Let your voice be heard at the City Plan Commission by Sura, January 21

+++ Update+++

This has been taken off the table until the community has more of an opportunity to voice concerns. Thank you Alder Zielinski!

There is a meeting at the City Plan Commission on Monday to create legislation to regulate murals. If this passes, any future Art in the Alleys project will become prohibitively expensive (all work and paint was donated).

Homeowners – Do you want to pay an extra fee (tax) on art murals on your garages?

Artists – Do you want your art censored and hindered by government?

Allies – Do you want city bureaucrats deciding what your neighborhood should look like and what tools you should use to beautify your alleys?

Let your voice be heard at the City Plan Commission!

If you can’t make the meeting, please write a letter to your Alder and the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee members (below).

City Plan Commission
January 26, 2009
1:30 PM
809 N. Broadway, 1st Floor Boardroom
Zoning – Public Hearing – 1:30 PM
Continue reading ‘Let your voice be heard at the City Plan Commission’

21 Jan 2009 | 1:13 pm | Art | No comments yet - Add your comments

New Mural ordinance would penalize Art by Sura, January 12

Check out these alleys, vibrant with murals. and this interview with Julie Ferris of the City’s “Insight Milwaukee.”

And Thanks to Sarah Dollhausen of True Skool for bringing the details to my attention:

There is currently an ordinance being proposed by Alderman Zilenski (District 14) and Alderman Witkowiak (District 12) that if passed, would make it very difficult to paint a mural in Milwaukee.

This mural ordinance will make it illegal to have murals facing alleys…this means that the Art in the Alleys project will be considerably affected. No murals facing an alley will be allowed. Also, existing murals facing alleys will have to get permits and pay fines within 90 days if this ordinance passes.

This ordinance is illegal! It goes against our First Amendment Right in the Constitution of Free Speech. This City of Milwaukee has more pressing issues to contend with such as teenage pregnancy rates, segregation, police brutality, and the list goes on than to create another fee that citizens have to pay to beautify our communities. We do NOT need another ordinance for painted murals.

This ordinance calls for the City of Milwaukee to regulate the size, location, amount of, and content of a painted mural in public view. These Alderman want to create a permit process and regulations for painted murals which would include a $100 permit fee and approval process and an annual $75 inspection fee. Continue reading ‘New Mural ordinance would penalize Art’

12 Jan 2009 | 10:15 am | Art, Representation | No comments yet - Add your comments

Israel is using cluster bombs in Gaza by Sura, January 9

From media reports, it appears that Israel is indeed using clusterbombs in Gaza. These are probably bombs made right here in the Milwaukee area.

You can check these posts for more information and pictures:

Haaretz
Think Progress
ClipMarks

9 Jan 2009 | 10:43 pm | Uncategorized | No comments yet - Add your comments

Cluster Bombs in Milwaukee? by Sura, January 8

We are distant and removed from war. Or are we?

Recently I found out that a Milwaukee area firm makes cluster bombs, and several weeks back they received their biggest order ever. Spincraft supplies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

We cannot wipe our hands clean from the atrocities our country commits, giving weapons of mass destruction to Israel to use in their genocide on the Palestinian people.

This is an opportunity for local organizers and local media to bring this war home. Who is bold enough to grab it?

8 Jan 2009 | 12:00 pm | Uncategorized | No comments yet - Add your comments

Gaza by Sura, January 6

I usually stick to local issues, but what’s happening in Gaza right now cannot be ignored.

One can argue the ins and outs of politics, but the world is watching as Israel commits genocide on the Palestinian people.

There is no excuse for bombing an unarmed civilian population. There is no excuse for blockading humanitarian aid.

There is no excuse for bulldozing people’s homes. There is no excuse for murdering civilians, or Americans and other nationals who come to help:

This has been going on for years (not days or centuries).

I stand with the people of Gaza, with the people of the West Bank, with Palestinians everywhere who want justice for their people.

I stand against Zionism that justifies genocide in the name of God.

6 Jan 2009 | 3:53 pm | Uncategorized | No comments yet - Add your comments