Sadly, Milwaukee Needs Help
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5/9/2006
I have lived in the Milwaukee area for the past 15 years and for sure it has its good points: for one thing the restaurant and arts scenes in this town are vastly underrated. Some of its neighborhoods are not to be missed, especially on the West Side (Washington Heights and Story Hill. The East Side however, is vastly overrated, with its residents liking to say its diverse. Hogwash, the place is so white it will blind you.
The biggest block to Milwaukee's growth is its leadership, comprised mostly of some of the most incompetent people ever to draw a breath. The Common Council increases taxes and fees every year (which are already almost twice the national average), while at the same time cutting services. Race relations are in the toilet. As for jobs, you can find one, but will it be one up to your skills? Regardless, taxes will take a huge bite out of your income. And what extra services do you get? Well you will get a bunch of municipal and state workers who don't believe they have to answer to anyone.
If you're looking for suburbs, Wauwatosa tops my list: a comfortable mix of upper crust and down to earth. Least reccommended? That would be Mequon, a vastly overpriced enclave that reminds me of what a town would look like if Martha Stewart, Adolph Hitler, and Felix from 'The Odd Couple' all got what they wanted.
So while Milwaukee has clear advantages, the bad sadly outweighs the good.
Bp | Madison, WI