The Barrett Report

Part of the Mayor's Barrett Report had this in it:

Let’s Split the $91.5 million in Transit Money

Right now, the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, the Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce and the Wisconsin Center District are exploring ways to finally utilize $91.5 million in long-idle federal money to enhance and upgrade transportation in our community.

County Executive Scott Walker and I have different views on how to spend this money. Scott thinks all of the money should be used for new buses. I believe we should invest in buses; but we should also seize this opportunity to introduce rail transit to Milwaukee. That’s because all across the country, cities of all types and sizes in every region are reaping the enormous economic benefits created by rail systems.

We have been debating how to use this federal money for far too long, with little to show for it. It is time to break the stalemate. I am prepared today to split the $91.5 million with County Executive Walker.

A split would provide the County with money to purchase new buses, and the remaining dollars would be used to fund a starter system that would introduce rail to Milwaukee. Virtually every major American city that is growing features this technology in its transportation system, and rail can do for Milwaukee what it has done for cities across America: spark billions of dollars of economic growth and development.

No doubt, the County Executive and I have different views on transit. But we must end the paralysis and move this community forward. It’s time for Scott and I to simply agree to disagree, split the $91.5 million and invest our respective shares as we each see fit.

Let’s end the stalemate; let’s split the $91.5 million. I am prepared to accept this deal today. If you agree this is a fair and reasonable compromise, e-mail me and County Executive Walker and tell us it’s time to split the money and finally move forward: countyexec@milwcnty.com.

The air must be thinner up where Tom's head is. I can find no other reason for him to continue to pursue this idiotic idea. But more to what he said. First, it's packed full of lies. "Virtually every major city . . . "? Not true. Only a handful are. "Spark BILLIONS of dollars of economic growth"? Where did THAT figure come from. Billions?

Then, of course, he wants us to believe that HE'S being the reasonable one here. HA! Walker knows better. He knows NO ONE wants an ancient means of transportation that continues to die a slow death back as a means of sucking money out of our pockets. Put it to a referendum, Mayor, I dare you. I double dog dare you!

So, email Scott Walker. Please. And tell him to tell Barrett where he can stick his rail.