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Park 6: History JANUARY 1-30, 2013

By Thomas Holmes

After my city forced suspension, I resumed my business as best I could. After many articles about my establishment being closed and my license in jeopardy of being taken away, I had to beef up my advertising. One such promotion was to have a model from the TV show "The Bad Girls Club" talk and sign autographs. Well this promotion turned into a story sewn by the DRC, City Hall and the Club members about a stripper and penthouse girl being invited to demoralize Racine. In fact, the flyer I used at this event was later used against me at a due-process hearing. The flyer was comparable to what you would see at a hot rod show or to the literature liquor companies would use to promote their brands. But in reality, I could not generate enough interest in the event so it never happened. In December 2010 the Chief of Police Kurt Wahlen filed a complaint as a private citizen to take me to a due process hearing to revoke my liquor license. The two incidents he used in the complaint, one in the bar when I called for assistance and another that happened outside, which was no way the fault of Park 6. Each incident did not invite cause for revocation, I have police reports of much worse events at white bars during the same time with no action by the chief or the city. Why would the police chief take me to due process and not the Public Safety and Licensing committee? The statements the police made and emails they circulated among themselves would be exposed in the due process hearing and would open themselves to exanimation of their process. During this time I was making inquiries into the police department and what the procedures were on addressing differ-

ent bars. I was making complaints and showing hard evidence of the discrepancies that were going on. I had talked to Mayor Dickert about personal information I had; he assured me the city and the police department were going to work with me. Little did I know what I would be in for. http://racineinsideronline.com/Insider_News_Online/Blank_3.html

ment. From Insider News In the meantime, a number of questions have surfaced to whether or not Holmes’ due process hearing was carried-out legally and fair. Holmes and his attorney have complained that the hearings should have been stopped immediately after it was disclosed that Wahlen had not sworn to the complaint.

in an attempt to drive African-Americans from downtown. The Racine Common Council voted in January 2011 to revoke my liquor license. At the meeting my attorney, Mr. Bobot, addressed the council and stated that they could stop the process and start again or if they continued, he would appeal the revocation. Alderman Winenski stated that two of the three attorneys in the room said it was fine to continue. Bobot said to me, "This isn't a high school popularity contest; these people are crazy". http://www.scribd.com/kcollins_sch ulz/d/49455898-Complaint-AgainstRacine

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/l ocal/article_ecdecd9c-2234-11e09d5d001cc4c03286.html#.T77Jvt5SZIs

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/l ocal/committee-recommends-revoking-park-liquorlicense/article_c7a1ca6e-0cfb-11e0-8 8ba-001cc4c002e0.html I then hired Attorney Vince Bobot to represent me in the chief's complaint. I can remember my attorney asking me why would the chief put himself in a position to be sued as an individual? Although this citizen (Kurt Walhan) was able to use resources from the police department, given an attorney hired and paid for by the city. I think the chief thought nothing could go wrong and was assured by the city they would be there to get rid of this troublemaker( me). I wish I could have been there when he had his OMG mo-

The Insider News requested a copy of Wahlens’ complaint and noticed that it was prepared and notarized by the city-hired Attorney Kenneth Rusch. This means that the city had already hired a prosecuting attorney prior to receiving a complaint from Wahlen. Holmes said the city has showed a pattern of rushing to close his business down. “They had already made plans to take me to due process before they had received a complaint from the chief,” explained Holmes. During testimony, Wahlen said that he was acting not as the chief of police, but as a private citizen like you and I. If that’s true, then why did the city hire an attorney to assist him in drawing up the complaint? By phone, Holmes says the city has become outright blatant in their racism

An appeal was filed around the middle of January 2011 in Racine Country Circuit Court. I then waited for a judge to review the case and render an opinion, I waited , I waited, I called. All the judges in Racine Country had recused themselves from hearing the appeal. The case went to Judge Schroeder in Kenosha, Wis., in early March 2011 Schroeder granted a temporary injunction against the city and gave me my liquor license back. The basic principle behind our judicial system is to tell the truth and to swear to it; I found it quite disheartening that all the judges in Racine Country could not get past the good old boys club and do the right thing. http://www.journaltimes.com/news/l ocal/article_09cebcf8-49ec-11e0-beea001cc4c002e0.html#.T77KzHt3HIw During this time I had tried to do

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our court system. I would call my attorney Bobot and he would say, "Their arrogance blinds them to the law.”

Journal Times to get a story out and offered a reward. http://www.journaltimes.com/news/l ocal/article_6f69d3d8-50e8-11e083e6-001cc4c03286.html#.T77FTUvSgcA Sometime in April 2011 after Judge Schroeder granted the temporary injunction the Police Chief (Kurt Wahlen) announced his retirement. In his interview with the Racine Journal Times he tells them some of the things he would like to see done “...before retirement. Next year's budget, the city moving to the countywide joint dispatch center, closing down the Park 6 bar on Sixth Street and a joint COP house with Mount Pleasant south of 21st Street". This article speaks for itself. In May 2011 the City Fire and Police Commission asked Wahlen to return as interim police chief until they could find a replacement. I can only speculate at this time but knowing I would be suing Wahlen as an individual to recoup monies lost during my shut down, he took his retirement from the state to protect it from a lawsuit. I believe this was the plan with the Fire and Police Commission from the beginning. Why else would they not have a replacement or search for a new chief

JANUARY 1-30, 2013

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/l ocal/article_ea028990-963f-11e08d28-001cc4c03286.html#.T7-WLFRICnM

in the works? Since he was not going to a new job he obviously had time to take the interim position. There are a lot of problems in the police department and we need to have a justice department investigation. One thing I don't understand is how the Journal Times cannot report or investigate things that are so obvious. http://www.journaltimes.com/news/ article_f1a68f2e-6f8a-11e0-b2b0-

001cc4c002e0.html#.T7-MQWyRB1w http://www.journaltimes.com/news/ article_070e0e30-8be4-11e0-a520001cc4c03286.html#.T7-MiiP4tg0. In June 2011 Judge Schroeder ruled against the city that my license should not have been taken away. Alderman Helding states, "The bar got off on a technicality.” The technicality he speaks of is the basic principle of

As I suspected in June 2011 the Public Safety and License Committee took my liquor license out for nonrenewal but along with mine they also took out Alderman Keith Fair's liquor license for nonrenewal. (The Place on 6th) and Lou Larson's bar (Peg & Lou's). Peg & Lou's had a homicide in May 2011. The committee discussed the incident but said the police haven't finished the investigation so the license was renewed, Keith Fair and myself were not so lucky. http://www.journaltimes.com/news/l ocal/article_46b2122e-9bfd-11e0bec3-001cc4c03286.html#.T7W75lHiao.email http://www.journaltimes.com/news/l ocal/article_50f1698a-9c87-11e0922a-001cc4c002e0.html#.T7XSpHim54.email Read Part 3 in the next Racine Communicator.

You’re Reading It and Many Others Are Too!

JANUARY 1-30, 2013

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JANUARY 1-30, 2013

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Another American Tragedy Story Another American city has now had its heart torn out by senseless killing. This time the victims were little kids who had every reason to feel safe and secure in their elementary school. These were innocent children who were not old enough to even contemplate all that life has to offer, being violently denied its possibilities. The most unfortunate reality of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings is that such incidents have become commonplace in America. Once again there are prayer vigils, expressions of compassion and sympathy for the families and sternfaced vows that we must do whatever is necessary to prevent this from ever happening again. Sadly, we’ve heard it all before. Is it really going to be different this time? “Gun control” has become the first response after one of these murder sprees, but it simply is not a practical solution, nor is it enough. There’s a sticky little item called the constitution that always makes this a stalemated proposal as the NRA and other special interests dig in their heels and actually call for increased gun ownership as a countermeasure to the violence. Even if total registration and heavy restrictions on future sales were enacted, the fact that there are more than 200 million firearms in circulation makes it impractical. This approach would take decades to create the level of safety being sought. What about “increased security”

Cover Story at schools and other target populations? This also seems to offer less than sufficient hope of success. There was a security guard stationed at Red Lake High School in MN who was killed in that 2009 shooting along with 7 students and a teacher. True security at a school would be nearly impossible, especially in light of the practice of allowing children outside during recess. There are multiple contributing factors that drive these killings, but there seems to be one that is common to them all, the killers are unquestionably mentally imbalanced. And even though experts will frequently identify clues to the imbalances after the fact, we often hear testimony from neighbors and relatives that the killer exhib-

ited no outward signs. In the instance of the Sandy Hook killer, as well as the Arizona shooter that nearly killed Congresswoman Gifford, they are often thought to be “exceptionally smart” even “brilliant.” Why are so many dangerously imbalanced individuals lose in society? Part of the reason has to be the policy that began in the 1960’s and really took off in the 1980’s of closing state mental hospitals and placing imbalanced individuals on medications under community clinic supervision. As these programs have been progressively under-funded, they have also become disturbingly less effective. Since 1982, there have been 190 documented gun violence incidents in schools alone and countless others in

society at large. Like it or not, another contributing factor has to be our national fascination with violence. Movies, television and video games are laden with violent images and violence is often portrayed as the solution of choice for conflict. When a society is so thoroughly saturated with violent imagery and passively accepts it, it can’t come as a surprise that those whose powers of reason are compromised will choose to engage in it. Furthermore, the “trash talk”, sarcasm and aggressive posturing that have become commonplace in public dialog have to aggravate and increase the mental pressures that are felt by the victims of it who lack the capacity to respond in kind and lead them to other choices. With violence so frequently portrayed as a successful strategy, it’s understandable how it can be seen as a rational choice. Certainly there are changes that can and should be made regarding guns, but until we alleviate the desperate circumstances that the mentally troubled among us live with and address the preponderance of violent imagery, gun control laws will not get us where we want to be. For now, the surviving families and friends of the victims need comfort and reassurance from the rest of us, but we need to get serious about sparing others from this terrible experience. CN

JANUARY 1-30, 2013

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Spodick wants to shed light on institutionalized discrimination Jim Spodick, contributor to the Communicator newspaper and a lifelong resident of Racine, is now working on a documentary called Pattern Or Practice. The documentary’s primary focus is why minority tavern owners are more often targeted by the City of Racine to be shut down than their white counterparts. He found producers outside of Racine County to shoot the one and a half hour documentary, which he plans to travel around the country promoting to film festivals in order to shed light on what he describes as “institutionalized racism.” The 56 year old Spodick has spent countless hours since December 2011, breaking down all the Licensing and Welfare Committee minutes and reports that were held on issues in local bars. He has purchased all the records for all of Racine county taverns and has found the top three most troublesome bars were not owned by minorities, but in fact belong to white owners, and they are currently still open for business. Spodick gave 14 Aldermen and the Mayor a chance to respond about what is in his documentary, but all refused to take the opportunity to defend their actions. According to Spodick, the Aldermen were warned by a notice from the City Attorney to not respond to his request, due to any "future" legal issues. “Quite alarming, right?” said Spodick. He went on to say he believes the main source of our problems in City Hall stem from right inside and he is willing to work hard to uncover them. He referred to several issues right within our small community giving names and positions. Spodick’s documentary gave local bar owners that were closed by the city a

chance to speak. He said that in preparing the film, he came across many owners who did not want to participate in fear that they would be targeted by the city for retribution. “The concerns that are being raised in the film are very real here in Racine. We are a small city that carries a lot of racial profiling and institutionalized racism,” he explained. “What we need is the department of justice to come in and help get Racine county back on track,” he concluded. .

What heartening news from the local sheriff's office! $1million dollars in savings! Good news in hard times! But details in the sheriff's announcement give lie to the claim. The sheriff has cut the pay in half for jail guards. That has ramifications that pose negative consequences on economic and moral grounds. From an economic perspective Sheriff Schmaling has gutted the spending power of our county's economic middle class by $1 million. That means less demand for goods,resulting in lower employment rates in manufacturing and retail. From a moral view our young sheriff and his recent predecessors ought to be ashamed of themselves. The modest diminution of duties and responsibilities of "nonsworn" sergeants in no way compensates for such a drastic cut in their pay. We owe more than that to anyone who puts on an officer's uniform. If Sheriff Schmaling is serious about saving money he should publicly support rehabilitation programs instead of jail for minor drug and alcohol law violations. If he is looking for facilities for such programs I recommend remodeling and using some of the vacant space in the monstrous jail facility that is still costing us millions of dollars. Rev. Glen A. Halbe Retired minister of the United Church of Christ

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JANUARY 1-30, 2013

THE JOY OF Giving Back By Heather L. Premo What if all it took for your bleak, awful day to turn hopeful was a smile? Maybe a kind word and a gentle handshake would do. Day to day most of us in our hustle and bustle lives don’t think about the value of something so simple. Something that to the core of the heart for another is life-saving. I am speaking very literally. For most of us we never bother to stop and think about of what importance and blessings having bills to pay, might actually be until you do not have any to pay, because there is no pace to pay bills at. No mortgage, rent, electricity, gas, or for even luckier folks; cable or satellite TV. Many of us gripe about the cost of living and the jacked up cost of electricity, but truly imagine what it is like to not have a home to pay the electricity or the means to pay the bill. Most of us know that homelessness does exist. We know that there are people who right here in Racine have absolutely no place and no one. How much time have you actually sat down and thought about it? You may drop some change in the bucket for the bell ringer while you are walking into Piggly Wiggly, but you never really sat down and thought what it would be like to you to be out in the elements of the cold, to have no-where to go, and noone to turn to. What would you do if you had nothing? Most of us dare not like to think about it, let alone in any detail because the thought of living in such disparity is such a frightening topic to us that we do not dare. Before I had a chance to sit down and talk with Rev. Stewart, I had the opportunity to get to know some of the people that volunteer at the center and the people of less fortunate means that are finding it close to Heaven. A lady in particular that I spent a bit of time with was to me a delightful and colorful person. She had some quite outlandish ideas and stories, but it was fun to talk with her. Her de-

meanor seemed to change almost immediately when she realized I was actually listening to her and was interested in her ideas and stories. She had a few questions for me as well and I hope that I was a help to her. It made me very happy to know that she appreciated the conversation. As Reverend Stewart and I sat down and he began to tell me about the Hospitality Center, a gentleman that visits frequently was asked by Rev. Stewart to tell me what the Hospitality Center is to him. The gentleman, “Hospitality is the bridge of somewhere to go when there is no- where else.” He went on to describe how the Hospitality Center has benefited him and from his heart spoke as though it was his life-saving grace to be there and be part of a “Fellowship,” as Duane called it. He spoke with vigor and enthusiasm and was happy to tell me a bit about himself as well. As the conversation moved on with Reverend Stewart and I, one of the first things that he had said to me was, “When you were speaking with her over there and you had smiled at her, that was God smiling at her.” That statement stuck in my heart to know that a simple smile from me was more than just a smile, but a gift from God. It lets people know that he is there whenever people are ready to talk, to listen, or for whatever they may need. We continued to talk and as I spoke with him there was also a huge sense of peace and tranquility in the atmosphere, the kind of feeling we don’t feel too often and one that I guarantee, no one can forget. He began to tell me of a story, one of a few delightful stories that he told me about, but this story consisted of one of the visitors that were asked at one point in time, “If you could name 3 things that you need on your person every day when you are homeless, what would those three things be?” As Reverend Stewart was repeating it to me, he stated that the man said, “A clean pair of

socks, a good book, and a water bottle or two.” Reasons being for a good book is because homeless spend much time alone and waiting in lines for meals so it is something to do during these times. The water bottles because there is a shortage of fountains and options available for water when a person is homeless, especially during the winter months. The clean pair of socks because a lot of walking, the cold, it is a good idea to keep a clean pair of socks on you, especially if they become wet. Interesting isn’t it? So the Hospitality Center keeps water, clean socks, and a book shelf full of books available for visitors at all times. Of course, they always could use some assistance in keeping these items stocked. The history of the Hospitality Center is actually not that long. Reverend Stewart along with his parish from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church saw the desperate need for such a place when he came here to Racine. He asked around to people if there had been a need for a place like the Hospitality Center and he was surprised to find that there has never been to anyone’s knowledge. So needless to say, the doors to the Hospitality Center were opened in May of 2011. In the start of the Hospitality Center, there was no money, nothing, but a few donuts, some coffee, and various other items for people visiting. As time went on, donations grew and so did the help. It began with about 15 people a day coming in for a bite to eat and to have some basic needs such as warmth. Today, the Center averages about 165 people a day with some days being more. People from all walks of life and with so many variations of circumstances. Some are mental illness, addictions, physical illness or injury, to the persons that one day had a job, a home, a mortgage, to the next day, nothing. Many people are struggling with several different issues that are keeping them from fullfilling their own expectations, let alone

society. The resources to establish oneself in the working world or to become healed or treated in their needed way just aren’t easily accessible. So in addition to providing some basic needs such as food, the Hospitality Center now has computers to assist in job searches of individuals ready to work. Reverend Kevin Stewart’s idea for running the center is not about trying to force people to change or to encourage them to do this, that, or the other; it is designed to let people be themselves. To have a safe place where they are not judged, are not taken advantage of, they are safe, and they are not under scrutiny or requirements to be part of the Hospitality Center. The idea is to let people be whomever they are going to be, and if changes are needed or help is required is some special way, to allow God to do what he does best, and that is fix, save, and love us. Many folks may have judgments on the truth I just stated, however, let me tell you that as of right now, it is all working! People are coming to their own changes in their own time. With the right support and the needs met, the changes and Miracles are happening. I most certainly saw it the day that I was blessed to be part of the Hospitality Center the day of Thanksgiving. I certainly had the most ever to be thankful for in that time. I had a chance to meet the very first visitor of the Hospitality Center and he is a delightful character with nothing but spirit and hope for the future of the Hospitality Center for everyone. Dave, the very first visitor, stated to me that, “The nicest people in the whole entire world are homeless people and they are right here.” That statement was backed up by a few people who I later had the opportunity to talk with even more in depth about their situations. The biggest thing that I could say is, “that in this day and age, homelessness truly is unnecessary and shouldn’t

JANUARY 1-30, 2013

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Giving Back from page 8 happen at all.” That is my statement. As the hours progressed, people were talking, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company while making sure the coffee intake was substantial while volunteer Lois made sure there was an endless supply. Every-time I have seen her, one of the volunteers, said she has had a genuine smile on her in a forever thankful appeal to those who meet her. Other visitors were those people from a News-station, other newspapers, and those checking out what Homeless for the Holidays is all about. Later on, many of us joined outside the Hospitality Center and across the street to begin the long night of feeling what it is like to stay outside all night; I gotta tell you, for me, it was bitter cold. For others, they were enjoying the time outside with Reverend Stewart and his family and the friends of the Hospitality Center. People from other churches, not all local also joined the activities to support the event. I was overjoyed to see so much support for such an important issue here. The smiles and information that I received during the time there will last with me for a long time to come. Hospitality is only open right now on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. of each week. The Hospitality Center is located at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 614 Main Street, at the corner of 7th and Main here in Racine. Reverend Stewart would love to expand and have the Hospitality Center open every-day, however, it takes time and money to go the distance as anyone knows. In addition to the already provided days, the Hospitality Center also provides transportation to and from HALO, the homeless shelter also here in Racine. If you were unable to attend the past activities and would still like to help, you may contact Reverend Kevin Stewart at (414)405-5619 or email at clerickevin@me.com. Some of the items needed right now are blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothing, sanitary supplies, bottled water, coffee, meat and cheese slices, peanut butter, jelly, sliced bread, paper or 12-pk of bottled water . Merry Christmas to All!

NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE Lansing, Michigan: In a stunning reversal of his declared position over the last two years since his 2010 election, Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a “right to work” law into effect. Republican lawmakers in the MI Senate and Assembly, realizing that they will not have enough votes to pass this when the new legislature is sworn in, rammed the bill through in a matter of hours. A massive contingent of protesting workers was locked out of their capitol, some were maced by police. “Right to work” laws are widely recognized as a union busting tactic and unions are strongly opposed to them. 7 of the 10 states with the lowest per capita income are right to work states while 7 of the 10 with the highest per capita wages are not. Too much money in the hands of working people has never been shown to be among the causes of the 2008 economic crash. Florida, Panama, Wash. DC: Florida plans to release “genetically modified” mosquitoes to disrupt the breeding population in an effort to combat Dengue Fever. A company named AquaBounty, working in Panama and Canada, has applied for approval of a

“genetically modified” salmon that grows twice as fast as wild salmon. And the Supreme Court is debating whether corporations should be allowed to patent human genes. The patent office currently allows them to be. Germany: After having to import electricity following the shut down of 8 nuclear power plants in response to the Fukushima disaster in Japan, Germany resumed being a net exporter within months. This is due to its ambitious energy policy promoting solar, wind and biomass technologies. Germany now produces about 20% of its power through green technologies and continues to add more capacity. Tennessee: Republican senator Bob Corker is co-sponsoring a bill to require all new vehicles to be equipped with a breathalyzer that will disable the vehicle if the driver exceeds a designated blood alcohol level. This prompted one critic to suggest that all the electronic voting machines that congress uses to pass laws, be similarly equipped. Perhaps random drug testing of congress is also warranted. And while we’re at it, why not IQ tests and psychological profiles.

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JANUARY 1-30, 2013

Get Your War On By James Green It seems America needs to be at war with something all the time. The “war on crime”, the “war on drugs”, the “war on terror” and the “war on poverty” are some examples of "wars” that we have been fighting in recent history. Certainly war is a great motivator. If the powers that be can create an enemy that poses a significant threat to domestic tranquility, the federal coffers spring open and the dollars freely flow. The war on drugs has generated over one trillion dollars in spending, the war on terror is estimated at 6 trillion and the war on poverty stands at about 15 trillion. If the purpose of these wars is vican attractive sounding agenda because tory over some particular foe, they the national deficit is bloating the nahave been dismal failures. On the other tional debt, but what is the plan? If the hand, if the purpose has been to spend answer is reducing the money flowing money, they have been a rousing sucinto “social safety net” programs, a cess. disaster is on the horizon. Unless Many millionaires have been created wages and income at the lower rungs through these federal programs, yet of the economic ladder rise, the reducmany Americans remain terrorized by tion of federal subsidies will make the threat of a 9-11 type attack, people poverty and economic inequality even continue to use drugs and the poverty worse than they are now. rate has not fallen. America now has the greatest income In the case of the “war on poverty”, disparity in its history, worse than all we seem to be at some sort of crossbut three other nations on Earth. The roads and it will be interesting to see impact of this has been softened some which direction we take in the future. by the fact that most Americans once Many people have become dependent enjoyed a very high standard of living on the dollars directed through this war compared to other nations. But as peosimply because their wages are no ple’s assets dwindle, that impact is longer sufficient to meet their everygoing to become far more stressful on day needs. Some of the nation’s largest many more people. You run out of employers have the majority of their things to put in the yard sale after a employees on such low pay scale that while, and if other folks in the neighthey need to supplement their income borhood have no money, no one will with food stamps and Medicaid. buy that treadmill or those old clothes. Now, with the austerity mindset that The share of the economy that flows is being promoted by some politicians through the lower economic levels has and big business interests, we’re hear- been shrinking over the last few ing that we need to address “out of decades. In other words, folks at the control federal spending”. This may be

The Way We See It! bottom have less money to spend. There has been a "redistribution of wealth” taking place that is driven by changing tax policies and aggressive (some would say reckless) investment strategies that have made some people at the top quite wealthy, but that money had to come from somewhere. The American voters sent a clear message to Washington in this last election. President Obama was elected to a second 4 year term and Democrats won the popular vote in the House of

Representatives. This would indicate that the President’s policies have the endorsement of the majority of Americans, but due to changes made in the congressional district lines, Republicans continue to hold the controlling majority there. No President, no matter how powerful he may seem to be, can effect change on his own. All members of the House of Representatives run for election every two years, and if they continue to fight the President at every turn, voters will have the opportunity in 2014 to elect a more supportive House. If poverty continues to grow and the wealth of the nation continues to move upward into the hands of those who are already wealthy, this will be the voters only alternative. Rather than cutting funding for programs that millions now depend on for basic needs, it would make more sense to reduce federal spending on weapons programs and wars in foreign countries. America now spends more on weapons and war than nearly all other nations on Earth combined. If we truly believe we are a nation of peace, it’s time to act like one.

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Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus Visit Racine to Help Firemen with Benefit

JANUARY 1-30, 2013

Upper photo: Santa Claus and Mrs Santa Claus, a Snowman, and some helpers, along with the Racine firefighters, police officers and the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin in partnership with the Racine Unified School District and Girls Inc. of Racine and about 250 residents were on hand to host a fundraiser and community education event to honor the Linden Avenue family devastated by a Nov. 8 fire at their home. The Linden Avenue Angels fundraiser was held from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St. Nine-year-old Dayja Scott, 8-year-old Dalija Scott and 7-year old Michael Scott died from injuries suffered in the fire. Five-year-old Luther Scott survived but has a long road to recovery. The Scott family needs help rebuilding for today and the future.

Conflict Arises Over King’s Holiday

Jennifer Gallager, left, Managing Editor for the Insider News called for the reinstatement of support for student activities surrounding the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Monday evening, Dec. 17, the Racine Unified School District Board held an open session to receive public comments. Numerous citizens, including a significant number of students, spoke about the board’s recent announcement that they have concerns about certain circumstances surrounding the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event that has been held by district students for the past several years. Specifically, they had been informed that Voces De La Frontera (VDLF), a community organization that has participated in the event by students’ request, is a registered PAC (political action committee) Í. According to sources, this places the school board in the uncomfortable position of funding an event that could potentially be perceived as “political”, which opens them to criticism and potential liability. It was for this reason that the board decided to withhold funding of the event until the

matter could be resolved. When contacted, Kate Werning, youth organizer for VDLF, stated that the organization is a registered 501-C3 (non-profit organization) and not a PAC. Another source states that the board was clearly informed of this but it appears some confusion remains and further dialog is needed. All indications are that the primary source of the confusion that has created this conflict in Racine, is Milwaukee radio talk show host Mark Belling. Reportedly, Belling has an axe to grind with VDLF and has encouraged his listeners to deluge RUSD with “open records requests” about their involvement with the King celebration. If this proves to be correct, it is a sad display of disregard for the integrity of the educational efforts of a neighboring community. A meeting between students and the school board is scheduled for later in the week.

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