Public
Forum:
As President
of New
Berlin Citizens for Responsible Government
I must respond to Ray
McInerny Sr attacks on our Organization. The meeting on February 16 was not
sponsored in any way by NBCRG.
If McInerny
read the announcement, he would discover that it was called by Alderman Dave
Ament , 7th District, to inform residents of the area, as to what Mayor
Chiavatero, Alderman Moore and JP Walker’s Department of Public Works, was
planning for sidewalks and a divided highway for Coffee Road.
The citizens
along Calhoun Road, Greenfield Ave, 124th Street, National Avenue,
as well as other areas, have been opposing these sidewalks, sidepaths
and and bike trails and the City has been ignoring their
concerns. NBCRG is an active observer that is willing to help as asked.
Incidentally,
Ray McInerny Sr. is president of a small group.
The group is apparently not active as they claim to be exempt from Wisconsin State
laws that require that expenditures
over $25, must be reported to the City Clerk. He also was Alderman
Poshepny’s
campaign manager and the alleged master mind behind Poshepnys election
victory. McInerny is reportedly active in Bill Moore's re-election bid.
Alderman Poshepny holds his district 5
meetings at the Senior Housing complex where he lives and does not allow residents
outside of his district to attend. He stated to us that it is his home and he
can invite whom he wants to. He holds his meetings on the same evening as NBCRG
meets, so we can not test to see if he discriminates.
Aldermnan
Poshepny was not shouted down. He was asked by Alderman Ament not to
speak as this was supposed to be an informational meeting for taxpayers, not a
public hearing where alderman can pontificate.
So far as a
reason why groups cannot use the City facilities, Ray should ask Mayor
Chiavatero, Alderman Moore and ex-alderman Gallagher, who were the prime
instigators two years ago in passing the Ordinance, which prohibited any non-city
group from using City Hall and / or the City Channel 25 for any purposes, their
reasons for keeping citizens and civic groups from using OUR City Hall.
This short sighted policyalso has kept election forums, Christmas and July 4th parades, and other
events from being televised.
If Mr. McInery does not
know the facts, He should not make the complaints.
Ralph Heun, New Berlin
