Bucks Aim To Change Milwaukee

As the Milwaukee Bucks prepare for the coming season and the new stadium project ramps up in downtown Milwaukee remarks made by the team President Peter Feigin are raising some eyebrows. The Wisconsin State Journal reported this week that Feigin, peaking before a Rotary Club dinner. called Milwaukee “the most segregated,racist place” he's ever experienced in his life. We have heard this stuff before…various studies have shown that Milwaukee has been very slow, as major cities go, to embrace societal de-segregation. That being said, many areas of the north side have been almost abandoned to the gangs and criminals who treat life as disposable with shootings on almost a daily basis. The up-standing folks who have to live there must look at their situation as almost hopeless. The idea that they can one day escape must look like a pipedream to many. The Bucks have pledged to hire people for the jobs to build and support the new stadium from the poorest neighborhoods in the city and pay above the average wage. They want to be a catalyst for change. To hopefully allow some of these folks to break free from bonds of poverty and mainstream more into the community. But they can't do it alone. White Milwaukee…at least those who view anyone of a different color as a criminal or a lazy-ass welfare case need to be shown that those views are as antiquated as “colored only” drinking fountains. And they need to stop passing along that toxic mind-set to their children. Racism is not genetic…it is a learned behavior. Are there criminals & welfare cheats in the poor neighborhoods? Of course. Just as there are domestic abusers, drug addicts and white collar criminals in the “safer” sections of the city. Crime, addiction and bad behavior doesn't discriminate. Root out the bad without killing the good…that should be the goal…and it can be done. It is being done in other places. Peter Feigin is from New York. He's familiar with these problems. And by not only calling out the problem…but trying to help correct it…the Bucks will try and use the influence they have to affect change. That is a good thing.

Director John Sayles turns 66 today. He's directed many excellent films
including “Eight Men Out” which depicted the Black Sox Scandal. It was
also this day in history…1920 when the eight were indicted
for”throwing” the 1919 World Series.

Sometimes A Fantasy-Billy Joel (1980) A Top 40 hit from the “Glass Houses” LP.

Somethings Got A Hold On Me-Etta James (1962) a little church…a little juke joint…and a whole lot feeling…Ms. James could bring it all.