Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The reasons for my journalism




Contrary to popular belief I do not like to stir up controversy. As a journalist and semi-professional photographer ( now learning vidiography) I believe it is my duty when I am made aware of the goings on in our community that may be detrimental that those responsible be held responsible. Publicly exposing possible alleged wrong doing is necessary in order to maintain a healthy LGBT community.

It is unfortunate that the local gay media only concentrates on (besides our current political climate IE. domestic partner and DADT) only the Good News and buries its head in the sand on important issues concerning the egotistical and narcissistic proclivities of its leaders. We must remember that we elected or appointed them as spokesmen and mentors for the organizations they are responsible for. The problem is that Power sometimes goes to their heads and bad things can be the result. Truth be told, many people can not handle Power and that is the reason that we must hold them responsible for their actions.

A prime example comes to mind the New LGBT Center 252 E. Highland St. where there is almost no adequate parking (unless you want to pay a premium to a parking garage) not to mention Disabled Parking or ADA access (yes there is a ramp to the doorway but no marked vehicular space for access front or back) to the building. If my memory serves me right, if more than 30% of the interior of the building is remodeled the rest of it must also be made ADA compliant.

There is virtually no parking on the street nor any marked Disabled parking near the entrance. When MSOE in in session, forget it. Forget about Friday or Saturday evening when all the Bars a block away are loaded with people, not to mention the parking situation. No Gay person in his right mind will want to be there then. I aught to know as an assistant nighttime patrol supervisor I had to patrol that area and can relate first hand what goes on.


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Things you didn't know about that new LGB T community center

As you know the LGBT community center is moving from court street. Some of you have gone to the hardhat party and have seen the interior of the building with work in progress. Unfortunately I was not able to go because of these spinal injury and because I was in the hospital getting a pacemaker. Now if you Google the address for the new LGBT Ctr. you can look at it from several angles. The new LGBT Ctr. will be located at 252 E. Highland Ave. directly across some Milwaukee school of engineering and kitty corner from one of those large major garages. The problem is I am very concerned about access to the building and A.D.A. compliance inside the building. Upon speaking with one of the representatives of the old LGBT Ctr. I was informed that instead of using the door on the Highland Avenue side they door around the corner would be used for entry and exit. I was also informed that the upstairs or I should say the second floor will be ADA compliant. According to the specifications when it a building is upgraded more than 35% that all of the building must be ADA compliant. Not just a portion of it.
For the past two years I was a assistant patrol supervisor patrolling four major garages in the downtown Milwaukee area specifically one West and South nearby or should I say kitty corner from the new LGBT Ctr. I can tell you specifically that there is no exit from this building other than from the South side of the building or the Westside from the Performing Arts Center and from the East a very steep ramp. To the east of the new center is the Milwaukee school of engineering parking lot. MSOE does not allow anyone except students to park in a parking lot and if you do you will get ticketed and towed. Most of the parking around MSOE is metered parking and there is very seldom a space available. I was informed that there would be parking on the side of the building apparently where the new entryway is located. I will we have to buzz to get into this one too? I Assume several of these spots will be for disabled parking. The street is basically a cul-de-sac and there is very little parking available.

I was informed that the center has negotiated private parking within one of the structures nearby the center. Exactly who is going to use these parking spaces is a good question. What I don't think anybody realizes is that these negotiated spaces will be used by people who run the center. This eliminates the cost of parking downtown and allows these people access to almost everything downtown (no more meters to plug remember?) because according to them it's all within walking distance. (surprise surprise)Most parking downtown cost no less than $100 per month, and don't even mention those god-awful parking meters something I don't think these people are going to have to pay for ever. This is one of the perks that you and I are going to be paying for through our donations, believe it or not. Where the funding is going to come from for these costly parking spaces is a very good question. And my question is should we be footing the bill for this parking through our donations?

The last thing I would like to point out is that parking in that area is a premium because it is within a block or so of at least 20 bars which are packed solid Friday and Saturday evenings. And I don't know of too many gay people who were going to want to be around during during that time when there are hundreds of rowdy college students in the area. Believe me I know because I had to kick a lot of them out of the garages and break up fights and other stuff like that at closing time. On summer nights the police would cordon off the area and he only way you could go was home. So there you have it, a place I would consider not a very good (think lousy) location with very limited parking and very few answers forthcoming.