The following is a list of Mayor McCue's accomplishments in office. Please read and remember to vote on Tuesday!

Jobs and Economic Development

When I took office, Cudahy was viewed as anti-business. I’ve helped change that and in the process we’ve protected family supporting jobs in our community. I’ve listened to business leaders, developers, and citizens and worked hard to make Cudahy friendly to businesses. Today, Cudahy is pro-business. In spite of the economic downturn, we’ve attracted new businesses to Cudahy and many businesses are expanding.

Cutting Wasteful Spending

I’ve cut city spending by making government more efficient. Under my administration we paid off the city’s $3.7 million unfunded pension debt which will result in $11.3 million in long-term savings. We privatized the assessors’ department, saving $133,000 annually and combined two department head positions, saving $139,000 annually.   We’ve created a solid five-year financial plan. Also, city employees are now paying a portion of their health care premiums, which will save taxpayers $95,000 annually. Due to these positive fiscal measures, Cudahy’s bond rating was upgraded by a national rating agency.

Freezing Taxes

I am the only candidate who proposes a freeze in Cudahy’s 2011 property tax levy, so that families can sustain themselves during these difficult economic times. I’ve held the line on taxes while maintaining vital services during a time when other cities are making drastic cuts and raising taxes. Cudahy is on the right fiscal track.

 Making Cudahy Safer

I’ve worked hard to make Cudahy safer. We’ve added to the police force a highly respected chief, a patrol officer, two school safety officers, a K-9 unit, a crime suppression unit, and an additional detective. As a result, crime is down substantially. Violent crime has dropped 21 percent in the past year alone. Protecting Cudahy’s citizens will continue to be a priority in my next term of office. I am proud to have earned the Cudahy Professional Police Association’s endorsement.

Cleaning Up the IcePort Fiasco 

We’ve put the Ice Port mess behind us. Both the $5.3 million lawsuit and foreclosure lawsuit are settled, and the city prevailed. After nearly eight years of stagnation, the site is finally available for development. We are working together to bring good paying jobs to the site. I am negotiating with real estate developers in order to bring in manufacturing, office space and retail. I am committed to developing this site and bringing good jobs to our city.  

 Talk of the Town

“Mayor McCue and his administration helped Patrick Cudahy remain in the City of Cudahy after a disastrous fire shut us down. Mayor McCue was responsive and quick to act. He showed real leadership during a critical time for our company and was integral to our getting back in production so quickly.”

Bill Otis - President of Patrick Cudahy

“We’ve seen first-hand that you are dedicated in making the city of Cudahy a safe community for the citizens; doing so by providing us with the tools and resources necessary to accomplish our goals. Please accept this endorsement letter as a voice of support and appreciation for the relationship you’ve built with our membership during your last term.”

Detective Joseph Zblewski - President, Cudahy Professional Police Association

“Mayor McCue’s efforts were a major factor in our decision to keep our business and 80 jobs in Cudahy.”

Mike Graverson- President of National Tissue Company

“Mayor McCue has put Cudahy on the right track for business growth. His successful economic development agenda is bringing new business to Cudahy and growing real economic opportunities. Mayor McCue is good for business and good for creating jobs in Cudahy.”

Rick Ceschin - Community Development Authority Member

“As a veteran, I know a leader when I see one. Mayor McCue is a proven leader. He has made the tough decisions to make Cudahy a great place to live and supports our veterans.”

Bud Bessler - Cudahy Veteran and Former Alderman

“Under Mayor McCue’s administration, Cudahy is a much safer place to live. The sharp reduction in crime demonstrates that the support he has given the police department was very effective.”

Gerald Rieder- Police and Fire Commission Member

To learn more or watch the mayoral debate please visit www.ryanmccue.com .

Be sure to vote on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What an amazing week it has been! Tony Day defeated Mayor McCue. As you know, I was McCue's campaign treasurer and I supported him in the election. I do, however, wish only the best for Mayor Day and I look forward to working with him. I believe he will be an excellent Mayor and I will support him in his efforts to improve our great City to make it an even better place to live, work and play. I have lived in Cudahy since 1988 and I have grown to truly love this city and the people in it !

Congratulations to Tony and to all the other winners in Tuesday's election.

In other news, the famous South-Shore half-marathon is only a couple days away! Yikes! I'm very excited for this race. I missed my workout at the Petit National Ice Center on Monday, and I did not work out on Wednesday due to the election. ( I was a little tired from the election party the night before). I normally do not work out on Tuesdays or Thursdays since those are my "recovery" days. I have not worked out since Sunday, and I will take Friday off because I wouldn't run the day before a race. I trained hard  last week, however, and I am ready to run hard on Saturday.

My son Chris is coming home Friday and will start the race with me. I will not be able to keep up with him for the entire race, but we can probably run the first third or maybe the first half together. I always enjoy this race and I especially enjoy the opportunity to spend some quality running time with my son. I will post my results from the race on Saturday afternoon.

There was a huge turnout for the 2010 Badgerland Striders South-Shore Half-Marathon! I'm sure the weather had something to do with the large turnout. In the past it has always been cold, wet and windy for this race. This year's race saw temperatures in the upper forties, possible even the low fifties, and it was sunny with relatively little wind! I really don't like running outside in cold weather so this was a welcome change from prior years.

The course is entirely on the Oak Leaf Trail. Runners start at South Shore Park in Bay View and run through Bay View Park, Sheridan Park, Warnimont Park and Grant Park for a total of 13.1 miles.

I finished in 2 hours 16 minutes. This was about my same time as last year. My son finished in 1 hour 48 minutes which was a huge improvement over last year's time.

I was hoping to finish just a little faster. I blame the Guiness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland for my slower time.

I also wanted to say "Thanks" to all of the volunteers who helped on race day and to those who planned this incredible event. An event like this would be impossible without volunteers who devoted their time and energy. It is all too easy to overlook their contribution.

And thanks again to our fantastic Milwaukee County Parks. It would be both difficult and dangerous to run a course this long without our Oak Leaf Trail and our priceless County Parks.

The Sheridan Park Friends has three events planned for April and May. Mark your calendar!

Saturday, April 24
Arbor Day Clean Up
In cooperation with the City of Cudahy and Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful.
9 a.m.: Meet at Sheridan Pavilion Area #1 (near the lagoon) at 9 a.m. Trash bags will be supplied.
Noon: Ceremony in front of Cudahy City Hall with a tree dedication. Enjoy refreshments and the presence of the DNR.

Saturday, May 1
10 a.m. Sheridan Park Friends Annual Meeting and Potluck Brunch
Help plan activities, organize our Friends group, and meet other park enthusiasts!

Saturday, May 22
9 a.m. Sheridan Park Weed-out
Location TBA. Help pull invasive garlic mustard! Bring your own kneeling pad. The Parks People will supply the bags.
 

Thanks to all the volunteers who have stepped up to the plate for Sheridan Park.

A recent Associated Press article by Malcolm Ritter titled, "Psychedelic trips help cancer patients in study" caught my attention. The tone of the article seems to suggest that there are medical or spiritual benefits to using illegal mind-altering drugs. This article has been printed in newspapers throughout the country and was printed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday, April 23rd (p. 2A). For some odd reason I couldn't find a link to the J/S copy but here is a copy from another newspaper:

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/04/22/r_z1ubvubmrfujbvjzqbz_pq/index.xml

Ritter seems to offer legitimacy to the use of illegal drugs. One scientist is quoted as saying, "There's still a lot of resistance to it ... The whole hippie thing in the '60's and media coverage at the time 'has kind of left a bad taste in the mouth of the public at large' ".

Let me go on the record saying that there SHOULD be a lot of resistance to use of these drugs, and people SHOULD have a bad taste in their mouth regarding the use of illegal, mind-altering drugs.

These drugs are unnatural. Yes, I know they come from plants, but there are lots of things found in nature that are very poisonous and these chemicals are not meant to be ingested by humans.

The author of this bizarre article goes on to suggest that using Psilocybin ( a type of psychedelic drug derived from mushrooms) can enable people to experience "powerful spiritual experiences":

"Psilocybin has been shown to invoke powerful spiritual experiences during the four to six hours it affects the brain. A study published in 2008, in fact, found that even 14 months after healthy volunteers had taken a single dose, most said they were still feeling and behaving better because of the experience."

Really? Really? Getting wasted on illegal drugs can cause "powerful spiritual experiences" and leave people feeling and behaving better "even 14 months later" ? Wow.

I would like to offer an alternate view. These people are not getting powerful spiritual experiences, nor are they feeling and behaving better. They are just very, very wasted.

IMPORTANT: ***** The true way to have powerful spiritual experiences and to feel and behave better is by doing the following: Work hard. Have Faith in God. Practice your faith. Believe in yourself and in your family, your friends, your Church, your community and your co-workers. Develop meaningful relationships with the significant people in your life. Take care of your family. Be someone's hero. Do the right thing, even if no-one is looking. Obey the ten commandments. Be prepared. Do something nice for other people every day. Be strong -- life will knock you around sometimes and you will be better off if you can face life's problems and challenges with courage and determination. Be kind to animals. And if someone offers you an illegal drug, get in your car and drive as fast as possible in the opposite direction. *****

I am especially appalled by this article, and the fact that it was printed in the Journal Sentinel, in light of all the recent news about teenagers and young adults dying from Heroin overdoses. Yes, I realize that heroin is a completely different type of drug .... but I also believe that a person who experiments with one type of drug may be more open to experimenting with some other type of drug. There have been a number of tragic stories in the paper about high school students dying from drug overdoses. Were they also looking for a "powerful spiritual experience"?

Although the author has only positive things to say about mind-bending drugs, the article includes a small caveat stating, "Experts emphasize people shouldn't try psilocybin on their own because it can be harmful, sometimes causing bouts of anxiety or paranoia". How bizarre! What it should have said, of course, is "Experts emphasize that experimenting with illegal mind-altering drugs is extremely dangerous and can cause brain damage, genetic damage and death. People should avoid these drugs and avoid any environment in which these drugs are being used."

I would like to see a follow-up article that explains the dangers and pitfalls of these and other drugs and includes stories on people whose lives have been irreversibly damaged due to these drugs. For example, the college student who jumped out of his dorm window because he wanted to fly like a bird, or the teenage girl who overdosed on heroin. To print a story that presents drug abuse in a positive light is absurd and irresponsible.