I love it when a plan comes together. The gang at Gop3 whack the Journtinel’s attempt to do some fishing for a hit piece on Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. First, the initial cast by the Journtinel:
Have county transit changes affected you?
How have you been affected by Milwaukee County Transit System fare increases and service cuts? Please contact Journal Sentinel reporter Larry Sandler at lsandler@journalsentinel.com to let him know, and please include your name and a telephone number where you can be reached.
Next, the definitive answer that won’t be published from Brian Collar:
Larry,
As a student of Marquette I’ve been affected by the bus transit situation. It costs more and more to go to Marquette because the property taxes that landowners have to pay to work and live in Milwaukee that finance an ineffective and costly bus transit situation mean that I can’t have a car without hefty parking fees, whether for Marquette sponsored parking or for landlord sponsored parking. The fact that city and state leaders, with the notable exception of County Executive Scott Walker, keep relying on out-dated systems of transportation means that more money drive (sorry, bad pun intended) less efficient modes of transportation as politicians try to decide for us how to run our lives. Fewer taxes in Milwaukee (and Wisconsin, for that matter) means more opportunity for business and landowners to invest and compete in the near-Marquette community which could provide the very opportunities for less costly parking options that employment-opportunities seeking students like myself need.
I’m sure this won’t make the story your editors were asking for but I thought you might appreciate some input.
Thanks,
Brian Collar
It’s a good thing Scott Walker doesn’t have a birthday tomorrow; next thing you know, the local sorry excuse for a paintcatcher would take a cue from the Gray Lady and say Walker’s too young to be county exec.
Oh, and what’s affecting me is having to pay an outrageous gas tax so that those too lazy to own a car don’t have to feel the full effects of a 50% increase in the cost of fuel (closer to 100% if one uses diesel, like MCTS).
Hey Brian Collar you hit the nail on the head. Public transportation is inefficient and outdated. Every day I watch the # 55 bus travel down South Lake Shore Drive empty. Here’s just one example of what Milwaukee County should be doing. A few weeks ago Ford announced the purchse of the “THINK”. It’s a 10 foot long electric car made in Norway.
It will be equipped with Glendale Wisconsin’s Johnson Control’s lithium-ion batteries. It will have a range of 50 plus real world miles on charge, even at zero degrees. Top speed 55 mph. Also in a few years GM will have a similar electric called the “Volt”.
Milwaukee County could use the funds wasted on running empty buses and to help stimulate the purchase or lease of the new “electric city cars”.
The benefits are many.
1. Convenient independent transportation for the thousands of people that now have to freeze waiting for a bus in the winter time.
2. Assist a local company in selling lithium batteries.
3. Help the enviornment by eliminating the “enpty buses”
4. Help our domestic automobile industry.
County Executive Scott Walker said well.
The citizens of Milwaukee County want to improve their lot in life, not ride a bus forever. When they do, they buy a car so they to can enjoy the convenience of having their own transportation.
This is the kind of thinking we need in this town.