politics - 3/21/2008

Wisconsin is a very (D) democratic state, but talk radio is very (R)republican.

[Comment on this Posting]

Milwaukee - 3/12/2008

I lived in Milwaukee for 7 years so I can see the pros/ cons to Milwaukee. I had posted before but wanted to expand a few things from my last post. Pros: 1. very funny in summer with all the great festivals 2. # of excellent malls 3. Brady street has a lot of nice shops/ rests 4. Milwaukee unlike many big cities anymore has a # of mom and pop butcher shops and bakeries 4. # of excellent rests 5. Milwaukee has some very nice museums 6. Miller Park is a beautiful baseball stadium 7.East side and around Lake Michigan is gorgeous 8.# of nice parks 9. # nice suburbs 10. cheap place to live. Cons: 1.many of the people are simply very rude, uncultured and lack a higher education 2. very cold in winters, I can't stress enough how rough Milwaukee winters can be 3. very humid in summer 4. the city is polarized along racial lines 5. many people from Milwaukee do not like outsiders 6. many people can only hold a conversation if it revolves around the Packers 7. very high crime rate 8. awful roads that rarely get fixed right 9. Milwaukee has a "bar culture" which is not for everyone 10. MPS is a total mess, Milwaukee has a HUGE HS dropout rate 11. race card gets played a lot in Milwaukee 12. Mitchell is a lousy airport 13. not as many professional job options in comparison to other metro areas. 14. many close minded people Overall, Milwaukee is a fun to place to visit in the summer for the fests but is not a very open minded city nor very progressive. My biggest problems with Milwaukee are the harsh winters and how rude many of the people are.

[Comment on this Posting]

Bitter Cold - 3/9/2008

Just as advertised, winters here are long. dreary and cold. Although snowfalls vary greatly from year to year, the cold and days without sun are the worst. Recently we spent over thirty days without seeing the sun. If you are an outdoor person, Wisconsin may not be right for you.

[Comment on this Posting]

some good, some not so good - 2/20/2008

I was born and raised here, moved away in 1984 and moved back in 2003. A lot has changed, some good and some bad. Most of the manufacturing jobs and companies have moved out but there seems to be a lot of service and especially medical jobs around. It appears to me that Milwaukee County & the City are hurting financially (maybe every city is) as we seem to have serious problems in major areas - 200 open police jobs, canceled events because of a lack of sponsors, and yes, crime seems to be out of control. If your job is solid, then it's a decent place to live but you'll want to be in the suburbs or perhaps certain areas that are in better condition. The Museum, the Zoo, State Fair, Summerfest and other activities are just GREAT. Taxes vary dramatically from suburb to suburb so check that out in detail. Some school districts are in big trouble and the Milwaukee schools are in tough shape. Hope this gives you a better feel for things here.

[Comment on this Posting]

Good size city with a small town feel - 1/7/2008

I've lived in Milwaukee for 10 years. I really enjoy how you can get anywhere around the city in 20 mins. or less. Being a lakefront city, I love going to the wide variety of events by the lake. The people are wonderful and friendly. There is a nice variety of restaurants, art and entertainment, but it's also easy to head to Chicago for a night for a bigger selection. I really like how the airport and train station are very accessible as well.

[Comment on this Posting]

ehh.... - 12/10/2007

Where to start? First of all, I started living in Milwaukee when I started college and recently moved back after a brief stint in the suburbs after college. If I were to describe Milwaukee as short as possible I would say average. It is a larger city with the feeling of a small city. Let the rankings begin: Crime: If you live west of the Milwaukee river you are taking a chance. It seems every other day something is happening, someone shot, robbery, home invasion. If you live east of the river it is not too bad. In my opinion, I have never seen a more useless police force. To sum it up, I watched a Monday Night Packer game in a bar right next to two of Milwaukee's useless. D- Education: College life is good. If it is between private(Marquette), or public(UW-Milwaukee), there is a lot to do. All the things you could need in college are within walking distance from both colleges. I went public, so I have a more extensive knowledge of that, but had friends in private and have a little knowledge there too. As far as grade school and H.S, I don't know, didn't grow up here. B Transportation: Has a bus line for the city along with fliers to the greater Milwaukee areas. There is also an Amtrak station downtown too. Airport is a little outside of downtown, but isn't too bad. B Climate, Rec, Cost of living: Its Wisconsin, but you are close to a lake so the winters are warmer and the summers are cooler. There is a decent beach, a nice museum, Brewers are close, and Bucks/admirals/wave are downtown. No matter your income, you will find a place to live. B- All the other stuff I don't have experience with.

[Comment on this Posting]

Parks - 12/9/2007

Milwaukee, though you may not know it, is loaded with green space. Hundreds of parks.

[Comment on this Posting]

Thinking of moving to Milwaukee? Then read me! - 12/1/2007

Before you decide that your not going to move to Milwaukee, you might want to think again and visit it for a day or two. Look at the things that will effect you the most. Check out the downtown, houses, schools, places of work, museums, parks, malls, whatever you think you'll need and the most. I'm not saying that your going to fall in love with it, but I've seen that when people come out for a weekend and it's really helped with their decision to move or not. Another thing to note is Milwaukee's close proximity to Chicago. I love Chicago, it's like a nicer and cleaner New York. But I'd never want to live there. Traffic and crime is terrible. Whereas Milwaukee's commute is pretty easy, there is practically no crime out in the suburbs, and its still pretty diverse. It's got all the major sports, the downtown is expanding, the summer festivals are one of a kind. I personally think that that it's a pretty good alternative. Don't let things you've heard of Milwaukee influence your decision. Things have changed.

[Comment on this Posting]

We are Sinking - 11/23/2007

Milwaukee has really fell down hill years ago. I have been trying everything in my power to make this horrible place my home. Even though I was raised here. The public education sucks. It really changed over the years sinced I have attended. Many teachers are in it for a paycheck, not the compassion. Daily, the news air many shootings, and other life threating news. If you like to hear police cars screaming by, or the smell of gun powder in your kitchen, then this is the place for you. But if you can afford to live in the burbs, please run there!

[Comment on this Posting]

If you are black, you might want to look elsewhere - 11/16/2007

I have lived in Milwaukee my entire life. I am a 37 year old, black male, I work in commercial real estate sales and leasing. First, I won't say that the whites in milwaukee are racist or that the blacks are racist, I will say though that race relations are horrible. I go out to eat alot and there are a couple of really nice hotels downtown that have bar/ restaurants inside. I typically sit at the bar and very often there is an out of town guest sitting at the bar as well. I can always tell if the person is from Milwaukee. If they are from Milwaukee, I dont exist. If they are from someplace else they strike a conversation. This has happened more times than I can count. I am the kind of person that will talk to anyone, I notice that the whites in Milwaukee are uncomfortable with that. Very often they dont know what to say or how to react to a professional black man having a casual conversation with them. I now just say hello and move on. About Milwaukee and crime, I live in Milwaukee on the northside, in an older mostly jewish neighborhood. THere is alot of crime in Milwaukee, but most of the crime in Milwaukee is not random. It is mostly drug related crimes, domestic family crimes and that kind of thing. I have never been robbed, shot at, my house has never been broken into. I just dont have drug dealer friends or the kind of people that are up to no good. I definately wouldnt suggest for anyone to move to the worst side of town and not expect for something bad to happen. If you label yourself as a victim, trust me you will soon be one. Most of the places that I goto (restaurants/bars) I am the only black person their. THis is because for the most part blacks dont go where whites go and vice-versa. Now dont get me wrong, there are a few exceptions, but only a few. To me, a huge factor to the enjoyment of going any place is your interaction with the other people there; because of the race issue, that enjoyment is non-existent. If you notice most of the reviews here state that Milwaukee is bad, dont move to Milwaukee. This is because the many of the white people that are writing reviews for the most part are getting there info about milwaukee from the 10 oclock news. They dont have any real knowledge of Milwaukee. To alot of them Milwaukee is where the black people live and you dont want to be there. If you are black dont move here, go someplace else (send me an email and I will tell you why). Though it is a beautiful city, even more beautiful if you are white!

[Comment on this Posting]

Grown-up, hip, laid-back - 11/6/2007

Milwaukee is great! There are too many diverse groups of people to talk about Milwaukee's "culture" but, rather, cultures. We are a city that celebrates diversity through lakefront community festivals and the arts.

[Comment on this Posting]

African American quality of life - 10/19/2007

As an African-American considering relocating (returning home to the Midwest)I am very glad I read the candid comments on the quality of life for African-Americans in Milwaukee. I had read several articles about Milwaukee as ranking high as a model of cultural renewal, a great place to live in retirement, the lovely riverfront, summer festivals, etc. I was excited about the prospect but the honest comments re. life for Blacks in the city rang true in terms of my recall of how things used to be in Milwaukee, and obviously still are. How sad, and what a disappointment. I must remember that the intended audience for these urban renaissances does not include me.

[Comment on this Posting]

Milwaukee: Big city fun, small town feel. - 9/29/2007

I think that Milwaukee is one of America's best kept secrets. The people are friendly, their are a lot of things to do, summers and the lake front are beautiful, traffic is manageable, and the city is constantly trying to do things to improve the city. It is definitely headed in the right direction. The only major complaints are winters, although beautiful can also be hell, and education, Milwaukee Public Schools are terrible, but the suburbs have some of the best in the nation. Another thing about the city is that the crime rates are terrible on paper, but in reality, all of the crime is in two zip codes. I've been living here for 13 years and my neighborhood has never experienced any crime to speak of. Milwaukee truly is a great city on a great lake

[Comment on this Posting]

Milwaukee - 8/1/2007

I lived in Milwaukee for 7 years. I can objectively give my pros and cons about the city. Pros 1. Great festivals in summer 2.a few nice malls 3. some very good restaurants 4. Brady Street is very eclectic 5. some very nice museums 6. a very nice base ball stadium( Miller Park) 7. the lakefront is very nice 8. some nice suburbs Cons 1. very hot and humid in summer 2. Antarctica like winters 3. very poor job market 4. the city has a TON of HS dropouts 5. very high crime rate 6. the city is polarized along racial lines 7. many people can only hold a conversation if it revolves around the Packers 8. constant construction on roads that never seem to get fixed right 9. Milwaukee has a" bar culture" which isn't for everyone 10. many of the people are poorly educated and lack manners and many are very rude, in fact, some of the rudest people you will meet. 11. many Milwaukeean's can only relate to people they went to HS with 12. Milwaukee is stuck in a time warp in terms of how many people view the world. Overall..I would recommend against moving to Milwaukee. Honestly, I feel the negatives outweigh the pluses. If you must go to Milwaukee, than visit in summer when the weather is more agreeable and the excellent festivals are going on throughout the summer.

[Comment on this Posting]

Not To Big Not To Small - 7/29/2007

Milwaukee is an adequate size city that has a low-commute considering its size. There are plenty of cultural,entertainment, and recreational activities that are low-cost and/or free ie concerts in the parks,museums,theater,etc. The housing market is still fairly reasonable for the price per square foot, but the property taxes are very high for the amount of service you receive. The weather is below average. Fall and Summer are the best seasons. Winter can cold, but the snowfall is not as bad typically as some other Great Lakes cities or Plains Cities. There is a decent amount of job opportunities, and the city still has very strong neighborhood communities. The city is not very progressive on race relations. Lots of violent crime in certain neighborhoods, and the Police do not do a very good job of creating trust in those areas. The School System is not great, but there are a few Gems in the system. Some very good Private school, and there is a good choice of higher education. It is a good place for families and young professionals. The proximity to Chicago is a plus (only 80-90 miles) for big city getaways. Also, the outodoors for camping,hiking, etc are close by as well.

[Comment on this Posting]

Segregated City - 7/23/2007

Milwaukee is one of the if not the most segregated cities in the United States. If you are African American or of Latino desent there is not much work for you but fast food, janitor,car porter or a bus driver. Even the educated African Americans/Latinos have a very difficult time finding meaningful jobs that will support their families. There is also a serious GENTRIFICATION process that is going on in Milwaukee and in the not so distant future the property value on homes will rise considerably. Despite it's SEVERE Racial and Socioeconimic problems, Milwaukee is a beautiful city, the architecture is great and it is known for it's festivals in the summer and fall. It has sports featuring the Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Admirals and great colleges such as Marquette, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College one of the best and largest Technical Colleges in the Midwest. Cost of living is not that bad compared to other area in the U.S. The economy is picking up in area of manufacturing and IT. Marquette has a great Law School the bar is in the curriculum if you are contemplating Law as a profession, but when you graduate there are so many lawyers here that you would be competing with literally thousands of attorneys/lawyers so do well in school. Crime is horribly bad here all over the city especially in the inner city. So if you like cold weather, beer and brats come on up to Milwaukee and freeze your buns off (SMILE)

[Comment on this Posting]

Violent crime is high in Milwaukee! - 7/14/2007

Since we moved to Milwaukee in September 2006, we watch the news every night in disbelief. Almost every news story is about a homicide or sexual predator. I really don't feel safe anywhere after dark, including my own front yard.

[Comment on this Posting]

Milwaukee - 7/8/2007

I have lived in Milwaukee for some time and this city has many social problems. Race relations are at an all time low. It is ranked near the lowest in nearly every category for African Americans. It's has a ridiculously high unemployment rate for African Americans, it has the highest denial rate of home loans for African Americans with good credit, and it has one of lowest graduation rates for students in the country. The city is the most segregated city in the country, it has been designated as hyper segregated. The city has negative employment growth, Milwaukee has so much potential but racism and 1920's social policy prevents it from growing into a harmonious community. Although this is my home town I would not recommend anyone moving here, especially if the person is a person of color. I don't feel real opportunity exist here. The future looks bleak I hope that I am wrong.

[Comment on this Posting]

Cost of Living Indices - 6/29/2007

I appreciate the easy-to-use format and information provided for comparative data, but having just the "overall" and "health" provided for the COLA indices has me looking elsewhere for information. Hope you return to providing the information. Thanks, Roger

[Comment on this Posting]

Housing and Taxes - 6/17/2007

Housing has gotten totally out of hand, along with taxes. Slaes tax 5.6 going to 6.1 shortly. In Wisconsin the liberals tax everyone working to support the lazy. Beautiful state to live in.

[Comment on this Posting]