New Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government

I agree. Elitist former Alderman Rush Wilkens is simply mean and cruel. He started his political career by being part of the liberal Take Back Our City group. The TBOC group, and controversial Mayor Jim Gatzke who they ushered in to office, was really the start of all the political bickering and upheaval that has existed in New Berlin ever since. Wilkens owes Vern Bentley a big apology.

First of all, Ron Koessler is an active member of NBCRG. So the title "A Private citizin..." was meant to mislead. Mr. Koessler has every right to his opinion, but Ralph should have been totally honest and stated he was one of their members.

Second of all, who are Keith Heun and Matt Thomas to talk about smear and trash talk? Matt was the first blogger on NewBerlinNow last year or so ago. He has done nothing BUT trash talk. It appears that the sole purpose of creating the blog was to provide a media for him to spew.

And Keith, you are the president of our school board. We trust you to watch out for the best interests fo our children. You are totally destroying your own credibility with this childish bickering.

Dear Joe S. whoever you are.

I have a last name and am not ashamed to use it.

Whether Mr Koessler is or is not a member of NBCRG is of little importance because he did not choose to sign it as a member.

I have not censored any blogs and I removed Mr Gallagher's letter only because he accused Mr Ament of using a racial word to him (Gallagher). Mr Ament told me he never had a private conversation with Gallagher for at least the last 5 years.. Mr Ament said that if he (Ament) would have ever said that, Gallagher would have used it against Ament in the last election. Incidently, Ament won that Election handily. You will remember that Paul Gallagher lost his attempt to be re-elected  and received only about 33% when Ron Seidel received 67%. So much for that.

Speaking of CENSORSING;

As a self professed informed citizen , you are aware that 2 members of the we care new berlin group complained that NBCRG was a private Political Action group and complained to Mayor Chiavatero. Linda Richter and Beth Miszewski are the 2 people who loudly want freedom of speech for themselves and the people who agree with them. Mayor Jack simply removed NBCRG from the list of Community Organizations on the New Berlin. Org list. No notification,or reason, NOTHING. 6 months later he has declined to plave us back on that list

In the mean time Linda Richter, a one person group was put on that same City Site. She has told some of our members who applied for membership that she is not accepting new members.

Why not ask Linda Richter how much money she received from the City of New Berlin to settle a frivolous law suit. I am sure she contributed that to a charitable organization,

Ralph Heun, A private citizen for this comment.  

Dear Joe S.

Joe i don't really like your name that much, so I will call you Bill, Bill Wilkins.

Mr. Wilkins, I don't know where you get your information from. I'm going to guess that you surf the web every day looking for some good juicy info to blast at Keith Ralph and Matt.  I would like to challenge you to name a few times where Keith or Matt trash talked.  And by trash talk I mean "talk that was innapropriate for the time it was used and was not provoked by anyone on the Liberal side".  I would really like to see you do a better job than the current Board Representatives.  You seem to think you can. You have a better Idea? Bring it forward to them.

Dear Joe S.

A clarification to my previous comment!

I decided to add this as I am sure that certain someones will question motives.

I have not censored ANY postings on the NBCRG blog because of name calling, or even childish insults that some have posted. I did find it necessary to remove one post by Mr Paul Gallagher because of potentially libelous statements used in that posting. You will notice that despite the nasty and insulting things he has said in other postings on the NBCRG blog, I did not remove the other ones.

Ralph Heun

Yes Paul Gallagher has proven himself to be a vulger and racist person. article in the Freeman: Claiming that most offences against the law are done by minorities. Which we all know is entirely not true.

Joe S.

Thanks for confirming that you and the far left commentators hanging out on the Richter blog are mad that I am exposing the double standards and hypocrisy of the far-left.  I mean, if I really was destroying my credibility by standing up to your bullying tactics and those of the other far-left commentators on Richter's blog, we both know you wouldn't be telling me to stop, would you?

And you prove your own double standards and hypocrisy by refusing to denounce far-left activist Rush Wilkens, who is well-known for his political smear campaigns going back to 2001, because he is working with Ms. Richter and FA (Former Alderman) Gallagher.  Instead, you slam Ron Koessler (a conservative) for defending Vern Bentley (a conservative) from (liberal) Wilkens' attacks.

Your crocodile tears don't fool anyone.

Keith Heun

President, New Berlin Board of Education

Have you ever listened to Belling? Since you appear to be an extreme right winger, he is probably your hero. Have you ever noticed how he constantly lumps all African Americans into the same pot, and accuses them of killing each other and being responsible for all the crime in Milwaukee? Is he a racist also, or is he simply citing statistics?

And why the fasination with Gallegher? He is irrelevant. Are you afraid of something he knows? I mean really. Everytime you post something, you have to bring his name up.

As far as "trash talk", you are obviously Keith Heun or Matt Thomas because they are the only ones delusional enough not to see their trash for what it is. Trash.

Joe S.,

Unlike you, I use my own name on every blog comment that I post and so does Matt Thomas.  So stop claiming other commenters are us.  After the vicious attacks filled with half-truths and made up lies that you and the other far-left commenters have launched against Thomas and me since we started defending ourselves and the conservative values of the great majority of our community, I don't blame conservatives who want to protect themselves and their families from you.  Especially since almost all of the left-wingers, like yourself, refuse to use their real names so that you can lie about people in complete anonymity.

Keith Heun

President, New Berlin Board of Education  

Mr. Heun:

Once again, you cannot address the point of a comment without launching more personal insults and name calling. My name or political affiliation is none of your business, and not relevant to the discussion.

How do you feel about Belling's comments?

Why are you so fixated on Gallegher?

And no, I did not "slam" Mr. Koessler. That is another one of YOUR half-truths and lies. I stated that he is entitled to his opinion. I never even commented on him or his opinion at all.

Belling doesn't do that Joe S.

Joe......they will run circles around you all day long. The answer to virtually every direct difficult question you ask them will be a non-answer. I recently asked Mr. Thomas to tell me how much the board has borrowed to pay for new schools,renovations or remodeling. This is a simple question with a simple answer. What was my answer. No answer was my answer. This is common. My theory is this, real information is dangerous to them because it exposes what they actually are doing and how they are doing it and they realize the average citizen would not like it.

Had To Comment, ask Tony Goedheer or Ross MacPherson at the district office your budget questions. I'm sure they would be able to help you.

Matt......you are on the board. You claim I don't know what I'm talking about regarding how your borrowing for schools is causing financial problems for school programs. I'm trying to avoid the appearance of half truths. I think if it comes right from your keyboard it would be hard to deny how much was borrowed at a later date. After you folks got to about 40 million of borrowing I stopped keeping track. You're on the board, don't you know how much you borrowed ? I think it's a basic and fair question that you can answer.

Billy Wilkins (Joe S.)

It's spelt Gallagher

Take a spelling course.

Had To Comment,

I am an average citizen. I like what's going on, you dont know what your talking about.

And to any left wing-ed person who cares that I have an alias.

Yes I use it to prevent you or any of your mean spirited friends from harrasing me or my loved ones. I use it for protection, not so that I can spout ill rumors about any one I dissagree with, and be free of accusation. I think I made my point.

Now that last comment is really one that can make one chuckle.

TO:  Had to Comment (a.k.a. Dan Blank)

CC:  Jos S. and the rest of the far-left commenters.

It is getting so tedious watching you and the rest of the far-left activists change the subject every time you’re are cornered on some assertion that you can’t back-up with facts, but again, I will provide real facts that render your new assertions impotent.

Just 5 years ago, all the far-left politicians and political activists supporting them were screaming for a tax increase referendum for New Berlin West and that New Berlin Center had to be rebuilt.  In 2002, tax and spend board members, Kyle Cramer, Alan McGinty, Joan Pray and Cindy Moore all voted for a referendum to borrow $57 million to combine the high schools (which the community did not want) and they voted to borrow another $16.5 million for a new elementary school using funds from the operating budget to pay for it.  That is a total of $73.5 million that they wanted the district to borrow.  Well, the voters spoke and kicked out the tax and spend crowd, because the community wanted the facilities taken care of without a tax increase referendum.  The newly elected board in 2003 cancelled the referendum.  The board saved both high schools by stopping the planned combining of them (because that was what the community wanted them to do) and they borrowed about $50 million for the West, Reagan, Poplar Creek and Orchard Lane projects.  So, it is disingenuous of you lefties to be aghast at the borrowing by fiscal conservatives for these projects, when the 2002 tax and spend board that you voted for would have borrowed at least 50% more to fund all of these projects.  Be honest with the public and with yourselves, it’s not the borrowing that you people have a problem with, it’s that fiscal conservatives didn’t Jack up property taxes to pay for it.

The fiscally conservative boards since 2003 have managed the annual structural deficit due to the state imposed spending caps at the same time that we kept taxes in check, built and renovated several schools and added great new technology programs like Project Lead the Way at New Berlin West and architectural and construction programs at Eisenhower all without cutting other programs due to budget constraints.  So, next time please do your homework before spreading misinformation.

It really seems like your anger is displaced.  I mean, why are you blaming Thomas and me for your candidates’ failure to care about the needs of taxpayers and students?

Keith Heun

President, New Berlin Board of Education

P.S.  Joe S, how is it a personal attack when I lump you in with the far-left activists and left-wingers?  

Well that's interesting....my comment about the last comment making me chuckle has been moved down below a new comment that has been slipped in.

My comment about having to chuckle is because ICAUGHTTHAT was obnoxiously telling Joe S. to take a spelling course and in the process couldn't even spell the word spelled himself. I usually don't say anything about spelling or grammar because we all mistakes but that was just plain funny.  

ICAUGHTTHAT.........If you like deteriorating roads, libraries that can't be open because there is not enough money, schools which are losing programs yearly and having class sizes swell than I guess you would like what's going on. If you like having some of the lowest property resale values in Waukesha County than you should also be happy. Go to this Milwaukee Journal website www.jsonline.com/.../graphic.asp

and you can see for yourself where we stand with our property values and than ask yourself how happy that makes you. You might also want to ask yourself why are we near the bottom of the heap if what's been going on is such a good thing.

By the way, I'm an average citizen too. I'm happy you don't use your real name. In fact, the NOW people recommend it. If you read these blogs it's mainly the Super Conservatives who crab at everyone to use there real names.

Keith...........I have no clue why you continually want to refer to me as Dan Blank, but I guess that's up to you. Anyhow, the problem with your borrowing is you are taking dollars that once were used to educate the students so you can pay back on your borrowing. It is not responsible, but it does keep property taxes down. A referendum would have raised property taxes but would have kept our school system in tact. Everyone has done their homework Mr. Heun. The argument is simple......do we keep property taxes as low as possible by creating a school system that eventually will not be able to afford much more than the bare basics or do we pay our taxes and have schools that can compete with other schools in the area. It's very hard for citizens to say.....yes raise my taxes.......and that's why you get elected. But if they go to this website  www.jsonline.com/.../graphic.asp

and see that New Berlin as a community is not making much progress in our property value appreciation they may start to think that you saving us 250.00 per year in property taxes is not worth having our property values be 10-30 thousand dollars less than perhaps they should be. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm if I save $250.00 per year on my property taxes won't it take 40 years for that savings to equal $10,000. Who needs to do some homework ?

Yes I'm sure the average person abbreviates the word "spelled" by typing it as "spelt" while telling yet a third person they need to take a spelling course. I will say it again.....that's just kind of funny. Have a nice day Phil Lancer.(Since were giving each other names other than our screen names.)

Had to Comment,

Once again, you're contention does not jive wit the facts.  If you remember, elementary schools were condensed from 7 schools down to 5 and the savings from those mergers were combined with the $1.8 million that was annually set aside in the capitcal improvements budget to pay for the bonds.

Those are the facts.  I understand that those facts are inconvenient for you because they do not support your allegations, nor your conclusions.  

Again, the great majority of taxpayers is happy with what the board lead by fiscal conservatives, because we did what we said we were going to do and we improved the quality of education and the class offerings to students as well.

Keith Heun

President, New Berlin Board of Education  

Keith, the district had virtually no annual monies set aside in the regular budget into the late 90's for capital improvements. Major capital improvements were paid for by referendum. You guys started taking money from regular school programs to create the annual budget for capital improvements. This caused a loss in quality and classes and programs in the New Berlin School System. Talk about half truths.

Closing smaller elementary schools to create bigger schools does save taxes. It also reduces the quality of education. Kids do better with smaller schools and class sizes in elementary school. So in New Berlin we traded quality of education to save tax dollars. I don't see how that improves education.

The amount of borrowing that has been done and the required annual loan repayments exceeds the money saved by closing schools. Once again the shortage creates a situation where money will be drawn away from the students educational programs.

Taxpayers are happy because their property taxes are lower than they would have been if a referendum had passed. Your claim that you improved the quality of education and class offerings to students is.....I'll be nice..........a big fantasy. Quite the opposite is occurring. I won't even call that statement a half truth.

The other big question for you is this. You said in the 2002 election, that you could fix up New Berlin West for 11.3 million approximately. You ended up spending over 34 million dollars. Just a bad estimating job or was the 11.3 million just a way to get elected ? Spending that kind of money on a renovation job that won't last as long as building a new school shows a complete lack of fiscal responsibility. You spent as much or more than what it would have cost to build a brand new school. All this on a building that New Berlin Building and Grounds Director Bob Pulliam called a poorly built giant pole barn that should be torn down because it was such a poor quality building. Not good Keith, not good.

Had to Comment,

There you go again.  I see that you changed the subject, again, instead of defending the actions of the tax and spend liberals that you elected in 2002 and who controlled the board in 2002 who would have created al least 50% more debt than you claim to be so aghast at today.  I pinned you down, so now you repeat some of the same complaints again, without providing any facts to back them up, again.  Your assertions are flawed and cannot be rationalized with fact, again.

In your head, you claim that our schools are bad, but you can't back it up with facts.  Both of our high schools made Newsweek's list of the top 1300 high schools in the nation.  In fact, New Berlin West has made it 4 years in a row.  Last year, Eisenhower was awarded the U.S. Dept of Education Blue Ribbon for Educational Excellence.

You claim that class offering have been reduced, but we have more course offerings today than we did in 2003 when the fiscally conservative candidates first became the majority on the board.  Just within the last year, we added Project Lead the Way at West and architectural and construction classes at Eisenhower.  But, if you are so convinced that fiscal conservatives hurt class offerings so badly, why didn't the tax and spend liberals that you elected in 2002 and who controlled the board in 2002, add more classes?

You claim that there wasn’t any money in the capital improvements budget in the late 1990s, but by 2000, there was $900K going into the capital improvements budget annually.  If this was such a bad thing, why didn't the tax and spend liberals that you elected in 2002 and who controlled the board in 2002, gut the capital improvements budget?

The $11.3M renovation plan that I advocated during the election in 2002 was not supported by taxpayers because they wanted West High School fully renovated.  And of course, the tax and spend liberals who I ran against were promising that they could do it all without a tax increase referendum.  But, these tax and spend liberals that you elected in 2002 and who controlled the board in 2002 lied to get into office with their stealthy plan to pass a referendum that would have cost taxpayers almost $100M in principal and interest costs.

In 2003, the voters decided that the tax and spend liberals that you elected in 2002 and that controlled the board in 2002 had to go, so by a 2-1 margin they elected Jennifer Eitel and Tim Cramer who cancelled the referendum to combine the high schools and implemented a plan that renovated the schools the way the voters wanted it to be done.

You're just like the liberals that you elected to the board in 2002.  Just like them, you whine about problems but offer no solutions to them except huge tax increases.  Since you don't like anything that conservatives did to solve the problems that faced our school district over the past 5 years, why don't you tell what you would have done.  I look forward to your answers.

Keith Heun

President, New Berlin Board of Education