Of course we can and must address the need to make services efficient and responsive. Indeed, that's been the hallmark of my career outside City Hall; and one that will continue inside City Hall. I also advocate a much more aggressive business retention strategy. Most business closings are avoidable if the underlying causes are identified early enough to address the situation - such as when an aging owner has not found a successor, or when an industry faces the need for equipment upgrades, technology enhancements or workforce re-training. While the City can not solve all these problems, the right kind of Alderman could lead the charge along with educational institutions and other levels of government along with the private sector to ensure that we keep family-supporting jobs in the City, thus relieving the tax burden disproportionately shouldered by 3rd District voters.

Finally, as alderman, I promise to fight hard, working with our state legislators, to get Milwaukee's fair share of shared revenue from Madison. In addition to property taxes, we also pay taxes in the form of income tax and fees to Madison, and some of that revenue is returned to the City of Milwaukee in the form of shared revenue. But in inflation-adjusted terms, the City is getting nearly $80 million less than in 1996, resulting in more and more of basic city services - police, fire, sanitation, and more - being shifted to the property tax levy. In 2008, only a third of city services are funded with state shared revenue, compared to nearly half in 1998. Homeowners and renters pay the price.