A fellow Rotarian called to say he had read my first Milwaukee Biz Blog (Act I). He wanted to know, "What is the action to follow-up on? What do you recommend, Ted?”
Well, here’s the script for "Act II – The 10 Scenes To Be Seen!"
- Consider a Metro Government for our Great Milwaukee area, like Indianapolis, Louisville, Austin, etc. etc. Sheldon Lubar was right on about this.
- Develop a real Milwaukee Public Schools career planning system for students, parents and teachers. Focus on real skills, real jobs, real income, etc., with PBS 10-36 Public TV.
- Develop an economic asset plan for the lakefront – The port, the harbor, the rivers. Develop a metro plan like Buffalo, N.Y.; Racine; Sheboygan; Moline, Ill., etc.
- Rebuild our economic tax base – Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Population growth. Skills! Skills! Skills! Use Bradley Tech and the Milwaukee Area Technical College.
- Leverage assets like the Medical College Campus, the insurance industry, the printing industry, manufacturing and waer.
- Develop an honest, logical, practical, logistical transportation plan. Roads, buses (multiple sizes), epressways, rail (for people and products), water, airport and parking.
- Develop a triangle/pyramid plan for Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison, linking education, environment, entertainment and transportation assets.
- Develop State Fair Park in West Allis. Maximize the space, the buildings, the Circus Parade, the Clown Hall of Fame and the Exposition Center.
- Redevelop Grand Avenue for a "Grander" Avenue, a mall with a reopened Grand Theater, a Kohl’s store and a shopping center for residents, visitors and conventioneers.
- Create arts, culture and sports entertainment districts. Leverage assets, space, buildings, staff, marketing and fund development. Utilize Miller Park year-round!
Act II Ends.
Act III pending – Spell it out:
M any cultures, customs, cuisine!
I nspired – interesting sites & sounds
L ake Michigan – World’s fresh water and fish!
W ater – Three rivers, drink and play.
A ttractions! Market them!
U rban Living at its best!
K knowledge, schools, skills, college.
E xcitement! Get it! Make it happen!
E ffort! Work at it together! (Business, government, public/private sectors.)
W inter – snow and water.
I ndustry – investment.
S ausage!
C heese!
O pportunities!
N ite Life – North Life!
S ports – Spectator and participatory!
I nvestment $
N orth, but still in Midwest – Mid America!
The end or the beginning? 1846-2008-2058? Let’s act like we want to leave a Great Milwaukee/Great Lake legacy for our children and grandchildren to enjoy Grand Avenue and all the great aspects of Milwaukee, southeastern Wisconsin and Wisconsin.
Ted Hutton is community activist and a retired executive of Allen-Bradley Co. and Rockwell Automation Inc. in Milwaukee.
