Carlos Laack's Blog

I remember having this discussion with my family, when I was close finishing up my Bachelor's Degree from UW-Stout about 2 years ago. (via distance education) My uncle was telling me at one point that don't be afraid if you have to move out of Milwaukee. Some folks stay because of their families. Which is understandable. But in the end, he told me "do you what you gotta to do" - in terms of making a choice of staying or going. Other folks were asking me the same thing: "Are you going to leave?" I responded, I don't know. As of today, I still don't know. I remember telling my church that I don't know where it is or when it is, I'll do it.

One of my church members who graduted from out of state schools like the University of Minnesota and Columbia University, wanted to work in Milwaukee working with kids. But then the jobs weren't popping up, and he moved to Chicago - in tells of his dream goal of working with kids on a greater level. I think part of the reason is the employment competition between Milwaukee and Chicago.

It's one of those things that you might end up being here for a while, and then you might move out the next couple of years. An example of that would be getting the degrees here for example, and then moving down south or where ever and never come back.

Back in the mid-70's Milwaukee was still comparable to just about any German city. Driving downtown you could get a sense of its roots. When I did appraisal work I'd still encounter a ton of folks who spoke more German and Polish than they did English. The South Side had its own lingo ("throw me down the stairs a pair of socks hey!") and were darned proud of it. Where did all of that go? Milwaukee was a good place to live back then. Had I been sober and of a clear mind, I would have lived there in a heartbeat. You could still make a good living and have a decent and quiet life. Where did it go?

Having been born and raised in Milwaukee and, watching it's downfall, I'd have to say most young folks leave because of the lack of good paying jobs and the high taxes.
I agree with Basher. Milwaukee has lost it's pride. The roads suck, it's mostly dirty and so many of the beautiful homes where I grew up (Sherman Blvd. area) are just empty shells of their old, beautiful selves. Now all you hear about is crime and problems and the government in Milwaukee is terrible. Lately, they seem to be stepping things up. Maybe Milwaukee will make a comeback.
Milwaukee needs to be cleaned up, get some of that pride back and then , maybe, it will attract more businesses. Right now most businesses avoid this area because of crime and taxes. When graduates see this they tend to look at the bigger cities that have a better community spirit.

Sadly, Carlos, I am now fearful of being in certain parts of Milwaukee alone and that's the Northeast and Southeast sides. I used to live on 23rd and Scott, 35th and North and was born and lived in Parklawn for 13 years. Back then it wasn't as bad. I bartended for 8 years on Milwaukee's Eastside Riverwest area and we would walk everywhere without fear.
Now, I wouldn't go to that part of town without a male companion. Heck, most of the places I worked at are closed and boarded up and that was just in the early to late 1980's.
You can't completely blame the "slumlords". Many times they fix up homes or businesses only to have people come in and steal the plumbing, fixtures, wiring and cabinets. After a while they just give up. I have always thought it would be a good idea for the city to takeover the houses or businesses and hire all people from the area to fix up the properties. Maybe it would give them pride and it would bring money into the city. The city could pay them with free rent and paychecks instead of welfare checks. It would lower the welfare ranks and give the city pride. Most people will not let what they made be ruined.
That will never happen though.

Oh man I HATE Chicago.
My daughter is there with her boyfriend and I despise when I have to drive there. No one looks when entering the highway and their loop is so messed up. On ramps from the left??
I could never live in that city.