Yes kinda late of a post from the Journal Times but perhaps The City Administer Tom Friedel needed to approve the story first but to the point the pitch to steal your money for a dead Racine has begun
From the Journal Times “…
YORKVILLE — At the end of Tuesday night’s meeting on funding options for the proposed Downtown arena, Mayor John Dickert drew on a piece of wisdom he said he learned from a nun during high school.
Wow the City needing to remove street lights and cut the Bus service to almost nothing wants to pay 2/3 of the cost of a 40+ Million Arena. Well not the city so much as you the tax payer so the Downtown Racine bar owners can make more money, after all the Bar Owners have been good to Mayor Dickert (well the white bar owners the Black-Hispanic mostly being driven from the area)
As the County Board goes forward looking at this I do hope they look at the results of other City of Racine projects:
Porter’s: Unknown amount spent site now empty
Delta Hawk Unknown Amount spent from City of Racine and State 100 + Jobs promised: Company sold to others unknown jobs no job numbers ever given in public
Machinery Row, Millions lent State Tax credits approved Federal/State Grants given:
Legal action between partners, Legal Action on former owner, Loan not repaid, no building going on at site no activity can be seen from street, Racine County web site appears to say that the project IS NOT PAYING TAXES
Strong rumor is that a State grant will be used to buy land given to Machinery Row by the City so the property tax bill is paid …?
And the Racine County Board is thinking of doing ANYTHING with the city of Racine that’s right its not their money its yours and the right folks will benefit and that is not you.
From the Journal Times http://journaltimes.com/news/local/dickert-arena-proposal-would-bring-hundreds-of-jobs/article_8e143ead-e62d-5ca0-ba8a-250698a0a399.html “…
While that’s been taking place, Mayor John Dickert has been working behind the scenes and in tandem with the county to make the project a reality.
“This is a community opportunity,” Dickert said. “This is not a city or county thing or anything else. This is all of us partnering together on an opportunity to create jobs.”
Those jobs are a vital benefit of the arena proposal, which was presented publicly for the first time to the County Board Tuesday. The $40 million events center would add more than 300 jobs as well as 450 construction jobs during the building process, according to Dickert. …”
Well now let just look at his track record on projects our fine Mayor has talked about
Team Porters Number of Jobs 0 Site is now a field of grass
Delta Hawk Jobs promised 100 Jobs created ?? Business sold to another local company no report ever given that I am aware of, we were that if X jobs where not created the money given by the City of Racine would be “clawed back” no idea if that was ever stared nor occurred
Machinery Row a 60 Million project city loans given Grants received for the project
so far..
The loan not paid back talks to extend loan payments, from a review of city of Racine information on line not happening and from what I can find from the City and county of Racine the properties are behind on taxes! Yes Machinery Row is NOT paying taxes (gee I thought they would have to?). We are also told that work on the Brownfield issues are being done as I type this, however the most number of cars I have seen at this site is 3 so I can only think that no this is not happening.
From what I can see and read from pubic information is nothing is going on at the site and Machinery Row like Porters is well kinda dead
Of course we have the 800K “lost” loan from a building on Main st as you know from the Journal Times the paper work securing this loan kinda of sorta got lost not filed not done in the first place.
Damn Racine is good when it comes to doing/following up on projects
Questions that should be ask include is the Brewhouse at Reef Point Marina paying rent yet?
How many “Boaters” outside the Zip code of Racine have come to Reef Point Marina? Is it covering its own costs?
How much money has Venue Works lost in running Festival Hall last report is 300K in the red. Gee how much money can they lose on this?
Our Mayor of course is saying what a great place a arena would be for the area you know the Jobs we have the folks coming to downtown Racine etc You know the lies we have been told for years and years but this time it will be different.
Of course it will be sure you know I got this great bridge for sale in New York
“Schools seek $8.5 million – Unified to ask voters for 15 years of additional revenue”
What???
How dare RUSD ask for 1 more $$ yet alone 8.5 Million in a time that MORE in Racine are Unemployed, The City of Racine it’s self is not filling openings on the Police Force to basically lay off 10 police officers and the City of Racine facing a RICO lawsuit court fights over tax assessments, and not being able to keep what few events at the Civic Center coming back.
Economic turmoil going on as we speak with a long time Racine employer moving out of the city taking 300 jobs with it.
Yet RUSD is asking for more money to “run” the schools WTF!!!
Schools that cant get Minority kids to graduate, scores of the RUSD Schools should be getting “Leadership” at RUSD fired for such poor piss poor ability to teach kids have no shame in demanding more of YOUR money.
As I see it, RUSD as one of the commentators said today 8/14/14 should ask County Executive Jim Ladwig for some of the profits from Reefpoint Marina, perhaps from the restaurant that is paying NO RENT (must be nice) Maybe ask the DRC for a percentage of the millions spent on the booming downtown (Boy will they not be shocked with the higher property taxes coming via TIF 18 and Machinery Row) I am sure the store owners will line up to chip in the stores on 6th St will insist on being first to do so!
And Porters being so so successful with Roll out the big bucks as will Delta Hawk for all the Jobs they have brought to Racine!
As I see it, the City of Racine is as I call this blog a City in Ruins run now by a Mayor that history will say was one of the most corrupt in the Midwest ever.
Yet RUSD wants more of your money, After all cost lots of money to pay Administration 100K+ to fail to teach kids so we have have a vast pool of unemployable workers to work at min wage jobs or become addicted to State benefits to keep the Democrats in power.
Could be worse our other elected officials could be just having one great party Oh…
On my way home from Neighborhood Night Out for West 6th St (or was it moved further West to reduce the numbers of Blacks and Hispanics attending) I thought a short walk for me and behold a very nice SUV pulls up and a well dressed man asks me to get it that lets say a Mr N wants to talk to me with a look that tells me that it be a real good idea to get in the car so away I go!!
Went to the Lake Front where Mr.N was waiting and after a bit of chit chat Mr. D offered me the facts of life in blunt terms you may not like what he told me I sure do not I will say that it makes sense so here it goes:
Racine as a City has no money
Racine as a City in millions in debit
The City of Racine can NOT tap into the reserve fund
The Needs of the City of Racine is I think Mr. D said “A Mill Stone around the County’s neck”
The Court cases over Tax assessments may cost the City Millions
The City of Racine is projected to be #1-2 in unemployment for YEARS to come
There is very little real development going on in Racine
Value of the City is still declining
A good chance that our Bond rating will continue to slide
The last few ideas that the City tried Delta Hawk and Team Porter’s well simply put failed (and how much did the city lose on them?)
Reef point is a Money Loser for the County and may not be breaking even after all Rent is NOT being collected on the Restaurant.
Some of the above I know is true other parts I am willing to believe for fun let’s say Mr D is right I was he went on
RootWorks/Machinery Row is seen AS THE ONLY CHANCE IN HELL The City has, not that RootWorks/Machinery Row may even happen but as it was explained to me (and I am unsure of how much of this would work) events would allow the City of Racine to sell Bonds both for the Project and Water Bonds ad use Intergovernmental funds (Water $$ from the cities around Racine) by the City of Racine where Shell Games could be used to keep the City afloat. Should any activity take place this can be hyped as great even if nothing really is going on faith in the City must be kept so more of the few owners of homes to not run away.
I asked him about members of the Public even Aldermen asking questions on the Grant for Mound Ave, questions being asked about oversight of RootWorks.
Mr. N answer The County nor the State cared since this I think he said “Scam” was the last chance that Racine has to even slow the process of becoming the new Detroit causing even more of a drain on The County or State and with Walker running for reelection and perhaps the White House Racine was not going to be an issue.
Waking up from this nightmare I stared my day until saw the same SUV pull down the Street so was this all a dream?
Before we dance with joy in the streets fans of John Dickert, please note the Story of the man above
John Gotti in case you may have no clue being far too busy say selling hats or thinking of ways to get $$ from the public lets review
From Wikpedia:
John Joseph Gotti, Jr. (October 27, 1940 – June 10, 2002) was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambinocrime family in New York City. Gotti and his brothers grew up in poverty and turned to a life of crime at an early age. Operating out of the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens, Gotti quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of the crime family’s biggest earners and a protégé of Gambino family underboss Aniello Dellacroce.
After the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicted members of Gotti’s crew for selling narcotics, Gotti took advantage of growing dissent over the leadership of the crime family. Fearing he and his men would be killed by Gambino crime family Boss Paul Castellano for selling drugs, Gotti organized the murder of Castellano in December 1985 and took over the family shortly thereafter. One of the key details was waiting for the moment after the death of Aniello Dellacroce, who died a few weeks earlier from natural causes. Dellacroce had risen to the position of underboss when Carlo Gambino moved Joseph Biondo aside.
This left Gotti as the boss of one of the most powerful crime families in America, one that made hundreds of millions of dollars a year from construction, hijacking, loan sharking, gambling, extortion and other criminal activities. Gotti was one of the most powerful crime bosses during his era and became widely known for his outspoken personality and flamboyant style, which gained him favor with much of the general public. While his peers avoided attracting attention, especially from the media, Gotti became known as the “The Dapper Don” for his expensive clothes and personality in front of news cameras. He was later given the nickname “The Teflon Don” after three high-profile trials in the 1980s resulted in his acquittal, though it was later revealed that the verdicts were the result of jury tampering, juror misconduct and witness intimidation. Law enforcement authorities continued gathering evidence against Gotti that helped lead to his downfall.
As you can see time and again he seams to have got over on the law and to some was untouchable
Perhaps after his death Gotti somehow was able to gain control of John Dickert to some how keep his (Gotti’s) activities going?
After all for sometime The City of Racine we find out more and more on actions that upset many in this fair city CAR 25-Mound Cemetery,Team Porter’s, Rootworks, and so on and now today’s action in the RICO case BUT as much as the Journal Times of Racine done a more piss ass story then usual even for them I have a copy of the order,I also used my phone and talked to a Mr. Green (source of legal info) Mr. X who knows many of the Bar Owners in question and the order the Order I copied it below.
“IT IS ORDERED that the plaintiffs’ complaint be and the same is
hereby DISMISSED without prejudice; the plaintiffs shall file an amended
complaint within 21 days of the entry of this order; the defendants shall have
21 days after the plaintiffs have filed an amended complaint to file their
respective answers or appropriate motions.”
As it was explained to me that the Judge wants more information if this is to go ahead, that in a Amended complaint that we could find Affidavits of information, Documents and even taped statements.
Again as it was explained to me this is a very very complicated case this is far from over
nor is the cost of this to the tax payers of Racine.
We too, need to recall what was the outcome of Gotti life of crime he died in prison was all the money worth that? How do we go about finding out on how to remove Gotti from our beloved Mayor should we find out we need to?
Mr. Green did say this should this get refiled is it a new case with a new pool of $100K of city $$ or more of the old case with the insurance picking up the tab?
Also if it does get refiled how do the poor slugs not covered by the City of Racine keep paying $100-$200 maybe even $300 an Hour for Lawyers?
Got a call yesterday and the caller and I talked of many thing, as I hope I was able to explain myself and give my thoughts on the questions he asked (I still think the call was recorded) the big take away I have is this, if I only tried harder to fit in if I only wrote more positively on Racine and our Mayor/City the doors that would open …
I have herd that before more then once and I am kinda shocked that that folks still believe that
Somehow if we only said good things the issues that bring this city into ruin somehow would go away.
To buy into this idea and I do not we would need to forget oh lets name a few issues
Team Porters the misinformation to the whole deal falling apart
Delta Hawk and the lack of jobs this company spoke of when they came here
The Poor job Racine Unified has done and IMHO still continues to do.
The falling property values of the City of Racine
Issues on the Downtown/Reef Point
The RICO suit
and that is just a few.
Is the idea if we do not talk about the above and give Mayor John Dickert an open check book things will be better or maybe if we let the Mayor go wild and his pals get bank we might get our turn! You tell me I have no clue
Maybe if only Hitler’s staff been more positive abut the Eastern front the Red Army would not have taken Berlin!
So as I see my taxes go up up up more jobs leave Racine more folks leave Racine, more empty houses falling apart. A Downtown looking to needing to get more city money our money to stay alive I just sit back put on a shirt and tie because my ship is coming in! After all lets not worry and be happy!
I will say this I do like this photo Do you think his wife does?
1) Mayor John Dickert keeps Racine as the #1 City in Unemployment/\ Got that one He must be so proud!
2) A major employer in Racine tells it’s employees, that by 2015, the Company will be moved out of Racine/\ Lots of lay offs in the city and Johnson’s joined in so I say I am 50% right
3) Delta Hawk will make little effort to hire more staff. The City makes no effort to “Claw Back” and funds used by Delta Hawk /\ 100% right on the mark what is going on at Delta Hawk?
4) Major issues with Porter’s Mayor Dicker tries to fix by expanding the TIF. The effort fails
/\ Major issues as I see it time and again we got told it start soon still nothing… then who knows what is happening I say 50% right
5) Issues over The 7th St Roundabout mirror The City Hall Bathrooms’s issues This becomes a major scandal /\ big zip on this one
6) RiverWorks begins work on the Mound St overlook. Funding drys up. /\ big zip on this one too
7) The City loss of the Union law suit causes 35 employees to be laid off /\ we lost the case and appeal but no lay offs so 50%
8) The fight over CAR 25 results in two law suits /\ big zip here too but 2014 may change that
9) The Journal Times shuts the doors /\ wishful thinking on my part
10) The City of Racine finds out the amount of the Settlement to “Bill” found to be over $150,000.
total cost to the City of Racine will be found to be over $250,000 /\ off a bit in the total amount say another 50%
11) City of Racine buys Azarian for back taxes. /\ I think my talking about the possibility stopped that for now
Bonus
A elected City office gets divorced. The case will not be pretty /\ two went down one got ugly 2014 should bring more.
Well unlike Mayor Dickert and his bringing companies to Racine I did OK I give myself a C+ on my predictions
After consultation with a pal who has also written a few good selling E- Books via Smash Words and Amazon. I have come to the conclusion to write a series of books about the Corruption in Racine as I and many others see around us .
I will be looking at the dealings of The Mayor of Racine John Dickert.
The first Book will show a who’s who of Dickert’s pals and the role they play on City of Racine Boards, how that helps to get the Mayor’s agenda finished.
The next two will be about Delta Hawk and Team Porters two projects sucking up tax money yet very little seen going on with them.
The Books will be less then 100 pages each and have documentation in them (Copies of Minuets of meetings, Records from RCEDC )
The first book will cost about $1.00 the rest I am thinking less then $10.00 each
Since the stories I talk about will be far longer then a newspaper be interested I thought the Idea of an E-Book would be the best way to go about bringing the readership of this blog information on the game playing going on here under Mayor Dickert in the City of Racine.
Will Racine prove to be the most corrupt small city in the U.S.A. Time will tell.
Note the about two Delta Hawk and Team Porters will require use of Wisconsin Open Record laws I have told my Editor of the need of our lawyer to do the filings and pay the costs.
Old Mayor Becker’s Emails will see if we can interest others to share the $700 cost the Racine POst was quoted, also a transcript from his trial as well as the J-Way Emails about Uptown.
The Uptown Project
Is the DRC taking over Douglas St Bid Uptown Bid how much $$ might that be wort to them?
CAR 25 (this is a hush hush blow the fucking lid off the City. naming names and talking about more links to what some might call a cult kida story)
As I see it Mayor John Dickert is addicted to our tax $$, like most active Addicts, he makes foolish choices, In his case we can use Delta Hawk Team Porters. as examples of the Mayor spending Millions and we the people getting jack in return.
As I understand it Delta Hawk was going to hire what 100 workers? How many have they hired?
Porters, does anyone have a clue of when this gets started or just new excuses why Porters has not?
The $$ been spent on both how do we get any of it back or do we?
Sadly the only way we can maybe wake him up to get treatment, is by quit enabling him.
How? Well this is harsh the only thing I can think of is by quit doing ANYTHING that may help the Mayor stretch Tax $$. Things like the clean up the beach after the 4th, see the City should have done the clean up but due to our Mayor $$ issues the City had a furlow day to make up for the 2 million the City needs to pay the Unions (recall the City fucking over the Unions and the resulting suit) so the Mayor turns to the public for help and like the fools we are we help there by allowing the Mayor to get by with Shit and feel no pain. We need to quit that. IMHO he needs to understand that there is a “Price” to be paid for every mistake in spending, every time a pal makes bank because Dickert is Mayor. Held to account, for his addiction.
So no more clean ups, no more contributing to funds that help the city. Our Mayor needs to understand his spending needs to stop NOW.
How much do you think his trip to France cost? Do you think anyone other then the Mayor will benefit?
Sidebar note: Tonight the good old boys within the Aldermen, got the clue that they can be called to account by recall.
Racine in Ruins a Muckrakers Dream 