The Way I See It!

Guest Blog - Picky Cudahy Citizen

Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on Oct. 14, 2009

Cudahy, Guest Blog, Email

Randy please post asap!

If you want to see picky Mr. Journalism Major, I will oblige.  I am only doing this because people of Cudahy expect better from a Journalism Mayor.

In Mayor McCue’s 2010 Budget letter:

“Dear Neighbor” so this goes out to all of the residents of Cudahy, yet how does it affect the renters and do the renters care about property taxes?

The “worst recession since the great depression”, that is not a good comparison.  A depression and recession are quite different.

“great depression” should have been capitalized.  It is a proper name!

“Our residents are tightening their belts and stretching every dollar.  Therefore, the City of Cudahy must do the same” in this sentence, Mayor McCue is letting everyone know because the residents have and action the city must as well.  It is poorly written.  Because of the recession is why the City must do it.

“The 2010 recommended budget is balanced” if only taxes are raised and the state doesn’t change the payment to the city.  It will become a deficit budget then!

“Total general fund expenditures will be $12,814,302, which equates to a two percent tax levy increase.”  This sentence structure is very poor since the comma comes after a few other commas in the amount.  Bad to do since people might think numbers are missing.

“With our country’s economy in flux, I have projected that the city’s revenues will decrease significantly.”   Influx as one word it the correct way to be used in this sentence structure if “flux” follows the word “in” and is the more widely used convention. 

Currently, anyone not paying property taxes does not pay for the hydrant rental, yet they receive the benefits.  This change will spread the cost in a more equitable manner to all property owners.”  How can you be a property owner and not pay taxes unless you are the city or county?

“The shift also allows Cudahy to maintain its vital fire, police and public works services while keeping property taxes in check.”  Missed a comma after police since it is a list! 

“The shift also allows Cudahy to maintain its vital fire, police and public works services while keeping property taxes in check.”  So having this simple change makes sure the fire and police services are taken care of?  Plus this subject and the next paragraph “Even with this change…” are the same subjects and should have been together in one paragraph.  

“Even with this change, Cudahy’s Water Utility rates will still remain in the bottom half of other Milwaukee County communities.”  Will still mean the same thing here so only one of them is needed, you pick which one, will or still!

“In an effort to improve our snow plowing operations, I am proposing to spend $79,173 or 43 percent more on snow and ice removal.  Due to the backlog of tickets…”  These are different subjects and needed their own paragraphs.

“Due to the backlog of tickets and forfeitures, which total over $800,000 in our municipal court system, I am proposing the hiring of a part-time clerk.”  This sentence should not have been joined by a comma and rewritten.  

“Due to the backlog of tickets and forfeitures, which total over $800,000 in our municipal court system, I am proposing the hiring of a part-time clerk.”  Part-time clerk for whom?

“This position will pay for itself due to the increased collection of outstanding fines.”  No, it will not, taxpayers will still pay for it plus that just means someone isn’t doing their job! How much will it cost?  That dollar amount was left out.  Omitted!

“We hope to have the recommended budget online for residents review at www.ci.cudahy.wi.us.”  So we will be able to review it?  Comments and such?  Plus it needed the word “to” review be added.

Switching between property owner and homeowner as if they are the same.  You can own property that does not contain a home and might be vacant or have a business.