans if allowed to go forward by the People, will cause GENTRIFICATION.
It will open the door to widespread and seized monopoly-oligopoly resolutions and laws.  No can do.

She will put present and long-term Bethesda Senior Center, the day cares in the area, other health care and viable businesses that address before and after-school at risk.  

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Sisters of Assisi has failed community relations 101 and Pre-primer RESPECT.

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St. Ann's dream is not, the people of Amani dream.

It is seen as another Caucasian entity coming in to raid funds brought on the backs of African Americans and People of Color.  It is getting prime property-land and other amenties that are seen as greed and exploitation.  Land that has been denied them, the taxpayers and stakeholders.

Since DCD, RACM, ex-Alderman Hines and others failed to follow the rules, the People, have a problem that must be REVISTED before St. Ann and friends dig one hole.  

Sister Lonergan speaks of, "warmly welcoming of the African Americans the last 2 years". Who were they?  Who are they?  Who has she spoken to in Amani and gotten support?  Who has ex-alderman Hines spoken to in Amani and gotten documented support?

"I was very pleased that Alderman Bauman provided sanity, transparency, best practices and realism after Sister Lonergan's statements.  He stopped short of remembering and mentioning the investments of the stakeholders/taxpayers/ Amanians as the original conveyors who were left-out and about to be again,"said, Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC.

Bauman encapulated the following points:

•  he was not in favor of and did not feel so pessimistic about the area
•  things are so bad and hopeless, we will accept anything
• sell-give away 7.5 acres for $1.00
• 1/3 of space needed 
• lack urban style (normal deal breaker)
• $1,600 pilot city service and $300 BID #32 payment

Alderman Terry Witkowski said little to nothing - automatic approval of Board Zoning candidate at the beginning.

Alderman Michael Murphy's head is down most of the time and ask one or two (same) question - subsidy of child care and adult care; and, pilot assessment.

Notice: 

Did you hear anything about Bucyrus in the Zoning, Redevelopment meeting?

Bait-n-Switch.  Did you hear Pastor Harvey of Parklawn bought the rights to a proposed band shell?  Bait-n-Switch.  Did you hear or see Next Door Foundation running the child care?  Bait-n-Switch.   Did you hear repeatedly Alderman Bauman asked about space needed and space asked - need approximately 2 acres ask and got 7.5 acres.  Bait-n-Switch.

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Department of City Development

No Records
Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC requested the Minutes of the February 18, 2013  City Planning Committe in DCD - request through public information request (shared with Janet Grau - shared deadline timeframe).

Janet Grau forwarded to Lynn Schiller; Schiller back to Grau and noting Jeannie Laskowski (Grau's DCD colleagues), on March 27, 2014 - forwarded back and forth as of Monday, March 31, 2014 - Laskowski was out Friday (no Minutes)  out Monday, March 31, 2014, and email from Grau said maybe by this weekend (a week later), I might get the Minutes.   

You go figure.
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Pay close attention to the generous city amenities allowed through members of DCD, RACM, City Attorney's office; and, of course the committee representing the people.

Pay close attention to see if either one of the three (3) DCD speakers speak of the body of their work coming from surveys of the constituents - if they took the time to document and/or interview individuals in the tax structure and long-waiting list for inclusion and change in Amani.  Or, would you say the staging was in place?  DCD and company had decided by "proxy" to PUSH THIS THROUGH - everyone in "lock-step".

Pay close attention to the amendment by Janet Grau - DCD - approval of use.

Pay close attention to Vanessa Koster's comments of "dismissing the IRGENS & BOLDT industrial use - "no longer needed", therefore, recommend it is rescinded.  Koster speaks of "several people testified support on February 18, 2013" and "City Planning Commission enthusiastically recommended passage"  - What several people?  Were they Amanians?  Were they African Americans not on the take?  Where they original conveyors? 

Listen to Hines and Wade who were/are part of the problem.

CLICK - VIDEO

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2014 - Zoning, Neighborhood & Development Committee

• Ald. James Bohl, Chair
• Ald. Jose Perez, Vice Chair
• Ald. Willie C. Wade
• Ald. Robert J. Bauman
• Ald. Nik Kovac

Staff Assistant: Chris Lee

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CLICK  - PART III

Comments should be sent to:
mpapublicpolicyreview@gmail.com

Updated April 1, 2014