Lessons from Katrina
Jim Rowen, in a Capital Times op ed column, offers five imperatives for change in the aftermath of Katrina.
Unfortunately, if I were a betting man I would say we won't do any of them.
posted by xoff @ 12:07 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Well that was hilarious.
Not much of a surprise. I don’t think anybody needs to listen to Rowen. He isn’t exactly the wise old sage with proven results. He was part of the brain trust that gave us MMSD and the deep tunnel program. An over-budget, public works project that works great until it rains. Only an old Milwaukee Socialist in deep denial could leave a legacy that dumps millions of gallons of raw sewage into Lake Michigan, and then take pen in hand to write a dissertation about our responsibility to spray a gazillion dollars of federal money all over New Orleans.
Well – at least Rowen dusted out the trusty, tried and true playbook with his novel ideas –
Step 1 - Obtain huge gobs of federal funds
Step 2 – Dig gigantic holes in the ground
Step 3 – Pour money into the holes
Step 4 – Divert poop into the designated drainage basin (Lake Michigan)
Step 5 – Repeat.
Brilliant. Really. Especially when you don’t stop to think about it.
The whole commission thing is his new twist on the playbook. At least he admits he stole that gem that from the 9/11 folks. It is a good idea though. Having an independent commission (‘Witch Hunt’) at least provides comedic relief – it’s like having the circus come to town. Complete with clowns.
Xout:
I'm not sure who you think Rowen is, but he never worked for the city of Milwaukee before 1996, and certainly had nothing to do with the deep tunnel project.
Fact check time.
Oh good. I thought he'd been hanging around city government longer than that...
So he came in about the time the sewer wars ended. Where Milwaukee found suburban suckers to pay the outrageously high ongoing costs of the debacle.
My mistake. His piece was still hilarious.
So Rowen was the guy on Laugh-in and then he came to Milwaukee.
Well that explains why you are only funny when you aren't trying.
Post a Comment
<< Home