Do you want a Wal-Mart in Cudahy?

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Cudahy Resident,

All totally true, even today, just better masked with great Wal-Mart tatics. They are getting better at covering up as people point out their flaws. The video is only a few years old!

Anyways you can't tell me that people "love" to make just above minimum wage. If employees at Wal-Mart loved working there because the total benefit package and work environment was so great, why don't they show it with great customer service. Did you ever go to Grainger (commercial & industrial supplier), now those employee really enjoy their job and get compensated nicely.

I know it's coming and that's to bad! I also know that I'm going to say in the future, "I told you so"!

Have a great 4th! I hope we don't get rain for the parade or fireworks!

- John, Cudahy, WI

BAN PIT BULLS!

- Greg Phillips, Cudahy, WI

Well, well, it would appear after all is said and done, Walmart is liked by the city government. It looks like the Iceport people were the ones they didn’t like. It is sad how a few people talked as if Iceport, the current developer and Walmart were the same. We now all know better. Walmart will be an asset to Cudahy as will the new development that comes with. Jobs are jobs and if you can get paid more doing something else then you will not be applying. Face it more people want the Walmart then don’t. Walmart IS economic development, and its definitely downtown revitalization. Many stores will follow Wal-Mart into Cudahy. Now the developer can pay the city and that will offset the cost of the Wave and everyone but the Iceport people are happy. The city gets the land, the Iceport people get nothing, the people get the Walmart, the kids get the wave, and the Mayor gets recalled. As they say in soccer GOOOOAAAALLL!!!

- A New Day, Cudahy, WI

Would really love the opportunity to have more than one retail store in the area to shop at. Kmart is high-priced, never has enough cashiers available and seems to have their heat on year-round. Feel forced to shop there because there is nothing else nearby. My family would welcome a Walmart and don't think it makes Cudahy look any worse than it does now. Layton Avenue has a slew of sex offenders living there, (as well as gang sites) and don't think a Walmart is going to make this fact any worse than it is now. PS - Does the mayor shop at Kmart?????

- L. Wroblewski, Cudahy, WI

John,John.JOHN!

Parks don’t make money. They cost money!!!
You are right, Cudahy's leadership is and has not had vision. Too much me, me, me and not enough about the people.
Again Franklin’s substation has been talked about. Old news.
No you don’t have to slam Cudahy, not if you care. If you care, you find solutions. If you don’t then those people slam it like you.
And way to many bars, but where would the Mayor go then?
What demolishing businesses????
It's time to step up and take a stand. We are we want the Walmart!!!!!

- Cudahy resident, Cudahy, WI

John, that is still a different location of a Wal-Mart. None of them are exactly the same. You have to look at the neighborhood. Also since this Wal-Mart went up, the south 27th one in Franklin is looking better all the way around.

By the way the Franklin Police asked for that space at Wal-Mart because they had no sub station any where near. It helped out the police there. It wasn't added out of Wal-Mart crimes. Tell the truth and not made up stories. The police chief himself will verify that fact for you.

The haters will always bring up the past of Wal-Mart because they believe nothing ever will change. To bad for them Wal-Mart has changed it's business practices years ago. They have happier employees. They also work with the communities on a lot of charities. Why not tell the whole truth not just parts you like.

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

If the mayor is worried about a big open parking lot, why not have Walmart build an underground parking structure like they have out in Madison?

- NJC, Cudahy Wisconsin

DC
If you want to help Cudahy ask your Mayor why he didn’t attend the Police and Crime Town Hall Meeting? What urgent matter kept him away? How much has he personally donated to the police dog fund?

- Tammy, Cudahy, WI.

Beats looking @ an unprofitable weed field.

- Kolach, cudahy, wi

We need to stop being afraid of changes and move forward. We need to bring this city out of the old ways and move on.With all of the dooms day predictions out there Im suprised we have advanced this far. We shoul just rip up the sreets,have dirt trais,and ride around on horses chasing cattle out of the streets.Well at least then there would be some jobs working in the brothels again.I wonder how the cithyfelt when they removed those.I could imagine it sent ripples of panick because a change was made.I should think that moving forward an being bussines friendly could possibly make this a real city.

- Cudahy Native, Cudahy, WI

New Name, do you know how much money that would cost to rename the city? Millions.

It would be best just to change the slogan and do things to update the image of Cudahy not remake it. Walmart is neither here nor there in helping or hurting the image. If you truly want to cut the amount of bad people, go back to Scott Walkers bus line cuts.

- Bill T., Cudahy, WI

well, well, well another class action lawsuit against wal-mart. this one is in the heartland, and making people work off the clock. hey, is this the 1930's? oh no it's 2008 and we are discussing wal-mart coming to cudahy. i've read comments about some movie that is out of date. i don't think so!! support a co. that puts people on our tax rolls for health insurance? support a co. that makes people work off the clock?? support a co.like this, never!!!

- j. sindric, cudahy wi.

In the process of all this, I would like to throw the idea of changing the name of Cudahy. If we want to move past the stigma, we'll move past the name.

- New Name, CUDAHY, WI.

John,John.JOHN!

That video is sooo old!!None of that is true today!!!
I have several relatives working at differant Wal-Marts and all love it!!Have you any current FACTS??They would surely be much the contrary.Do your home work before you post!
Not sure where you shop?But I do know it is NOT Cudahy!!

You just don't get it! We NEED this and the majority of the city wants it SOON!

- Cudahy resident, Cudahy Wi

Richard,

Gotta slam it. We could do so much better and we havn't. We live right on the lake and have vast beautiful park lands. That alone should put us on the map and make us a must live location. Why doesn't it? Too many rentals and way to many bars is a good start. Bars that should be shut down and demolished. If we had more quality places like City Lounge it would be great. That's only the start. We as the residents need to take a stand and improve our undervalued community. The mayor is doing SOME good things like demolishing businesses that should not be in business. More needs to happen. We as Cudahy residents are just screaming for better things. We have lackluster businesses because we don't demand any better for us and our community. It's time to step up and take a stand.

Watch the "hate" video. Take a "field trip" to the Wal-Mart on 27th & Oklahoma. After you do that you tell me if a Wal-Mart will improve our image and increase our property values.

Have a great day and a great 4th!

- John, Cudahy, WI

Dave,

The Wal-Mart in Franklin has a Franklin Police sub-station located inside of it. Check it out, kind of interesting.

John

- John, Cudahy, WI

I spend money at 4 stores in Cudahy right now: Pick-n-Save, McDonalds, Walgreens, and Speedway. I have to leave the city for the rest of my shopping.

I fully support building a Walmart in Cudahy.

- Mark, Cudahy, WI

The council and cda kill the walmart, and the city waits!

Mayor McCue offers no alternative development, and the city waits!

Sportsites sues the city for $20 million, ties the land up in court for years, and the city waits!

Walmart, Wave, and other businesses flurish in Oak Creek, Franklin, or some other pro business city, and the city waits!

Ice port ugly looking shell falls to the ground, creates earth quake, and the city waits!

How long do we need to wait until something is built on this site. This Mayor and Council have had over a year, the rusting statue to Cudahy still stands, and we still wait!

Enough, build the Walmart, or something on this site. STOP WAITING!

- City Waits, Cudahy Resident, Cudahy, Wisconsin

Maybe we could rename Ryan McCue Mr. mayor still nothing. Since he has been in office, their is still nothing on the ice port site, like he promised.

Please, bring on the wave, walmart, and other shops! It will be good for this community. Stop the law suits and fraud that Mayor McCue has committed!

Bring Cudahy politics back to the real world, not the good old boys network!

Disband the chamber of commerce, they are a JOKE, when it comes to PRO business. All they want to do is fill their own pockets!

Get employers in this town, that ONCE AGAIN, will HIRE CUDAHY RESIDENTS. Ladish does not, nor does Vilter, nor Patrick Cudahy!!!

Bring on 200 jobs,and everything that goes with the Walmart!!!

Otherwise, all we have is Mayor MR. Still Nothing.

- Mr. Still Nothing, Cudahy Resident

John, Ku-da-Hey nice way to show disrespect for Cudahy. Now we should respect your wishes and watch a hate video. Again all tired and old, used empty worries. If you love Cudahy like you claim you would not have slammed it.

- Richard, Cudahy, WI

Hello,

Please check your grammer & spelling before you submit your opinion!

Jim

- Jim, Cudahy, WI

It's better than leaving the land vacant. It will generate property taxes & improve the appearance of the site.

- ken kovac, Cudahy, WI

Concerned citizen of Cudahy, or should we just call you Justin good personal friend of Ryans?If you want to roll over and take orders from your buddy go ahead, but I believe in freedom to choose.And I choose not to . If I dont want to shop at dumpy kmart that is my choice.If I decide pick n spend is not for me that is my choice.Eveybody has choices to make what is good for one person is not always good for everyone.If you dont like walmart you all have the choice not to shop their.But the choice should be ours.I for one do not like to be told I have to shop at this place because it is Mayor approve.Ever hear the phrase by the people for the people?The mayor was elected to do a job,a lot of people feel he has not done a good job,and some feel that he has. If the President of the U.S. doesnot do his job right he can be impeached. If another person does not do their job right they are fired.If other public figures do not do the right thing by the people they get recalled.It is still a choice and no one has the right to belittle others for their choices because they are your own.

- Julie Komarek, Cudahy,WI

John, yes pick the bad Walmart to be your example look at the area as a whole. People drive over to New Berlin or Franklin. Hey someone talked about the videos before. I all fairness everyone should watch a video on how they kill and slaughter cows. I am sure you will not want to eat hamburger for a while. How about that Orange Ruffy is the carp of the Ocean and must be bleached and cleaned in multiple processes, yet you pay top dollar for it.

The Walmart is not in anyone’s backyard. Paste this Goggle street map and look

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=42.956502,-87.866336&panoid=7qKRzrP_92a1dM7hz60QEQ&cbp=2,268.75902553479136,,0,5&ll=42.95848,-87.865852&spn=0.003251,0.010772&z=17

- Dave, Cudahy, WI

Hello!,

Bad move. Lousy jobs, cheap junk from China & other places, nasty stores, and a lot of even worse clientel.

I just hope it doesn't turn into the one off of 27th & Oklahoma. If you do anything, visit the store on 27th street by Oklahoma for 30-60 minutes and just watch the people walk in on a Friday night from 7 to 8! Also,watch the movie, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price". After viewing all of that, see if you want a Wal-Mart in your back yard.

We could make this a fun project! Report back on this forum to see what you thought of the movie & the visit and people watching! Try this Wednesday before the 4th even! Have a great time.

I love Cudahy and I really think it has a heck of a lot more potential and should be worth more!

- John, Ku-da-Hey

Wow, I have lived here my whole life. Now I am taking care of my sick mother, but as soon as she is better I am running screaming out of here. We are the laughing stock of Milwaukee suburbs. We have more teen pregnancies then teeth in this town. The drunken masses that stumble in and out of these hillbilly bars guzzling their 25 cent beers can be seen all over our beautiful so called downtown area. Our town and excpecially the pretend chamber of commerce is ran by a bunch of "Boss Hawg" wanna-be's. The good 'ole boy network has kept this town a punchline on every radio show for too long. Lets bravely try something new, lets support the few business' in town that cater to people you would want as your neighbors and let's try to change the mindset of people who are so scared of change, so scared of not being the poorest hillbilly town. Let walmart and their money in. Let's stop the poverty cycle! And for god sakes, can we get a member of the chamber with some business experience?
Thanks.
Still embarrassed, but hopefull.

- Embarrassed resident, Cudahy, WI

I keep Hearing how Walmart is going to hurt mom and pop businesses. Where are they they have been gone for a long time.So who is it really going to hurt?If there is any doubt about The city credit cards it is public recod go look for yourselves. Check out all of the records for everyone who has a city card,its pretty interesting stuff. Thank goodnes I no longer have to pay taxes to support this garbage.And it mentions in the law suit against cudahy that the city clerk and mayor took lots of money from an escrow account. Where did all of that money go? As soon as that answer is available I will share it.

- Julie Komarek, Cudahy,WI

Jim what mom/pop local businesses are in Cudahy?
No automotive shop in this Walmart. If you went to the meeting and was truly from Cudahy you would know that. bye bye Cudahy’s middle class, is if McCue get his way and stops the Walmart and gets all of his Chicago buddies to move in.

- Dave, Cudahy, WI

Rb and Concerned Citizen, no McCue did not run on a no Walmart campaign. Get your facts straight, he ran on no tax benefits for them.

Concerned Citizen you would just love it if we would just let the Mayor just do whatever he wants, but it doesn’t work that way. Mayors carry out what the council decides. The Mayor is not all powerful as you make him and the position out. The citizens are the power and the voice. Try as you can to snuff it out and you will fail. The Mayor didn’t run and win on the single issue of Walmart, yet you Walmart haters see otherwise. Facts elude you, as does common sense. Scream and cry all you want, people see the two year old you are. Call us ants and collectively you will see what the people/ants can do and say. You represent just a small piece of Cudahy so you try and scream louder to make up for it. If McCue was as good as a Mayor as you and others make him out to be, then he would make a public statement telling others not to resort to violence and harassment over an issue like Walmart. He has not and will not because he doesn’t care for the well being of Cudahy just his own agenda. Mayor prove me wrong and make a statement or we will take your silence that you don’t care for Cudahy and its citizens.

Walmart is a good thing for Cudahy and will not cause the problems the haters claim. Email the Mayor and ask him to stop the violence with a public announcement.

- Ed, Cudahy, WI

I have been bartending in Cudahy for over 10 yrs. And I always see and hear the same thing, "I have no money, I can't find work" Well of course not because you are too busy mooching smokes and beer off of the other customers. If a Wal-Mart is going to be built, fill out an application! Then we don't have to hear that you can't find work!! And then for those of you who are against it, I bet you would still shop there because of the prices, or because it will be close to you. And for Miss Thirty Something in Cudahy, you don't have to go to Oak Creek for coffee with your friend, or to take your kids out for icecream. Just go to Bay View, it's closer. So face it Cudahy, no matter what the outcome, it will still involve taxes.

- used to live in cudahy, Bay View, WI

walmart will kill the mom/pop local businesses!

now they do car repair,liqour sales,glasses, even drive thru healthcare!

bye bye cudahy's middle class!

- jim, cudahy

the mayor ran for office against walmart and in office he is against walmart, instead of a recall we should give him a medal. but if he should give an alternative to the site now, or yesterday or 3 years ago. we need something in that eyesore at the door to our city.

- rb, cudahy wi

You have Mr. Drama tooting his own horn. Look if you voice your concerns and people hear you things change. No they don’t, only people with power make things change. Get over it people, the people don’t matter only those in power. They don’t listen to you as Cudahy’s Mr. Drama would like you to think. They don’t have too, they are those in power that you put in there. If you listen to Mr. Drama you would think that people can call up Kmart and get an answer or put a bug in Sonic’s ear that maybe Cudahy Wisconsin is a good place to build. Please this self-righteous that what those small ants, the people from the street and gutter. Like your opinion matters. Walmart is a bad idea and the smart people in power know that. Mr. Drama blogs incredibly stupid stuff and how he comes up with the ideas no one cares about is beyond me. I will give him credit for being the biggest mouth in Cudahy and maybe if he was not around even less ants would care. Walmart doesn’t pay taxes and I don’t care if the Mayor’s platform sayes he didn’t want taxes going for Walmart, we all know he hates Walmart. His sole purpose for running was to shutdown the Walmart. You all knew it. Now stand by your Mayor and keep your mouths shut and let the smart people do the job. We have two votes to shutup the supporters and Walmart lovers. Don’t question the Mayor when you knew and agreed with him all along. 60% of Cudahy wanted him to stop the Walmart and that is why you voted for him. Just sit down and let the Mayor stop this Walmart and go to court over a stupid Walmart. Cudahy can pay the fines and the Mayor can rebuild Cudahy in the image he wants and we will all benefit.

- Concerned Citizen, Cudahy, WI

Once upon a time, not long ago, Cudahy was on the verge of changing the negative and well deserved image it has had for generations with new buisness like City Club, The Soup Ladle and Sheridans. Then it took a big step backward with the visionless residents voting in a mayor that said..."Cudahy has always been blue collar and will always be blue collar". Now, with Ryan in place, hopefully there will be some glimmer of hope and Yes, Wal-mart is a part of that. Put Wal-mart in that perfect location on Layton, bringing in people from all other areas and get more of those charming small buisnesses in downtown. Yes, prices are cheap at Wal-Mart. Good. Now, when someone drives in from South Milwaukee or Oak Creek, they can come for the $5.00 tee-shirt and spend the real money on a GOOD cup of coffee or a plate of food with real flavor at a future Bistro/Café and not just bloated filler at Suzy's. Yuck. Cedarburg is somewhere I now have to drive to just to get out of the generational mindset. Bring it to Cudahy and use Wal-Mart to our ADVANTAGE!
It's time to step up people and support the NICE places and strike while the iron is hot.

- Life-long resident, Cudahy, WI

Curious, taxes will never go down no matter who comes in. The city will just find new ways to increase the taxes. Push to have the mayor, council members, and school board sign a no tax increase or levy increase. Walmart in the long run will be positive of Cudahy. It will wokout well in the shortterm. Once Walmart gets the final two approvals more businesses that surround Walmart will come forward. You have to ask yourself why the city dragged it feet with approval of the development. The developers have a good case in the lawsuit. McCue is in a win win situation. He can say he fought the Walmart and take crdit for it. He will take credit for it. The store doesn’t open until the next election in Cudahy. Do I think the recall will fizzle out, yes. I would not bet though that the odd things found don’t get turned over to the state investigation. If I was Ryan or Bruce I would explain myself and get in front of the eight ball before being asked questions. When the city people are questioned under oath if the family and kids came along and a city car was used, they will have to tell the truth or risk perjury.

- Richard, Cudahy, WI

Great idea. We hardly have anything at Cudahy. I always have to go to Oak Creek or Milwaukee.

- Celis Rodriguez, Cudahy,WI

JPW, Local 344 member since 05. Teamsters has hoffa jr. as president. What does this prove? Absolutely nothing. Unions are pretty much useless wastes of money these days. You pay dues and they do nothing to help you when trouble happens. Union contracts help companies more then the employees. Useless wastes of money.

Wal-Mart pays me nothing either. I wish they did but I do this of my own free will. Why do Wal-Mart's have people voicing against it? Usually the same groups of people, that is a small part of the nation that hates any thing that means success without them. The recall does have credit card receipts of this dells vacation threw public records. Wouldn't it be nice to have a trip paid for by others to the Kalihari? Not even a cheap trip. Wal-Mart isn't the reason for the recall. It was the last straw. Maybe you enjoy the higher taxes that McCue has brought. I do not. I also do not think any government official should use city funds so improperly. You can bash me all you want, it does not change the truth. That is going to be public knowledge soon enough. Every little improper thing he has done will be opened to the public, for everyone to see.

No matter what you say it will not change the truth. The recall is not based on Wal-Mart. It is for the truth on where our money goes. Should we the people pay for his trips, pizza parties, and all the other things he spends on? I do not think so. Cudahy needs jobs, lower taxes, and some revenue to help with tax relief. This is a town of blue collar workers not Brookfield or Shorewood. The average income is only 50,000 here not like in Brookfield, where it is closer to 100,000. Big difference there. Try looking at the big picture instead of the small one around yourself. Try to look at what most of the people in this city want not just you. If the city was allowed to vote on this it would have been over months ago. Wal-Mart and the Wave center would already be breaking ground. That is a fact. Every meeting I have attended on this subject at city hall was packed with mostly Wal-Mart supporters. Attend one and see for yourself instead of listening to the few people that do not like Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart haters are out numbered at least 3 to 1. So I am not alone and have not been since the beginning. I will stand up for what I believe in and not hide behind fake names or initials. I have the truth on my side. What do you have?

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

I would like to update people on what is going on with the recall in Cudahy, at the moment I don’t have much info. I do know that the credit card receipts have some questionable items and many could turn out to be legitimate or legitimate but not necessarily the best use or judgment. Mayor McCue and others will have his chance to explain them.

Open records is something that is done all the time in many other cities and it maybe something new that the City of Cudahy personnel have not seen, but it is a part of the checks and balances of government. The request for city use vehicles did not show anything since the city does not log the car use and the car gas card.

I do know that the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel has interest in the credit card receipts/bills and they have been given copies. As has Cudahy Now. I also know Mayor McCue’s calendar has been requested and received again to the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel and Cudahy Now reporters.

Just a reminder the recall has not actually begun, just the exploratory of info. If the recall goes forward, it is not just about Wal-Mart, but of processes. While others attack Wal-Mart and the recall, others are in support. If you do not support it, please do not resort to violence and remember in the end this is still Cudahy. Please keep up the donations, for info on it email spurple9bear@att.net . This open request has not cost the taxpayers, but it may open people’s eyes. If there is nothing to hide, why be upset about it?

- Cudahy resident forever, Cudahy, WI

Astroturfing is public relations campaigns in politics and advertising which seek to create the impression of being spontaneous, grassroots behavior. While many of the Wal-Mart lovers do the dirty work for Wal-Mart and do the recall on behave of the evil Wal-Mart. If the recall was real and you had proof of the rumor I heard that Mayor McCue and Bruce Schukneckt took a trip recently and they stayed at the Dells while having the hotel and meals charged to the city card. Here is where it get better, they were joined by wives and children as well with a city car. If it were true, you would have had your Wal-Mart lover blog on it and called the state authorities for this crime. But you cannot. Do I say it again astroturfing. A classic example of such behavior is a comment from some sycophantic brownnoser who is supposedly a Union member but loves Wal-Mart nonetheless. David Fehl. Yeah, right. No Local posted, no President or Steward named, but take his word for it, Wal-Mart is the best thing since sliced (White) bread. He is as phony as they come. I bet he is paid by Wal-Mart to say these things. These people are either liars, hypocrites, or most likely, paid shills who do the bidding of their evil overlords. Now where have I seen such comments? Hmmmm….oh yeah, that place with the chirping crickets.

- JPW, Cudahy, WI

Ed, sit down and shut up. The restof you get real.
The facts are Walmart will not be in anyones neighborhood, the chosen site is comeercial only, so those complaints do not hold water, Walmart does not bring crime, Walmart builds in economically depressed areas of a city or county, where crime is on a rise to begin with, thereby supplying jobs and slowing the rise in crime. I can continue on and on with cold hard facts. But the real issue is the mayor once again over stepped his bounds by citing PERSONAL reasons for voting against Walmart. His authority extends to what is good for the city, not what his own snobbish personal stance is. He has destroyed a tradition at our hot weather parades by banning waterfights, something that the city charter does not give him the right to do. He has become a detriment to this community. Plain fact. Where was he this past winter when all the streets surrounding out elementary schoola were solid ice and the street department wasn't doing anything about this saftey hazzard? Throwing pizzia parties at our expence?
Look at the real issue, it isn't simply Walmart and the loss of municipal revenue, jobs for our young people, retired and others. It's about a mayor and common council who with their heads up their butts think everyone in Cudahy has 6 figure incomes and can afford to turn this into a bedroom community.

Lets build some more condos that nobody can afford to live in.

- Scott Schoemann, Cudahy, WI.

Walmart will only degrade our downtown, period.
Cudahy needs to start looking forward to develope a new image and Walmart should not be in the plans.
If Walmart was such a positive influence, why is it that every community in recent memory have fought to keep them out. Answer, because Walmart ruins the basic structure of a city which is a downtown!
There are obviously better options and forcing through bad ideas in sake of making a decision is bad policy.

- DC,

Concerned Citizen,
it looks to most people that your personal attacks on people is just bullying and people do not take you serous. I know I don’t. If you want to be taken serous as an adult, act like one. No one cares when you thump your chest and cry for attention. Notice me as you jump up and down, I still have things to say, I am not done talking. It is not over because I am not done. You are displaying classic child like behavior. There is a difference in displaying honest upset over how the Mayor and the city workers in the public sector are doing their job or not doing it, then to slam private citizens. Most people see the personal attacks as diversion from the real issue that obviously you and others that are participating in them cannot talk as adults on the issues or have nothing really to say. We all have freedom of speech but to be taken seriously, you must act like adults. The issues it self are getting old and yes people have moved on. Walmart is not the city of Cudahy’s lives like it is of yours. You can sit in denial and keep up the personal attacks and you will be left behind and forgotten. My guess is you are a nobody wanting to be a somebody. The issue is not that important to the people of Cudahy any more. It is old news that has moved from the headlines to the recycle bin. I think if you asked the Mayor, he too just wants to move on.

- Ed, Cudahy, WI

Concerned Citizen, I am as real as every body else and I do not hide behind a goofy name. That is my real name. I live in a real house on Squire. I used to work in Cudahy, but had to get a better job to help my family pay bills. I will shop at Wal-Mart. My kids will go to the Wave center and play soccer. I have lived here for over 13 years. I used to live on the north side of Milwaukee, but the crime there was unbearable. Cudahy is looking almost as bad these days and that is without a Wal-Mart.

We already have crack houses and bad driving on our streets here. Most people ignore the speed limits now so Wal-Mart didn't bring that. Just poor driving habits. Taxes have already gone way to high for a middle class community. This is a fact brought on by Mayor McCue not Wal-Mart. Police are busy sending 3 squads to see a driver pulled over to respond to real a emergency. Cudahy already has all these claims that Wal-Mart is going to bring and they aren't even here. They must have some magical power to influence a community years before they get here by some of your opinions.

Wal-Mart shoppers are out to save a few bucks, and speeding all over town isn't saving them anything. There will only be a couple of streets where traffic goes up. Not everywhere. Where do you Wal-Mart haters get your ideas? Do you actually think about them? It doesn't seem like it to me. You keep saying the same things and none of it makes any sense. Cudahy has the bad crime, bad drivers, drugs, gangs, prostitution already. Wal-Mart did not bring it. Lack of jobs did. Anyone that thinks they can make a living that supports a family off a part time job (which is most jobs at Wal-Mart) is dreaming. Most families need 2-3 jobs these days just to get by.

Kmart buys product from foreign lands, so does Dunham's, so does Walgreens. Are you boycotting these places? By your own statements you should be. Theses companies are no different, just smaller. Get a real reason, these same useless ideas and lies you keep telling do nothing but show you are not from here or blind to the facts.

I am a true concerned citizen that cares about Cudahy's future. You should too.

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

A year ago when I told my family that I bought a house in Cudahy all the comments that I got were why? I said it was because the Cudahy that I grew up with known as "CRUDahy" didnt exsist anymore and the city was cleaned up and ready for new young families to move in and enjoy the quiet neighborhoods that are here without the taxes of Milwaukee. Now I have to defend that decision even more when the quiet neighborhood I live in is threatened by the trashy giant known as Wal-Mart. Thanks.

- resident, cudahy

The plan for a Walmart Supercenter should have been approved a long time ago! Not only will it bring much needed jobs to the area but it will also bring lower food prices too. Hurry up and approve the center! Thanks.

- Linda Jansen, St. Francis, Wisconsin

It is just what cudahy needs. K-mart is awful. They have no check outs open, but one and the employees (younger ones) are plain dumb. With having wal-mart and the training center and all the comings with them, there are JOBS! Instead of people complaining that there isn't any work and they have to live on welfare and blah, blah, blah, get off your lazy duffs, here comes your opportunity! If you people are so ashamed that Cudahy might get a wal-mart, then move or don't go there. Better idea, go sit in one of how many bars are in Cudahy and then talk about the "people" that wal-mart will bring in . Open another bar, open more low-incom RENTALS OR MORE RENTALS then look at what Cudahy will bring in. It's not Wal-mart. if yoiu are to good for wal-mart and Cudahy, then move to New York or California and shop Beverly Hills! Worry abput the kids running the streets at night, dropping out of school, fighting at school, doing drugs, etc.

- former Cudahy in favor of Wal-mart, oc,wi

You people just don’t get it. Walmart is bad, they don’t pay taxes, buy foreign things, pay their workers nothing, bring crime, low income housing. What am I talking to a bunch of people scared in their shells? Are you blind pull your head out. Walmart is the problem. Wake up or you will be swimming in a swamp infested city. I am not done, you still have time to understand just what a menace Walmart is. Rise up people and stand with me and the Mayor and show the world that Walmart is evil and there is a reason for hatred against them. It is not over until I say so. What, have you people lost interest in this? Where are the hatred and anger we need for this fight? Pathetic!

- Concerned Citizen, Cudahy, WI

Why not approve a walmart? They should, and the Wave, and the Hotel and all the other businessess Cudahy is dying to get! Packard Avenue is DEAD! K Mart stinks, and Chairman Bob and Pick and Save NEED SOME COMPETITION! Maybe Sendiks could build in this complex, like they are in everyother community (other than Cudahy)!

According to Randy's blog and page 2 of the law suit against the City and Mayor McCue, that on August 14, 2007, Mayor McCue and Alderman Smith AUTHORIZED EXECUTION of the stipulation allowing Sportsites until january 2008 to transfer the property to continental.

They knew at that meeting that Continental wanted to build a Walmart on that site, and if they were against it, WHY DID THEY AUTHORIZE THE STIPULATION. Also, WHO GAVE THEM THE POWER TO DO THAT???

Better take the Walmart, otherwise the answer to the trivia persuit question becomes, "What Cudahy Mayor and Alderman got the City sued for $20 million dollars, rather than taking the Walmart?

Do you homework folks!!! That is why we THE TAXPAYERS are IN THIS MESS!!

PS> The answer to the question above was Mayor McCue and Alderman Smith!

BETTER TAKE THE WALMART!!!!

Jamison P.

- Jamison P., Cudahy, Wisconsin

"Listen AV you are either with Walmart or against it. Stop the whining since you are for it, you will get your Walmart. Cann’t we act nice, now you sound like that recall Sue at the meeting. Lets just be friends. AV you don’t have a clue, constantly switching sides, I am getting dizzy just from you."

A sure-fire way to discredit your position and earn detractors rather than supporters is to resort to name calling, finger pointing, guilt-tripping, and abusive language. Sadly, both camps on this issue have done this. The result is a fractured community both sides of which are seething with hatred toward one another making any type of reasonable solution or compromise that would satisfy the interests of a broad base of constituents impossible.

Additionally, persons who do not take one of the absolute sides bear the brunt of attacks from both sides. This further shuts down the pipeline of flowing ideas, opinions, possibilities, and suggestions. The ability to develop innovative solutions to our problems and differences and to hear out the concerns of all interested parties is thus effectively quashed.

Also, by the logic of absolutes, then either one believes all Muslims are terrorists or not, or that all young African American males are gang members or not, or that all Whites are racists or not, and so on and so forth as well, ad infinitum.

I suspect the nearest to a win-win situation for the varied interests in the Cudahy community would have been for WalMart to open on the Penn&Layton site. Yes I know, that is not going to happen now. So much for that possibility. As I've stated in my posts all along, I'd like whatever businesses that open anywhere in Cudahy these days to be a benefit to Cudahy's revenue, not something that makes all our property taxes go up by leaps and bounds.

I still have not received a response from Lisa regarding WalMart's position on the alleged buy out request, and I'd like to hear from a WalMart person about those intentions - exactly what are WalMart's terms in this development agreement - all of them? I want to hear what their offer is, not what everyone except WalMart is saying what their offer is.

I do not shop at WalMart and have not for many years because I have chosen not to support their myriad corporate practices which I cannot condone. That is my choice. However, there are plenty of Cudahy residents who choose to shop at WalMart for their own reasons. While I do not agree with their conclusions, I'm not going to belittle them. If ever they are going to listen to an argument as to why they should change their ways it sure is not going to happen if accompanied by threats and insults and continuos implication that their values and lifestyle are bad.

WalMart is a powerhouse in the U.S. economy and they are more than abundantly capitalized (12.731 Billion Net Income in 2007 alone, and 163.5 billion in assests). What that means is that more than any other retailer they are uniquely positioned to do a 180 on their policies and practices and still provide low prices to shoppers. If WalMart insisted that its products be manufactured in the U.S. and provided living wages (by that I mean $17 an hour and yes they can afford it) and full covereage healthcare to its employees for example, if they really did this, they are large enough that it would have a very positive impact on the U.S. economy and encourage such positive actions in other U.S., nee even global businesses.
They could be a real corporate shining star although it would mean an initial reduction in salaries and bonuses for their top executives, a temporarily less agreesive expansion plan, and lower returns for a few years for their stockholders, as well as perhaps 5-10 years for the change to really be complete and thorough.

If WalMart becomes this place - in the long run their business would likely prosper beyond what they've achieved now. And I'd gladly shop there once again - who wouldn't? This is i

- AV, Cudahy,WI

Overheated rhetoric and personal attacks on opponents distracts from the issue. I guess that is truly, what you are looking to do Concerned Citizen. Comment on content, not on the contributor. Personal attacks damage the community and deter real users from letting their thoughts known. Plenty of hot air and no real substance. Did you get mommy and daddy’s permission to use the Internet or are you sneaking on. Walmart will be a positive of Cudahy and you are just doing whatever you can to claim otherwise. While I would like to say your opinion doesn’t matter, it does, as everyone does. It is just too bad you cannot articulate it in a manor that is not attacking people. It smacks of desperation that people resort to personal attacks. The comments about McCue are not about him personally, expect for the fact that he made this a personal thing. The lawsuit shows he did not run on a campaign of no Walmart. Get over that fake point people! The lawsuit does show he has a personal problem with Walmart, which shows it was not made in best for the city of Cudahy, just what McCue wanted.

- Ed, Cudahy, WI

That is a good topic to bring up, taxes. What will happen? No speculation please!! What will be the cost to Cudahy? I am all for the Walmart. I believe it will generate new businesses to come to town. Heck , with all the traffic that will come with the Walmart I'm thinking of opening a business in Cudahy. But I am curious if it will raise taxes for us... Does Anyone have a true answer?

- Curious, CUDAHY, WI.

While I am hooten and hollering about this you people just go about your daily lives. I am doing this not for personal reasons, but for all of us. I will do and say what ever it takes to shut up the big mouths and it must be working. Do you like reading about plants or racing? I don’t and I will keep this fight alive. Some ill informed people have you thinking Walmart is good, well they are not. What do I have to do to show you how evil they are? David, how do you know Franklin loves Walmart? My new buddies tell me otherwise and one of them lives there. I don’t even think David Fehl is real? Walmart is not the cure, but a disease and you people must be infected. The lawsuit showed nothing just like I said it would. Empty! If you cannot handle criticism and a little name calling you are not an adult who can handle the harsh real world I live in and don’t put yourself in the public eye where people will tell you things you don’t want to hear. Boo hoo on all of you.

- Concerned Citizen, Cudahy, WI

Well I am wondering how much traffic will be in our neighborhood now. The bus line on Pennsylvania will let people off by the vacant gas station which is a now a Truck/Semi Parking lot, and is already looking trashy, it will bring in more crime along with prostitution. Not only will people be exiting off 794, but will be speeding through the back streets on Edgerton, Delaware, Vogel and Somers. What do the Police do now? Complaints and more complaints, but we never see them respond. You can keep complaining to your alderman, but the response is not very timely, if you do get a response. I am not for the Walmart, I do not want the crime, and traffic. Our neighborhood is calm and quiet, we do not need people cutting through our yards, Walmart carts being pushed and left on our street. I know it has passed already, but it isn't going to benefit Cudahy! And that is right, Are we going to see a tax break??? Or will we an increase on our taxes??? I don't mind shopping at Walmart, but to have it a block or two away from your residence, Yuck, not for me!!

- Mike, Cudahy

Again people quoting misinformation as fact!Franklin LOVES their Wal-Mart ,just ask their mayor.Just look at all the new great business that came when Wal-Mart can in.Before that it was just ancient motels!
Which small business do we speak of going out??I have tried to keep my dollars here in town,its just not possible.Look at Layton Avenue on any give day.All that money leaving Cudahy!This is just the boost Cudahy needs so badly.

- Cudahy resident, Cudahy

Will our high property taxes go down.
I am against the walmart.

- Judy, Cudahy Wi

I stand with the mayor, get a clue. Wal-Mart has never been the one bringing crime. What Wal-Mart has gangs in it? Gangs look to take a lot of money, and robbing Wal-Mart shoppers isn't the answer to that. They know they are not rich, if they were they would shop elsewhere. I have never seen any town brought down from a rise in shoplifting.

It is unreal to me to see how well Wal-Mart does at attracting new business to every single place they build. It is simply amazing how quickly they all come and sign up for locations near. Only Wal-Mart haters see anything different. The only rise in crime will be at the store itself. Crime around rest of city will not get higher. Without Wal-Mart building this town is already looking bad. How did that happen, was that Wal-Mart too? Give me a break, Wal-Mart does none of these things. The have lower prices and decent products for those prices. That is the way to make money.

We already have the bad crime and poor people here. Some of those new condo's built by the library were meant to be low income housing, that was the original plan. These were meant to house new employees of Patrick Cudahy and all the foreigners they bring in to work for them. They rarely hire American workers anymore, but only a former employee will tell you that. I was told I needed to learn spanish to keep my job and advance there. So much from this "union" shop. I made more money the day after I left and was not required to do learn any other language.

Now you are putting McCue in congress? Him in charge of more money and more say in how to raise taxes? That is a very scary thought. He has hurt this town in many ways and we are small. How bad would it be if he made it that far? I really fear that day. Although with his lies and tall tales he fits right in with most of them. With the rise in taxes here in Cudahy other then your support for his Wal-Mart vote what has he done for Cudahy? Losing businesses and raising taxes is all I have seen him do. He has done nothing positive for this town. He ran for office claiming he would put an end to the iceport debacle, and what did he do? Gave them 2 extensions to try and save it.

The recall has found many more very questionable uses of Cudahy taxpayer money. The list is growing everyday and soon all of Cudahy will see the truth. He may know what is best for you but I am not a sheep and have a voice and will use it when I see it is needed. The recall has not costed Cudahy 1 cent. Not 1. It has only been on peoples free time to rescue this city from this overlord of foolish spending. We are Cudahy not Brookfield or Shorewood. A blue collar town of hard working people who would like to see home look better and be better.

Wal-Mart is not the cure to our every need, but it is the start. It will help this city very quickly attracting new businesses here. This means more jobs here. If that is bad for this city then maybe I am alone. But I know I am not. The revolving doors of businesses on Packard will end soon after Wal-Mart opens. This is a new hope for this town, a town that can finally have a future.

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

Listen AV you are either with Walmart or against it. Stop the whining since you are for it, you will get your Walmart. Cann’t we act nice, now you sound like that recall Sue at the meeting. Lets just be friends. AV you don’t have a clue, constantly switching sides, I am getting dizzy just from you. Then there is Joe from the first district making a comment on how his cloths are made around the world. Now someone from the city chimes in. Walmart had the opportunity to just walk away, but they didn’t. They are not happy until they have the store in Cudahy. Did Walmart put something in the water that you people don’t see the destruction coming? Look at Franklin and how they wish Walmart would have never come to town. Walmart will cause even nonretail bussineses to shutdown. They have that much power and control once they are rooted in Cudahy. Do you think Mr. Barczak will stay in Cudahy? I have good word Sheridans is looking at moving in two years, guess what happens then? Walmart. Cudahy could have been so much more, now lowincome housing will come in, roaches, rats, and the likes of that. I will have moved by then to a city that doesn’t have a Walmart to ruin the place. Don’t be surprised whn the Mayor moves either. Maybe hippy John will come out of retirement and run again.

- Concerned Citizen, Cudahy, WI

Good Grief people!! Wake UP. Wal-Mart is coming and there isnt anything you can do about it. Why don't you tell Ladish to close or Vilter for that matter. People have to make a living and if Wal-Mart is the ticket so be it. At least there won't be a HUGE vacant, contaminated land spot over on the north side of our town. Businesses come and go and FORTUNATELY Wal-Mart will be one to come and STAY!!!!

- p.w., Cudahy, WI

Walmart will be the end of Cudahy just watch. I don’t buy in to that all retail will increase crime line. It is just Walmart! The Mayor had the right idea not to let them in at all cost, even if that means Cudahy pays a lawsuit, so what. It is an empty threat anyways. Do you think one moment the Mayor believes it, well he doesn’t. With Walmart coming in my condo will lose value. People don’t you understand once Walmart takes hold everything will go bad. Walmart is the worst thing that could ever happen to a city and if you could talk privately to any Mayor that has one they would tell you the same. Talk to our Mayor, he knows. I am proud he hates Walmart and all they stand for. And just the 411 he didn’t call the Walmartwatch people, they called him. So many people think they know what is going on in city hall, we are lucky to have a Mayor like we do. You people don’t understand and could not, that is why we are lucky because he knows what is best. I think it is a good thing that he wants to aspire to be more the Cudahy’s Mayor. Congress is where he could do the best work in showing how it needs to be done. He is a man who understands that people want him to make the tough choices that they couldn’t even fathom to understand. You will all be sorry when he leaves for better things and you are stuck with a Walmart high crime and poor people.

- I stand with the mayor, Cudahy, WI

Wal-Mart is not the real issue in Cudahy. It is how we see ourselves and others around us. Wal-Mart will not cause the world to end or even Cudahy to fall apart. What will is the uncompromising people living in the city. Heck it could just be a few haters causing all this ruckus. They could just be bent on causing paranoia and scaring people. For God sake this is a shopping store. I am glad these haters where not around like this when Aldi’s came into Cudahy. It is too bad these people where not around for the Iceport, we would not have ended with the problem if we did. At some point the haters will just need to tone it down. If the Wal-Mart moves on and opens up, it will not be that big of a deal. The Mayor will do the right thing and be in the photo op with a shovel in hand with dirt. I don’t think the Mayor is making this out to be more then what it is, a shopping store. I don’t want to see people hurt over a shopping store. People hating Wal-Mart will never be happy, but the rest of Cudahy can. So for the 90% of Cudahy who either wants the Wal-Mart or doesn’t care we will be happy. The 10% of Wal-Mart haters will be unhappy and start to have frown lines. Simple math, take those that want it and those that don’t care add them together and you have most of Cudahy residents. There is your poll. Simple and easy to understand. If people are worried about how Wal-Mart treats the employees, they need to open their eyes and see that is now the norm. It is not up to the people to tell a business how to run, you do that with the checkbook.

- Richard, Cudahy, WI

Now WalMart is accused of trying to put KMart out of business, Yes, probably true, isn't it called competition??. The newest great comment is we are helping out the Communist Chinese, Is this for real, surely we can get better bloggers than this. And last but not least, I just did an inventory of my clothing, includes Arrow shirts, levi jeans, Dockers, Towncraft, others to numerous to mention, all were made in foreign countries, Cambodia, India, and on and on, and none of these items were purchased at WalMart, they came from Kohls, Target and JC Penny, I'm certain you will find the same at our "beloved KMart"

- Joe, Cudahy, wi

The Walmart is a good thing for Cudahy. It is not the end all be all, it is just a store. It is just a store not a red light district or the golden egg, it is just a store. The recall is not costing the taxpayers money. The recall has not even happen yet. Grow up people, sounds like some scared people. What is hiding that they don’t want found?

- Ed, Cudahy, WI

Yes I cannot wait until the Walmart opens. We need that waterpark put back in. Kids at soccer, kids at the waterpark, kids playing at the park, it is soundling like a kid friendly place. Cudahy could be shaping up to be a place. Doesn’t sound that bad as people make it out to be. Cudahy, kid and family friendly, now that sounds like our next saying.

- Linda B., Cudahy, WI

Ok so what if Pick N Save, Kmart, and Walgreens are not leaving, what about the smaller businesses in this city and the surrounding I am sure they will all close up shop. When Walmart comes in it is the death of the city. The final nail in the coffen. Cudahy will be a ghost town then, you all will see. This is the worst thing ever. I would not be surprised if Ladish and Patrich Cudahy don’t pullup and move out once Walmart comes. Cudahy’s police will be so busy at the Walmart resident’s houses will get burgulerized and the gangs will get out of hand all because we let the Walmart in. People just end the recall and stop wasting taxpayers money. We will need all of it for the police. Cudahy will look like 27th and Cherry once the Walmart comes in. All because this recall. Who cares if there are things on the credit card, so what. Cudahy is not going broke off of it. Stop this madness.

- Stop the madness, Cudahy, WI

Ann Suderman, you must have some information nobody else does, since you heard about the Wave center was for low income kids. This has never been stated, or even talked about. Have you even been to any organized soccer for kids? This isn't cheap. Also having the coach of the Wave doesn't come cheap. Maybe you think that the couple of free camps he gives a year would be there. But that still doesn't mean that's what it will be everyday. The Wave center will mostly be for the Wave players to practice and training of children whose parents can afford it.

AV, You must like the eyesore that is the iceport debacle. The Wave center is the one who will probably need TIF. But this is there for any new business and not just created for this development. It has been there even for the silly iceport. That would have been a complete failure and been closed in 5 years anyways. Then at least there would be an empty building to look at. By the way, did you know that the plan for this iceport included a Wal-Mart to be built almost in same place it is now? This is not a new idea either, it was always a part of the plan until our mayor decided he did not want it here.

Sure there will be a slight rise in crime, Wal-Mart attracts more people. Which includes shoplifters. This is the the major crime being commited at any retail store, not just Wal-Mart. Ask Kmart, Pick'n'Save, or even Walgreens. No anti Wal-Mart person will see this as the truth. But it is. Wal-Mart brings people, who bring money to spend. This in turn brings more businesses to open near so people will spend it in their stores. This is called progress. Giving hope to a community that is slowly dying from all the businesses leaving. More people to spend money will put an end to that.

For all of you Wal-Mart haters that say Wal-Mart does not pay good wages, name one retail store that pays a living wage. Think long and hard, you still will not have any answer. Because there is none. Wal-Mart is usually a second or third job. It mostly hires part time employees like most retail stores do. But as compared to most retail stores Wal-Mart pays better then most.

There is no really good reason to not want this devolpment. Both Pick'n'Save's will not be closing as they have said themselves, Kmart also said this. Walgreen's has also stated they will not be closing. They probably won't sell as many prescription drugs as they used to but that isn't a total loss. Definitely not enough to close their doors. Even if they did, there will be a line of new businesses willing to take over this prime spot.

I am glad this is finally moving forward as over 60% of Cudahy is. Progress is great.

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

will I whine like the pro walmart people and ask for a recall of craig faucett,or that he should be fired. no I will not. I will say mayor McCue has done an excellent job. was it the mayor who did not fill the old kohls building with busineses? what did mayor jake do?? most of these pro walmart people want to use the recall, because like little children they did not get their way. mayor McCue has stood by his pledge as anti walmart, and did he not get the majority of the vote. when it is all said and done I hope this walmart thing doesn't rob more money from the people of cudahy.,

- j. sindric, cudahy wi.

You people got your way Walmart is coming and I hope you are happy. The recall can end now and the city can get back to business. Cudahy’s image doesn’t have to be further damaged by a recall that no longer needs to be done. Stop the digging and checking you will get your beloved Walmart. If you are finding things they can be explained before you twist them. There are reasons for things that people just don’t understand.

- Concerned Citizen, Cudahy, WI

Cudahy is a pro-union city. Sentry went out of Cudahy because Cudahy residents would not support the non-union business operated by the then new owner.

Wal-Mart is not needed in Cudahy. They would take away business from K-Mart, and Cudahy residents love their K-Mart.

Wal-Mart is non-union and attracts crime, creates more litter and brings unsavory people. It's a low level store that will add zero to the quality of life in Cudahy. If Cudahy only looks at attracting money to our fine city, then they've forgotten the quality of life we have in Cudahy. We don't leadership that continues to drag Cudahy toward substandard living. Wal-Mart offers nothing that we don't already have in K-Mart.

Wal-Mart has long worked toward ruining K-Mart, and we don't need a business that intentionally wants to ruin its competition. Besides, Wal-Mart sells so much Chinese Communist junk that another store will only help our money leave the USA at a faster rate while supporting communism. Wal-Mart has done a lot to lessen the strength of America as the #1 super power while building China as the soon-to-be #1 power, and we already know how inhumane they are to people. Just think how many American jobs have been lost by Wal_Mart forcing American companies to relocate to China!!! Do you want to help them continue to do so?

I don't.

- L.A. Van Veghel, Cudahy, WI

I still say the WalMart would be better all the way around at Penn & Layton or replacing the Kmart.

Also, it would be nice if posters ceased and desisted with the name calling all around - that goes for those calling the mayor names like "Major" and "McCueless" and making other disparaging and denigrating remarks about his character as well as all the grossly inappropriate comments directed at Randy Hollenbeck.
We can have sensible public discourse about all the pros and cons of this situation without such language, can't we?

- AV, Cudahy

I don't think that Wal-Mart is a good thing for Cudahy or any other city. They are a big abuser of corporate welfare, at least in the past, they have assisted employees in filling out BadgerCare forms to have us pay for the health benefits that Wal-Mart should be paying for. They drive local businesses out and don't pay their fair share of taxes. If, if they pay their bills the way we all have to, then maybe they would be good for Cudahy. I don't see that happening based on the record so far.

- Tiffany, Cudahy, Wisconsin

Our mayor says he does his due diligentence when making his decisions.Well he certainly has NOT in this case.By now he just has to be aware that the mast majority of the PEOPLE OF CUDAHY want this major developement!
He has taken on the role of KING and what he says goes.
He has refused to put this to a vote because he KNOWS what the people want and it NOT what the KING wants.
If this would turn out to be a mistake it should be the PEOPLES mistake.
We put much small debates on referendums,if this had been given to us this would have been done long ago and this major developement would be standing already.
We have to remember this at election time.Do we want more of him?? I think not!! He is suppose to be working for us,seems he just using Cudahy for a stepping stone to bigger and better things for HIMSELF!!

- Donna, Cudahy

No!!!
Cudahy is a beautiful community and the last thing it needs is a high volume shopping place like Walmart. Especially Walmart, who treats their employees poorly does not offer affordable insurance and buys and manufactures things from third world countries. Shouldn't we be focusing on being "green?" and not ruining our community and paying into something that has helped destroy the economy in America? Can't we do something that doesn't involve somebody getting rich and exploiting others? I cannot even believe that this is being considered. It will DEFINITELY lower the value of the community.
A center for performing arts/sports any thing with more culture than Walmart should be considered. Perhaps something that would benefit the quality of lives in this community should be recognized. Are the people that are making these decisions living within Cudahy? Probably not. I just hope you realize that you are ruining it for the rest of us hard working Salt of the Earth people. Disheartened, Dyan

- Dyan La Belle, Cudahy, Wi

Sol, the recall of Mayor McCue is not just about Walmart as some would have you think. It is about showing his failure to hear the people and follow the procedures of understanding the Mayor is not CEO but middle management with the people as CEO. Many people point out Mayor McCue ran on anti-walmart yet no one can prove it.

- Chris K, Cudahy, WI

Now the TRUTH ! The Milwaukee Wave! They are in the process of reorganizing,this happens all the time in sports.This is a good thing!
I also have talked to managers at Pick n Save and K Mart and No such thing would happen!! Both these stores have leases. Both of these stores do very nicely on 27th street with Wal-Marts on each end.Also a Target! So fear not they are NOT leaving!!

Walgreens leaving??Don't think there are too many corner lots for them to buy up.They will NOT give up that corner. Again how many Walgreens are there on 27th street? All doing very nicely with all that other competition.

And how many NEW stores will follow? They all would love to be next to WAL-Mart where the cars, money, and people are!!

Now thats the truth.

- Cudahy resident forever, Cudahy Wi

Cudahy resident........

My guess is the Cudahy Pick and Save is closing no matter what. The St. Francis is remodeling along with the Oak Creek P&S to compete with Woodman's. No remodeling at the Cudahy store!!! K-Mart may or may not close but that would not be because Walmart moves to town. Poor sales contribute to stores closing.

Dont worry about Walgreens, they will probably build another store in Cudahy, they like to be on every cornor of town.

Maybe the employees can come from all the teenagers just rooming around town causing trouble. Alway hear there are not enough jobs!!

Again, would the last business and resident out of Cudahy please shut off the lights.

Thanks

- Concerned Citizen, Cudahy, WI

Cudahy resident.......

One last thing as far as the Wave. Yes, the league did disband but that was done for business reasons. They full intend to reorganize and play again this fall. The league disbanded (not folded) to rid them selves of previous owner who still had voting rights under the old league bylaws. Even if the league did not come back, the Wave I am sure loses money on games, but draws the crowd and kids who want to participate in their camps which is the bread and butter of the Wave organization. The Wave are a good cooperate citizen and should be welcome into any city.

- Concern Citizen, Cudahy, WI

While I am sure most people know the MISL folded, as people from the Wave have commented on the reason why. Where is this public record Pick 'n' Save and K-Mart are leaving. Doesn’t make much sense since a Pick N’ Save is remodeling and b this is not the first place K-Mart and Pick N’ Save will have encountered Walmart. I am sure Walgreen’s business will slow down, then pickup after the increase of traffic you talk about and that will happen.
How many employees from any company in Cudahy have just Cudahy people? That depends on how many apply.
I have to say you do care one way or the other what goes on this site.

- Also Cudahy Resident, Cudahy, WI

Does anyone realize that the soccer league that the Milwaukee Wave belongs to has folded?

Is it true that Pick 'n' Save and K-Mart have gone on record as stating that if Walmart comes to Cudahy, they will leave?

How long will Walgreens stay on Layton Avenue?

How many tax breaks will Walmart get and if they get any, how will that affect our taxes?

How many Walmart employees are going to actually come from Cudahy?

Can Layton and Nicholson Avenues handle all the traffic that this new venture will bring to the city?

Now I truly don't care one way or the other what goes on this site, but the above questions should really be answered before any final decisions are made.

- Cudahy resident, Cudahy, WI

What if I think both Walmart and the mayor suck? Is there a group for people like me?

- Sol, Cudahy, Wi

Why wouldn't you want a Wal-Mart and Soccer Training field in Cudahy - Mr. McCue says we can do better - but does he tell us how - who has he brought to the table - no one that I know of - take a look at all the empty businesses in Cudahy - the old Kohl's grocery store - that bldg has been vacant for 20 plus years - and then drive down packard ave - how many empty store fronts are there - how about the empty bldgs in packard plaza and pick n'save -they have store fronts have been vacant for 10 plus years - people talk about being worried about crime increasing if a Walmart comes - don't you think that if gas prices and food prices continue to climb like they are crime won't increase - let's look at this realistically - we need the jobs - we need a way for our kids to be healthy.

Pls look at this realistically - and stop turning a blind eye to the positive that this can mean to us all!

- Cudahy Resident, Cudahy, WI

It is refreshing to see one of our commissioners willing to change their mind on a project, even with stipulations. Thank you, Craig Faucett, for being open minded and fair enough to see that the project can be beneficial for Cudahy.

As a nearly lifelong resident of Cudahy, I am still amazed at some of our own citizens' and leaders' perception of our community. Take for instance the comments made in the Journal Sentinel article by James Zsebe:

James Zsebe, who called it a “suburban-type development in a downtown urban area.”

The last time I checked, Cudahy WAS a suburb!! Even downtown Cudaby, when it was thriving, was anything but an urban downtown area!! Downtown Milwaukee, yes. Anyone who has been outside of the friendly confines of Cudahy can tell you what a 'small town' we really are! WalMart is generally welcomed with open arms by small towns! A little bit of travel, to Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Washington DC, will show you what 'urban downtown' really is! The current proposal looks nothing like these!!

I hope the commissioners continue to move forward with this plan in a reasonable manner, without making unreasonable requests of the developers. While it is appropriate to have some say in what the final project should look like, it is not up to the commission to dictate everything--it is not their money to spend, but the developers.

One added benefit of this development plan, whcih no one seems to have mentioned, is the fact that there is public transportation--yes the BUS--that runs right past the site already on Layton Avenue. As the only east-west bus route running into Cudahy, the route 55 bus is constantly on the list for cuts by the county, who seem to feel that we need no buses here! While the fact that increased bus ridership, as in customers to a WalMart, or soccer players, may scare some of you, the fact is this just might help insure continued public transportation for our area. Not something to be taken lightly with the current price of gas.

For the firts time in a number of years, I can say that I am pleased with the powers to be in Cudahy, at least some of them!

- JKV, Cudahy, Wisconsin

now that the Wal-Mart project is almost a reality, I want to ask Mr. Faucett where the 15 million is coming from that Wal-Mart, wants the city to dish out to built this soccer facility? and do citizens know that it's a practice facility, for low income kids? nothing against them. But, we have enough gang activity in this city, just ask one of our police officer. It's time that the city official come clean with the citizens of Cudahy.

- Ann Suderman, Cudahy

The RECALL MEETING is on for tomorrow evening 7:30 6062 Buckhorn Ave. Community Room. The Major still has not heard the PEOPLE!!

- Cudahy resident forever, Cudahy Wi

Lisa,
Please clarify:
WalMart is now NOT going to request any TIF AND is also NOT asking Cudahy to forgive Sportsites the $6 million owed?

My only beef is with Cudahy taxpayers having to fork out more $$$ to develop this site. If it is true that WalMart could just grab the Cobalt site at Penn & Layton at half the cost and at a benefit to Cudahy taxpayers, then why isn't WalMart doing that? Seriously, there is no argument that makes any sense prohibiting WalMart there.

- AV, Cudahy

It seems no matter where a Wal-Mart is located, the immediate area at least becomes an almost instant slum. While driving through the upscale suburban Vernon Hills, Illinois, I stopped by the Wal-Mart there thinking I may encounter a better experience that would change my opinion. Nothing changed. What is it about this retailer that brings with it a sense of cultural decay?

And what jobs at Wal-Mart allow people to live decently in any community? Perhaps some of the managerial positions pay enough, but I doubt that many of the most vocal advocates of this store make anywhere near the low incomes that most Wal-Mart employees earn.

Such empty promises... Remember the 'Bring it home to the U.S.A.' campaign?

- Corby Anderson, Cudahy, WI

How long before this project is approved and ground broken. 2 years - 3, 4, 5? Downtown Cudahy masterplan? What a joke, mayor and commission!

- Dennis, Cudahy, WI

Four got it right, three got it wrong, including the Mayor! Thanks for the 4 that are looking to move Cudahy forward! To the 3 who are waiting for light rail and the flying chickens, GET OUT OF TOWN!

Again, our Mayor votes against a major project! Way to be business friendly! Maybe they could line the place with bars used car lots and loan joints, that would make you happy! Our chamber of commerce, who supposedly has a charter to attract business, is a joke! What is a matter Ray, Paul, Jeff, don't like a Walmart, maybe they could sell ice skates at a low price, as a tribute to Glowacki's follies!!!, sponsored by our Cudahy business leaders!

Bring on soccer, bring on hotel, and bring on Walmart! We need it, all of it!!!!

- Average Cudahy Citizen, Cudahy, Wi

I believe the city should approve this. Right now the failed iceport is an eyesore and the city doesn't need another check cashing store or condo. If Walmart as well as the city's most successful pro sporting franchises the Wave helps keep my (already too high for the type of area) property taxes from going up, then I say good. I like Walmart, and believe we need competition to overpriced Kmart. I hope my council member votes for it.

- JAMES, CUDAHY,WI

I congratulate the council members that voted in favor of the use of the site and the site plan. Time will tell, but this is a good use of the site, and solves the legal and environmental problems. Insisting on a development agreement is an excellent idea--I was surprised that isn't typically done in Cudahy. However, it shouldn't be so onerous, that it becomes unreasonable to the development.

Perhaps the City should hire the proper consultants, including legal, to draft a good document. There are some complex issues to deal with--not the least of which is the contamination. There should be no question that the City (and ultimately residents) are held harmless to any future costs.

I thought it a bit silly that there was quabbling about 70 parking spaces. Better to build what's needed now, then in the future. Considering you have an open boat lot across the street, and a used car lot with cars parked to the street, the additional parking spaces shouldn't be a big issue.

The people that spoke in favor did an outstanding job. Not quite sure what the reporter meant about only 10 people there that weren't "senior citizens!"

One comment I'd like to respond to, is the one that WalMart does not pay their share of real estate taxes across the country. Any business or property owner has the right to challenge their assessment. Any large user of real estate is going to challenge their real estate tax bills--and in some cases their assessment is too high. It's only good business sense to keep a lid on the real estate tax costs. It does not mean, as the speaker stated, that everyone else pays for the reduction in taxes as appropriate.

- Gail Stollenwerk, Cudahy, WI

I must admit that the temptation is great to put anything in a space that was approved for a project that fell through. However, we do not want to be like our neighbors to the north(St. Francis) putting ourselves in a position of hoodwinking developments through city council. Those shabby and ugly condos on Lake Drive were supposed to be a marina and public space. Let's not take a project like the iceport, which was an upscale development and turn it into another big box or strip mall that will be gone in 10 years. The mayor is correct. We can do better for that site.

Lastly, the movement to recall is asinine. Just because you disagree with a leadership decision does not constitute grounds for recall. In fact it would be more unethical to slam a Wal-Mart into a site designated for an upscale retail development.

- E. F. Johnson, Cudahy, WI

I do not think the Plan Commission should have approved the Wal-Mart in Cudahy. The sports facility, yes; Wal Mart, no. We have a department store - K-Mart; we have two grocery stores - Pick N Save and Aldi's; we have a fabric/craft store - JoAnn Fabrics, there is a hardware store - Gregg's True Value. We don't need a super center to take customers away from these stores. I've been in a Wal-Mart three times - once in Milwaukee with my daughter who was looking for 'inexpensive' toys for gifts to send to Africa; once in Lincoln, Nebraska with my college-age daughter because it was all she could afford; and once in Lexington, Kentucky for my youngest college-age daughter because it was the closest. The only way I would shop in the Wal-Mart in Cudahy is if there were no other place to go, and then it would be with great reluctance. Let's support the businesses we have in Cudahy and build the hotel and sports complex, but leave Wal-Mart out!

- Jeannie Schultz, Cudahy, WI

Thank you Craig Faucett for changing your vote!

- Thank You, Cudahy, WI

We’d like to set the record straight with regards to claims that Wal-Mart is asking for a taxpayer subsidy to build in Cudahy. Those making this claim are wrong, and are attempting to scare taxpayers and city officials.

Let us be clear: Wal-Mart will not receive, and is not asking for, any financial subsidy for its development.

It’s important to know however, that the City of Cudahy created a tax-increment finance district (TIF) years ago to develop the Iceport site, which failed. The City of Cudahy borrowed over $5 million to invest in this site. The city has spent this money, development has not occurred and because of that, a tax base at the Iceport site does not exist to repay this debt.

We want to be part of the solution. Wal-Mart will indeed pay taxes, and will create the property value necessary in the TIF to generate the revenue needed to finally make the Iceport site a success for Cudahy.

Continental Properties has put together a top-notch development that will create the tax base the city needs to repay its debt. At the same time, this plan brings a national discount retailer to the community and includes a state-of-the-art destination sports facility, retail shops and a hotel. All put together by a local, well-respected developer. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Close to a month ago, the plan for Cudahy Station appeared to be dead. But following some careful, creative planning, and the persistent, positive support of Cudahy residents, the plan for Cudahy Station has been given new life.

On June 10th a new plan will be presented to the Cudahy Plan Commission that addresses the concerns that have been raised. A great deal of time and thought has gone into its development, and we are appreciative for the opportunity to present again and answer questions.

The success we’ve had at Wal-Mart is very real – and it’s not only because we save people money, but because we help them live better. We do this in many ways, through jobs, opportunities, community involvement and of course, low prices that help stretch hard-earned dollars in today’s economy. We want to do that in Cudahy.

Please join us for the meeting on June 10th at 7:00 pm at the Cudahy Municipal Building to see the new elements in the plan, and help us bring them to life in Cudahy.

- Lisa B. Nelson, Sr. Manager of Public Affairs, Wal-Mart Stores,

With Chicago picked as one of four finalist for 2016 Olympics, if it does happen in Chicago spill over will help Milwaukee and Cudahy. Even more so if the Wave Center can help with possibly an event and let us hope the hotel is up by then. Even with the Post Office relocating having a Wal-Mart close by for the workers to shop on lunchtime will help and maybe if fast food is also built in Cudahy around the Ice Port more customers. Wal-Mart and Cudahy’s customer base just increased by 2,000 people.

- Tommy, Cudahy, WI

Cudahy is in the midst of deciding whether a Wal-Mart supercenter will be allowed on a 26-acre Layton Ave. site, which now features the rusting skeleton of the infamous Iceport hockey rinks. Euphemisms like "big-box retail" are used, but it really comes down to Wal-Mart.

The whole issue has me frustrated and irate. I'll skip the history lesson on how it got to this point. I'd need a flowchart, and it's really not important. (Full disclosure: I own 50 shares of Wal-Mart stock, and I lived in Cudahy for 35 years.)
Suffice it to say, this is Cudahy's third chance at a Wal-Mart at this site in the past eight years, with the Plan Commission to reconsider a modified version of the proposal June 10.
Of course the Wal-Mart should be approved, and it should be a matter of principle.
Twenty-six acre sites along main arterial roads with excellent traffic ingress/egress, among lots of other retailers are precisely where Wal-Marts belong, and everyone who is intellectually honest knows it.
What are the principled reasons for opposing it?
Cudahy residents know what Wal-Marts are. They don't need experts to tell them whether they want one or not. Just ask them in a referendum. It'll never happen because city planners who oppose the Wal-Mart know how that would come out. They'd rather tell you what's good for you than ask.
Wal-Mart and Cudahy go together like peanut butter and jelly. Cudahy residents shop at Wal-Mart, but they have to travel about 60 east/west blocks and 16 north/south blocks to get to one, and those aren't supercenters.
My educated guess is that if Wal-Mart is turned away again, it will find a location in Bay View and will never be interested in Cudahy again. There wouldn't be support for both - retailing near the lake is limiting.
Wal-Mart's 2007 tax bill for its property at Southgate: $235,000. For Germantown: $284,000. For Midtown Center: $368,000.
If Cudahy is bound and determined, it can miss out on that type of development. Cudahy residents still will shop and work at Wal-Marts; they'll just have to spend more time and drive farther.
Wal-Marts attract people and other development. A Cudahy location would draw from South Milwaukee, St. Francis, Bay View and even downtown Milwaukee with its 10-minute connection via the Lake Parkway. This is why all the dire predictions for areas where Wal-Marts locate are so often monumentally wrong. Take a look at how Wal-Mart revitalized the Midtown Center area (former Capitol Court) and how big-box retailing did the same thing for Miller Park Way. Stunning.
Here is my ranking of the top challenges older cities like Cudahy face: 1) Crime. 2) Property neglect. 3) Poor city planning. 4) Taxes.
Nice stores with great selection and low prices didn't make the list.
Here is my ranking of real reasons Wal-Marts are opposed: 1) Jealousy at their success. 2) Wal-Mart's non-union stance. 3) Fear of competition. 4) Fear of looking bad when you make dire predictions and it ends up a hit. 5) Communities not wanting to attract minorities.
These are rarely the reasons given and certainly are not principled.
The reasons from Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue for voting against the proposal don't make sense. He cited being able to "do better" at that site but doesn't define that. He also doesn't offer alternatives.
Convenience, low prices, stable jobs, new development and tax revenue sound pretty good to me.
If Cudahy chooses to try to reacquire the land, it may be successful without a long, expensive court fight. It may not have to spend much on cleanup and demolition. It may get a good price for the land. It may attract a better development than Wal-Mart. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
Spurning Wal-Mart again sounds about as risky as an Iceport.

- Gary Kraeger, Cudahy, WI

Former Citizen, jobs, strong family and strong police department will solve many teen’s drug problems, not all.

- Current Citizen, Cudahy, WI

Here is a good reason why Cudahy needs the Wal-Mart
Unemployed Man Had Father Killed so He Could Take His Job
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=162557&in_page_id=2

Please don’t let Cudahy’s crime go up, yes to Wal-Mart, yes to jobs

- Cudahy Needs jobs, Cudahy, WI

Jim H your opinion carries little weight since you are a house flipper and will not stick around. The major may believe you, but most can see you as your own interest of a house flipper. Walmart is not even going to be that close to the house you are fixing up and will flip.

- Tim Williams, Cudahy, WI

Maybe instead of the Mayor giving us seniors a speech at the Kelly center, the Mayor should give us seniors a Walmart. When you are on a fixed income every penny counts, unless the Mayor doesn’t care about us seniors.

- Richard, Cudahy, WI

Cudahy already has the rash of crime you speak of, and the last time Cudahy had someplace for the teens to go the Cudahy police had it closed because of the unruly teens. Yes I have been here for years and years.

The 6 million you speak of was never discussed by Wal-Mart, only by someone that wants to put up their own public market here. Just so you know. Wal-Mart pays as well as Patrick Cudahy, and has just as good of insurance. Patrick Cudahy also has the dirty parking lots, you just don't see them from Layton or Packard anymore. I also bet more crime is committed by their employees (since they do not hire many Cudahy residents anymore) then any other place around. This is because they have more employees to be charged.

I know people who work at both stores, obviously you don't. If you did you would know that it is a nice place to work. Just as nice as any place where you would work a part time job.

Target is a nice store as well, but they have not offered to come here. Neither has Costco or any other stores or businesses. I would like a new business here to help with the job situation but that will not happen under the mayor's regime.

As we can see Jim H. wants us to wait for a few more years before we build anything on this land. Yet I see more houses being torn down with no plans to build anything on them. No offers as well. Why tear down a perfectly good house with no plans to build, or even a proposal to build?

The few anti Wal-mart people bring you crime statistics. Saying how they will rise. Well of course there will be shoplifters. Just look at Pick and Save, they catch them there everyday too. Should we then close this store down too? They pay terribly, so should we boycott them? That makes no sense.

The only thing that truly does make sense is to take the ONLY offer that has come along. This is a step in the right direction. A few here also say it will close small businesses. I live near Packard and can tell you not many people shop there anyways. Most are revolving doors for new shops anyways even though we do not have the Wal-Mart to force this. Most are not doing well now, the high taxes do not help at all.

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

Rejecting the proposal was a GREAT thing.

Why - in the name of cheap prices the repeatedly underpay their workforce, they source the majority of their product from third world countries where many of the products are made in sweat shop conditions, many of their employees have to depend on government sponsored health care at a cost to the taxpayers, they employ their lawyers to dodge their tax burden pushing those costs to the citizens of the locale, they have forced good paying American jobs overseas along with the taxes on that income leaving the rest of the people to pick up the load.

The facts show that when you subtract the taxes left unpaid by companies that downsize or close after Wal-Mart opens there is generally a net loss in taxes. This big box would put the nails in coffins our small businesses and drive them out.

This deal does not make sense for Cudahy. It will result in increased traffic, more noise, dirty streets and parking lots and increased pollution. Just look at the area surrounding the one that is just a few miles away on 27th street. And have you looked at the police reports for that area? Is that what you want in Cudahy? The area being proposed for this is wrong. If people here have to have this big bad neighbor, put it closer to the parkway on Pennsylvania.

Cudahy has great potential to be a great city and a great place to live. Wal-Mart won't get us there. The Iceport land can be a lot more than a big box parking lot; this is simply the wrong use for this valuable piece of property. We need to treat it that way, and take a careful approach to using it for something that will truly benefit the community rather than create more problems and ruin the potential for this land.

I congratulate the Mayor for having the courage and foresight to vote as he did.

I sincerely hope that the Milwaukee Wave can build a practice facility in Cudahy, only without Wal-Mart

- Jim H, Cudahy, WI

RECALL THEM ALL!!!!!!

- Dennis, Cudahy, WI

David Fehl, I have my fact straight. It was stated in a recent article that Wal-Mart would ask for 6 million dollars to put up the wonderful store you are so much in favor of. As far as why I may care, because I have the right to care and voice my opinion about what I may percieve as good for the city I grew up in, it is called Freedom of Speech , in case you didn't know. I care because the last thing I want to see happen to Cudahy is for a new store to come in attract indiviuals that maybe a threat to the citizens. Better up keep, HAPPY employees, better working conditions? HA! Have you ever been to the Wal-Mart on HWY 100 or on 27th Street? Look at the store, the parking lot, the indiviuals that shop there for the wonderful low prices, do you want Cudahy to be in the news for good things or for yet another hold up or rash of crime? I don't need anything or anyone that may or may not come to Cudahy to benefit me to care about the city I grew up . You seem to be the one who is afraid that if Wal-Mart doesn't come to Cudahy there would be no benefits for you. Just because I don't live there doesn't mean I don't care. I can shop at better stores such as Target (not exactly Macy's or Nordstroms), because I choose to and because the overall appearance of those stores tops Wal-Mart by far. Give it a few years and The Wonderful World of Wal-Mart you dream of will look just like the crappy K-Mart you hate so much. Notice the connection , Wal-Mart and K-Mart? Same stores just different prefixes. And those big name brands you talk about , they sell those at Target too, for about the same price as your great Wal-Mart. If you think a Wal-Mart store is a destination spot, you need to get out of Cudahy a bit. Oak Creek, that city has destination spots , and WHAT A SHOCKER NO WAL-MART! You don't have to like or agree with my comments, but please don't question why I care about Cudahy and think that I NEED to benefit from something like a Wal-Mart. Perhaps, you should open your mind and think about other's opinions and appreciate the fact that former citizens still hold Cudahy close to thier hearts. Here's an idea how about a place for today's youth to go to instead of the streets and committing crimes? You think a Wal-Mart will help with the growing teen drug problem?

- Former Citizen, Somewhere else

Wow, it is great to see the level of dialogue this whole Sportsite debate has created. I recall a time when politicians bemoaned the fact that too many citizens were too silent. However, I am sorry to see some of the attacks that occur by unidentified writers. To the "unidentified business owner" who seems to have her/his sites on me, I would say, let's chat. Come on over and I'll buy you a coffee. Heck, I'll buy you lunch if you have anything constructive to offer. But if you have ideas, quite hiding and bring them on. It's so easy to criticize when you have nothing to offer.
For the record, we do shop at WallyWorld, as my family affectionatly calls it. We are interested in saving money and are not thrilled to pay taxes any more than anyone else. I clip coupons and use discounts wherever I can get them. In short, I do not waste money.
But I believe 100% in the long term potential of Cudahy and this deal doesn't make sense on the short or long term. As my Gramps used to say, "that dog just don't hunt". And as far as "threatening the city" as my nameless critic suggests, if I could get tenants to sign letters of intent that a bank would accept, I'd start construction tomorrow. I believe in Cudahy and put my money where my mouth is.
I have spoken to The Cobalt people and they would love WalMart on their site. How far further west is that, a mile or less? I have asked the mayor and two alderpersons if they would support it there and they have said yes. What more do we want?
Instead of silly recalls and nameless criticism, let's get together and get some excitement going in this city positioned so well on the lake, near the parks and so close to downtown. Are we so full of low self-image that we cannot envision a different city in our future? Why live here if you don't feel it has anything to offer? We chose to be here and are glad we did.

- Lee Barczak, Cudahy, WI

Worse than nothing

I've heard many comments from people in support of a Wal-Mart Supercenter being built on the former Iceport property. There is something glaring that has jumped out at me regarding many of these comments. It seems a significant number of people have just taken a "better than nothing" approach to their view point. Please allow me to add a very real condition that exists in real estate development, called "worse than nothing."

This occurs when a development, which is not considered an appropriate or recommended land use, is rushed to approval without a thorough review or proper time for due diligence, when tax-revenue benefits are still obscure and questionable, when the costs of city services (police, fire, emergency, etc.) have not been looked at closely, when the potential loss of revenue from existing business closures have not been factored in, and when the negative impact and blight from more vacant storefronts and strip malls has not been considered. This leads to a "worse than nothing" condition.

This need not happen. Cudahy is positioned well for a revival. Risk-takers have moved to the community and have begun to invest large sums of money into their properties. More will follow if their lead is taken and their voices heard. This is how long-term development and revitalization happens in the right way. It takes courage and vision. The people that have started this have created the
model by which Cudahy can move forward and shine. The former Iceport property is unique, especially for a traditional small-town community. Care should be taken and time given to attract a truly inspirational development, the purpose of which is not to compete with and overpower Cudahy's existing businesses and way of life, but to complement them.

- Rick Macek, Bay View

Cudahy Parent, I have driven around the site many times. I still haven't found a house any closer then 2 blocks away, and that is under estimating the true distance. Do you support the non union Kmart dump? Well from comments you must not since you like unions. I am a Teamster and I support Wal-Mart. Cudahy needs business and jobs. Wal-Mart will bring both.

I truly believe you are another out of towner that is just adding another anti Wal-Mart post.

Bill T, Thank you for adding that survey, it shows the true feelings of people around here. I live only about 4 blocks from the site and would love to not have to drive to the store I like to shop and save money at, and maybe work part time at. As we can see more people approve then disapprove of Wal-Mart being there. The mayor saying that everyone that wasted their vote on him, voted for him because of his promise to not let Wal-Mart here, that survey proves him wrong again.

Support the recall of this bad mayor and support the Wal-Mart. We as a community can do better.

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

Try to be real, a Walmart, right there????

- Nancy, Cudahy, WI

I want Wal-mart to come to Cudahy Cudahy
is a blue collar community sitting along
the lake so not too many business want to develope here as development to the east can't be done. The land is contaminated and who has the money to clean it up but a big store like a Wal-Mart and I understand other stores are not interested. Wal-mart attracts other
business to come and if it is good for
affluent communities like Lake Geneva why not Cudahy?

- Lucille & John Drana, Cudahy, Wisconsin

I have read these posted comments and I would like to know, do any of you live near the perposed site that Wal-Mart wants to build? I do and I do not want to live near one. If you non union store lovers want your Wal-Mart, what about the site of the old Sentry, since that is an eye sore.

- Cudahy Parent, Cudahy, WI

I support a Super walmart here

I am a Longtime cudahy resident and property owner that is tired of looking at the pile of rubble on layton ave(it is an eyesore and potential hazard).A Superwalmart would produce tax dollars and jobs for our community.With the gas prices rising,it would save local residents money,as they would not have to drive to burlington for the in store savings.I only support a super walmart,not a regualr walmart(we have enough of those in the area)

- Sandra mallas, cudahy wi 53110

Of course they should approve the walmart. Maybe the 3rd time is a charm! Our city needs things for the kids, like the wave, rather than Dretzka's shopping or hanging out in gangs, or beating up kids at schools.

Bring on some real development, rather than the NOTHING we have seen in the last year! The bakery closed, and any new businesses opened in town were a couple of years ago, under another Mayor.

Like they say, "just do it"!

- nancy p, cudahy

Should Cudahy approve a Wal-Mart Superstore for the former Iceport site?

Yes
62%

No
31%

Undecided
7%
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/poll/index.html?poll_id=5695

- Bill T., Cudahy, WI

Laughing hard obviously has no point other then the one on the top of his/her head. Since you aren't a resident your vote means nothing.

Making fun of a real situation that has happened to Mr Hollenbeck is in very bad taste. It shows your immaturity. The Wal-Mart haters have stooped very low in their efforts to stop this recall and stop Cudahy from moving ahead.

The Truth, if you want to hear the truth, come to the meeting on June 10, even though the mayor will try to fill the building with a lot of anti Wal-Mart people again. The truth will be told by the developers in their presentation, as it was last time. They do real studies on these things and bring a lot of facts to present to the council. The mayor does not want the public to vote on this because we would have a Wal-Mart already if he did. I have attended a few of these and they have more then enough information to support a yes vote by any normal citizen. Most of the people who post here and on Mr. Hollenbeck's blog site are out of towners and their voice means nothing. They do not care about Cudahy or it's citizens. To quote a favorite show of mine, "The truth is out there."

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

Is Wal-Mart would have been good for Cudahy. The average amount people in Wisconsin make is $12.50 so Wal-Mart is not too far off. I hope the PC approves it like they did in Muskego. Hey they have recall there too. Copycats

- Jim, Cudahy, WI

Maybe we could build a convention center, that NO ONE Would use, rather than a Walmart. Come on McCue, you sound like Glowacki and the Kudahy Khamber of Kommerce, and may be you can begin to look like him.

That great business organization of the city, is just as clueless as you, Mayor Ryan MCCue. May be the iceskating convention could be the first convention we book at the convention center! HA Ha HA !! What a joke our leader ship is in this community!!!

Get the Walmart, get the wave into Cudahy , and get McCue and Glowcacki out of town!

- Donny Wock, Cudahy

Did you know that 3 of the 4 no votes from the planning commissioners don't even live in Cudahy? That is the truth. Three of those voting no don't even live in Cudahy.

- Tim R, Cudahy, WI

Dear Cudahy: As someone who has been REALLY close to this set of deals since LONG ago, I urge you to get 100% behind putting the Wal-mart at the former Milw. County landfill at Penn and Layton. That site is a true brownfield (a former landfill) and you'll never in 100 years do better than a Wal-mart on that site...and Wal-mart might be singularly able to make that site work. It will need a LOT of TIF help to make it work, and trust me, it needs the help, but once its paid off, a Wal-mart there will pay off handsomely for a LONG time. Oh, by the way, one of the parcels that make up the Penn/Layton set of site is owned by...YOU (yes, a former Cudahy landfill is found right there.) Save the Sportsites land for smaller scale mixed use development. It might take time to absorb the remaining acreage...but don't worry, it is a valuable piece of land and represents a great opportunity you don't want to waste to reposition Cudahy. Last, don't worry about Sportsites, their lawsuit is toothless. They are in default on their development agreement, and trying like hell to hang on.

- InTheKnow, Can't say

It looks as there is a lot of information being tossed around regarding the financial situation of the plot of land in question. Some of you are stating that financially it doesn't make sense for Cudahy to enter into an agreement with Walmart..Others have numbers to support otherwise. THAT IS THE PROBLEM! For both sides. Where can an average citizen from Cudahy get the truth about what it will actually cost, and how the deal is actually presented? I am positive that if people of Cudahy were explained the truth by direct parties involved and not speculators and BS'ers we would make the right decision. My belief is that local government should be ran by the majority party, by votes.. It's simple. A situation like the Walmart project should be explained to the people of Cudahy and then be voted on, BY THE CUDAHY PEOPLE! These people that are disputing the Walmart from other areas "Walmart haters" should have no say!! They do not own a house here. They do not have children here. There future is not involved here.. I bought my house in Cudahy 3 years ago because I saw potential in this area.. In this community. Cudahy is a undiscovered treasure that with the right leadership can flourish as a small community!! We have great parks, a beautiful part of Lake Michigan, great people and families to support our area. It's time to lose the stigma that Cudahy currently has and make a step in the right direction for all of us. If there is somewhere to gather this information please let us know.. Thanks

- The Truth, Cudahy, WI.

Former Citizen, Wal-Mart has not asked for any money to build, that would be the Wave center. Get your facts srtaight. If you are a former citizen then why do you even care? Afraid that it might actually help Cudahy without any benefit to you? Wal-Mart is by far a better store then the crappy run down Kmart we have, in every aspect. It pays better, has better working conditions, better store upkeep, and HAPPY employees. I am happy that you can afford to shop at better stores for the big name brands. Most of Cudahy is having a hard time with the raise in taxes and gas prices. Wal-Mart will bring more businesses with it as it always does, and make Cudahy a destination spot again.

Laughing Hard, the league did fold but will be back under a new name and new ownership. This will not hurt the Wave in any way. Besides we already have the best soccer coach in the world here. His presence alone and his coaching clinics will still bring young soccer players here to learn from him in the new Wave center, with or without the league. But unfortunately for you it will be back, and the Wave will continue it's winning ways. So keep laughing, your the only one who finds humor in it. Stay in South Milwaukee, Cudahy has enough of it's own problems.

- David Fehl, Cudahy, WI

Bravo to Muskego on plans to move forward on Wal-Mart!!!! One more for the books that Cudahy is losing out on!!!

- P.W., Cudahy ALWAYS!!!

Refer to J Flynn, Im scared to use my real name, Walmart Lover thugs might cause me bodily harm.

I would like it noted in and on public record via this forum message, that if anyone has any knowledge or partaking in of threatening and/or harassing electronic correspondences, but not limited to, to me and/or South Milwaukee residents , but not limited to, email and/or blog comment(s) entries to those parties or party to have them cease and desist at once.

I would also like to have it noted in and on public record via this forum message that if any bodily harm, foul play, and/or any type of retaliation for my hate of Wal-Mart and the crime infestation it brings and/or the admiration of Mayor Ryan Mccue for standing up to intimidating goons like i see here everyday, a full investigation be taken on my behalf.

- Laughing hard in, South Milwaukee

now understand why our newly elected officials would rather see rotting steel structure on this site, rather than a Walmart, Wave Facility, and other development. It is because we would lose our 3rd highest ranking in Milwaukee County in taxes. (See Milwaukee Journal Tax Comparison, Section F, Page 4, Sunday February 3, 2007 metro edition).

That's right folks, our newly elected officials have reveresed a three year trend, 2004 - 3, 2005 - 4, 2006 - 7, and now in 2007, back to 3. The ranking had been going down from 2004 to 2007, and hey, we are back amoung the top.

Do our newly elected officials feel that tons of developers are going to bring bushel baskets of money into Cudahy, during one of the deepest recessions in our countries last 25 years? Most home buyers, and businesses, are tightening their belts because banks are not lending out money like they had been in the last 5 years.

Walmart is probably one of the few corporations right now in the retail community that has the financing to create some development on this site. Coupled with the Wave facility, wouldn't this make it a destination point?

Or, maybe we could wait for Metra to come (ha ha ha , not until at least 2012!!!), and someone could developed the still rusting structture at that point, into an orange monument, (just like the one at the end of Wisconsin Avenue). Hey, that would be art, and truly a Cudahy destination point.

Or, maybe we could just wait, have no development on the site, no increase of the TIF value, no tax relief to the citizens, so our elected officials could raise taxes on the rest of us so high, that we could gain the #1 ranking. Only Shorewood on the other east side is #2, maybe we could let no development happen, so we can catch them, or over take them next year.

Anyways, Mayor, Council Members, just begin to do something on this site, rather than just raise taxes, our rating, and create nothing!!

- Mr. Extremely Over Taxed, Cudahy, WI

Wal-Mart doesn't want money to build you say? What about the $6 million they want Cudahy taxpayers to fork over? This same thing happened in other WI cities and guess what the stores closed after only 15 years of business. Sounds like Wal-mart wants money to put up a another store that will turn to trash. Great Job Mayor on keeping Wal-Mart out! If Wal-mart is so great why don't the heads of this great company fork over the money for this super store they want to burden Cudahy with?

- Former Citizen, Somewhere Close

We need to be at that meeting June 10th,the WAL-Mart Haters are coming.We have been subjected to this egomaniac speaking at our neighborhood watch meetings and now at the meet the major meetings. He loves to hear him self talk.He is an embarassment to himself and others as his Facts are from years ago and do not apply in the current Wal-mart structure.For his personal reasons he hates WAL-MART .So he needs not shop there.Stop telling us why he thinks we should hate Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart does provide decent insurance,stock options and benfits. I have family members working there and are very happy!Wal-Mart jobs are for a second income and those just wanting to get out of the house a bit.Not the MAJOR bread winner.

The majority of Cudahy residents want this major developement to happen and give our city a little life.

Build it and they will come(New Stores),it has happen all over Wisconsin in dying Cities Wal-Mart came and New businesses popped up all around.

- Cudahy resident forever, Cudahy

Refer to Laughing in South Milwaukee, could you please explain what point you are attempting to make??
also, if one has something to say, why not use your name????

- J Flynn, Cudahy, Wi

Yes we should have a walmart, the Mayor could use his city credit card to buy pizza's for all the city employees (on our tax dollar) at a much more affordable pr