What does the FBI have to do with reconciliation? by Sura, August 25

I received a call from the FBI today (yes, it really was the FBI, verified by caller ID and checking the FBI number).

The agent told me that he got my name from someone in an environmentalist group as a person who is knowledgeable about the environmental movement and development in Riverwest.  He alleged he wanted to speak to me in order to help reconcile the two groups.

I asked him what he was talking about and he responded that he just told me.  I asked who gave him my name and he refused to tell me, stating it was requested that he keep it confidential. I asked again for a specific reason he was calling.

Multiple times he said, “If you don’t want to talk to me…” and I said, I’m happy to talk to you if you ask me a specific question and can be honest about why you’re calling. and then he’d say again, “I told you why.”

So I told him, Look, I don’t believe what you’re telling me. First, everyone knows that I’m active on development and environmental issues in this neighborhood. This is no secret. I’m very public, so there would be no reason for anyone to request anonymity. Second, the FBI doesn’t work on reconciliation (this is something he brought up at least 2-3 times).

I told him that if they are calling me because I have posted publicly that we need a radical environmental organization in this city, he should look up what radical means–it means going to the roots.

I asked him to give me one example of the FBI working on reconciling these two groups ANYWHERE. and his response was that the FBI sometimes protects protesters. Poor guy. I had to inform him that this is not reconciliation.

After we hung up, I posted this on Facebook.

Then, someone posted a link to a booklet called “Operation Backfire: a Survival Guide for Environmental and Animal Rights Activists” which is put out by the National Lawyers Guild on my facebook wall.  (if you can’t open that, you can see it here)
It starts out, “In 2004, several separate FBI investigations into the animal rights and environmental movements were combined into Major Case #220, also called Operation Backfire. Shortly after, the FBI’s top official in charge of domestic terrorism announced that ‘The No. 1 domestic terrorism threat is the eco-terrorism, animal-rights movement.’”

The link was removed w/in 2 minutes. Are they monitoring my facebook page? my phone? my email? I don’t know. I reposted the link myself, so if you are a facebook friend, you can view it.

I am concerned that this kind of harassment and intimidation is going to be a challenge for future environmentalists in Milwaukee. As more and more activists work to protect our resources, corporations will be working to take them away, and take the activists down. What easier way than to delegitimize the movement?

If you hear anyone else who has been contacted,  have any ideas about what inspired the FBI would be contacting me, I’d love to know.

I realize it’s possible that this isn’t related to development in Riverwest, but has to do with something else I’m active on (Israel/Palestine, water, etc…).

In any case this kind of non-transparent intimidation is scary and creepy, even knowing that I have done nothing against the law,  I understand that this might not matter at all.

I hope this is the end of it.

25 Aug 2009 | 3:36 pm | Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, Uncategorized, Water | No comments yet - Add your comments

Letter to CPC re: UWM Dorm Development on the River by Sura, December 8

Dear City Plan Commissioners,

I am objecting to the proposal to build a new UWM dorm on the Milwaukee River. I’m asking you to consider the consequences of this project, and take the long view.

I’m not sure why each of you are on the CPC—perhaps it’s because you truly want to see better development in this city, and give a voice to citizen perspective, or maybe it’s just to put another notch in your resume belt.

Right now, you have an extraordinary opportunity. You can rubber stamp this project and let it go the way of another “done deal,” or you can be heroes, and change the tide of what is surely coming upon us—the development of all of the Milwaukee River, north of North Ave.

Please be clear. Neighborhood leaders who have been meeting over the last several months on UWM and river issues do not want this development. The UWM dorms as proposed:

- Are too big, doubling the population of Riverside Park neighborhood without addressing infrastructure needs.
- Are environmentally shameful. High-density developments should never abut a primary environmental corridor.
- Open up development of all of the Milwaukee River at a time we are working to protect it.
- Don’t meaningfully address resident concerns.
- Add more dorm density to North Ave. Three dorms is too many.
- Add more dorm density to the Milwaukee River for a total of almost 1200 students.
- Use public funds in the form of bonds to help finance it.

Continue reading ‘Letter to CPC re: UWM Dorm Development on the River’

8 Dec 2008 | 2:04 pm | Development, Environmental Sustainability, UWM, Water | No comments yet - Add your comments

Developers-112, Milwaukee River-O: Hometown site is chosen. by Sura, October 1

The preliminary score is in. Yet one more development in a string of them along our river, moving north despite city promises that development would end at North Avenue.

In a move that has all the looks of a “done deal,” UWM has selected the Hometown site along the Milwaukee River as their next UWM dorm location.

The development, owned by Mandel, has the kiss of blessing from the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG) and Alder Nik Kovac, who told me just minutes ago that he hopes to support this project.

Continue reading ‘Developers-112, Milwaukee River-O: Hometown site is chosen.’

1 Oct 2008 | 2:40 pm | 3rd District, Development, UWM, Water | No comments yet - Add your comments

Rebuttal to MRWG’s support for more high-density development on the river by Sura, October 1

This is a response to both Ann Brummitt’s email (you can follow the thread below) and the letter that she sent out on behalf of the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG). I apologize for the length and I’ve tried to bulletpoint and highlight the basics, so you can do a quick skim if you don’t have time to read the whole thing.If you are opposed to unsustainable, high-density development along the Milwaukee River, please call (286.3447) or email Alder Nik Kovac (nkovac@milwaukee.gov) a.s.a.p. If you’ve already made your call, thank you.

Starting out with the tiresome disclaimers that anyone who is vocally opposed to this development has to parade out:

A. I am not anti-student. All the students who worked on my campaign, the students who ask me to speak on their panels, the students who ask for my endorsement for their projects or most importantly, the students who are also opposed to developing more dorms on the river will attest to this fact.
Continue reading ‘Rebuttal to MRWG’s support for more high-density development on the river’

1 Oct 2008 | 9:09 am | Development, Environmental Sustainability, UWM, Water | No comments yet - Add your comments

The Controversial Letter from the Milwaukee River Work Group by Sura, September 30

From: Ann Brummitt
Date: Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Subject: Hometown Dorm proposal

September 25, 2008

Alderman Nic Kovac:

The Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG) would like to express its appreciation to you for hosting the public hearing on September 3, 2008 regarding the proposal for a UWM dormitory at the intersection of the Milwaukee River and North Avenue.
Continue reading ‘The Controversial Letter from the Milwaukee River Work Group’

30 Sep 2008 | 8:48 am | Development, Environmental Sustainability, Green Spaces, UWM, Water | Read 1 comment - Add your comments

The Milwaukee River Work Group Does Not Speak for Me by Sura, September 24

On Sept 5th, after an anesthetizing presentation by Mandel (the first question didn’t come until 1 hour and 40 minutes into the presentation) on a proposal to build a 700-bed dorm on the Milwaukee River, the Milwaukee River Work Group’s PR person, Jeff Fleming, helped draft a letter to Alder Nik Kovac praising the development.

Despite the fact that there are 3 proposed locations under consideration for dorms, the letter is in glowing praise of this high-density development on the river. This draft was sent out by Ann Brummitt, the coordinator of the group to her email list which includes Mandel and other developers, DCD and UWM reps.

In that letter, the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG) claims that Mandel “embraces both the public interest and the goals of our organization.” What?! It dismisses the concerns of many neighbors and environmentalists as “separate concerns” including those about “the density of the development, traffic on neighboring streets, safety, plans for the property beyond the useful life of the dormitory, and the impact additional students might have on the surrounding residential neighborhoods.”

Continue reading ‘The Milwaukee River Work Group Does Not Speak for Me’

24 Sep 2008 | 8:35 pm | Development, Environmental Sustainability, UWM, Water | No comments yet - Add your comments

Historic Goll Mansion / Condo towers by Sura, September 21

From Eileen Collins of Prospect Avenue Association:

Time is running out before the final City decision on the proposed 26-story condo tower at the site of the historic Goll mansion at 1550 N. Prospect Ave. The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee of the Milwaukee Common Council will meet on the issue at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Room 301-B of City Hall. The full Council will consider and decide on the matter at its meeting on Oct. 7.

For those who oppose the condo tower proposal, it would be very helpful if you would let your feelings be known to the mayor and your alderman before these meetings. For those living on the east side of Prospect Ave. south of Kane Pl., your alderman is Bob Bauman. Those on the west side of Prospect Ave., and on both sides north of Kane Pl., your alderman is Nik Kovac. Here are their e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

Mayor Tom Barrett
mayor@milwaukee.gov
414-286-2200

Alderman Robert Bauman
rjbauma@milwaukee.gov
414 286-2221

Alderman Nik Kovac
nkovac@milwaukee.gov
414-286-2221

There are many different arguments that can be put forth in opposition to this project, and you likely have your own favorites. It’s important to keep your comments brief and to the point. Among the objections we are hearing most often these days are these:

• The above-ground five-story parking structure is unprecedented along Prospect Ave. Built almost from lot-line to lot-line on the north and south, and taller than the Goll House, this becomes a terrible obstruction. It disrespects both the historic value of the mansion and the aesthetic value of the modern condo tower.
• Approving this project at a time of surplus condos on the downtown market likely means even more condo vacancy, or else delay of the project to see if the market for ultra-luxury condos might strengthen. Either way, this will further suppress the value of occupied condos in the area
• The location of the new building – far out of line to the east by contrast with most other tall buildings along the avenue – unfairly disadvantages owners and residents of those other buildings and jeopardizes the woodsy atmosphere of the county bike trail.

For further information, contact Dave Behrendt, coordinator of Goll Mansion Strategy Group, 1522 On The Lake Condominium Association, 414-276-1512

_______________

To added or removed from the PAA email list for updates and information, contact eileen.collins1660@sbcglobal.net

21 Sep 2008 | 11:13 am | Development | No comments yet - Add your comments

Next Page »