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By Janet Evans
Friday, Oct 24 2008, 05:57 PM
Just south of the Northwestern Mutual Campus, in the Boomgaard District, every October you will find this meretricious display of a Halloween spectacle. Oh, yes…the east side of the “corridor” is so glorious. Not that the west side doesn’t have its own share of problems. I must ask the question though, what would posses anyone to spew holiday spirit all over their property in this manner? I don’t think that plastic is cheap moneywise, anyway. It's so much more to behold in person.
I know Halloween has become ever so popular over the last few years. Some homes decorate more for All Hallows Eve than they do for Christmas. Some know the difference between decorating in order to scare their neighbors and decorating that looks just plain, well, scary.
I guess that section of S. 27th Street shall be known, for the rest of October (or until the rubber is removed) as, “the BOOgaard District.”
Now this home a couple blocks from my house knows how to decorate with some class.
Happy Halloween!
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Sep 20 2008, 10:59 PM
By Janet Evans
Friday, Sep 12 2008, 11:41 AM
What's in a name?
That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
William Shakespeare
Maybe They Should Name It Boomgaard…maybe not.
But they may as well.
It’s another example of the backfired attempt of the Zizzo Group and the Franklin-Oak Creek 27th Street Steering Committee to shove a moniker down the throats of the public without thinking of the overall reaction of who they are trying to attract in the first place…the public.
But this is so much worse. This reeks of a lack of compassion and overflows with denial.
"Football fans and Jewish groups are outraged over the prospect of a new Giants and Jets stadium being named for German insurer Allianz because of its Nazi ties in World War II.The company insured the Auschwitz death camp and had a chief executive serving in Hitler's cabinet. The company is on the short list of those vying to slap their name on the Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey via a lucrative sponsorship deal.
MYERS: JETS, GIANTS DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
The possibility of what some saw as a former Third Reich enabler getting its name on their ballpark has some Big Blue and Gang Green fans vowing boycott. "
Read about it HERE
and HERE
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Sep 4 2008, 12:00 PM
I wasn’t able to attend the S. 27th. Street Corridor Steering Committee meeting yesterday, which took place in Oak Creek., at 8:00 a.m.
Luckily, Franklin blogger Fred Keller, was able to attend, and he has a report on his blog Bullseye.
You can read that HERE
My only comment I’ll make here is that the next meeting of the Steering Committee will mark the 120 days where the Committee is supposed to have a decision regarding “Boomgaard.”
The Steering Committee had made a point in May about involving the community. Well, they haven’t even discussed whether they are doing anything about Boomgaard in this 120 days let alone involving the community. They dropped the ball.
S. 27th St. Corridor Website
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Aug 22 2008, 04:46 PM
Well, not really.
But the quote is "So, put me in jail."
That from Franklin District 1 Alderman Steve Olson, the newly appointed member of the 27th Street Jt. Steering Committee.
Since there are only four members on the current Steering Committee, two of the members meeting together out of the four member committee to discuss business is a violation of open meetings law, is it not?
And Alderman Olson catches himself as he begins to report that he and Jim Rhiner met together or discussed increasing members on the committee. As I was not there, but have the tape provided to me, I can't tell you if he stopped himself, or was stopped. But the "So put me in jail," comes out, which acknowledges he is aware of the issue. So, possibly this was discussed between the two of them at some point.
This same issue was discussed at the Economic Development meeting briefly between Alderman Olson and Alderman Taylor - with reference being made by Alderman Olson that two bloggers were in the room.
You will also hear in the podcast which begins with scheduling of the next meeting, Alderman Olson, at over 2 hours into the meeting, bring up, with an apology, and terms it as an 800-lb. gorilla, the fact that something needs to be done regarding Boomgaard.
Yes...Boomgaard. Remember that Steering committee? How quickly we forget. Just brush it under the rug.
I guess "committee" meetings don't have to follow Robert's Rules of Order. They are more like a three ring circus. I don't know which city staffer gets the horrible job of filtering through the MESS of tape they are left with from these meetings, but there is no rhyme or reason to these meetings. Most of the time three people are talking at one time.
There are Rules for a reason.
There are Ordinances for a reason.
Alderman Olson seems to believe that fact - if you listen to his statement made at the Common Council meeting last Tuesday. "Ordinances come first." "If there is an ordinance violation alleged, this city owes it to its constituents and citizens to completely investigate it in a timely manner."
That said, you can listen to this brief podcast from the tail end of the Steering Committee meeting regarding these two issues.
HERE
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S. 27th Street Steering Committee - August 21, 2008
Jim Rhiner – Chairperson - EDC/CDA, Franklin
Steve Olson - Alderman, Franklin
Marie Myszkowski – CDA, Oak Creek
Tom Michalski – Alderman, Oak Creek
City Staff Doug Seymour –Dr. Dpt. City Development, Oak Creek Mark Luberda – Director of Administration, Franklin Also in attendance: Kristen Wilhelm - Alderman - Franklin Ron Romeis - Franklin Engineering Pat DeGrave - Oak Creek Administration Consultants- HNTB (3 Persons)Audience - Ted Grintjes, Scott Thinnes Note: Alderman Olson, or any other Alderman or Committee member is welcome to comment on my blog, or post a blog post as Common Council President Taylor often does. Just send it to me via email. I welcome their opinions.H/T: S. Thinnes
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Aug 14 2008, 06:50 AM
For your information, from the city website, here is a list of members of the Economic Development Commission (EDC). I really am not familiar at all with the Commission. This was the first meeting I have attended. You can only go to so many meetings.
Regular Economic Development Commission Meetings are held at City Hall the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
| Members |
|
Term/Expiration |
| Alderman Ken Skowronski, Chair |
|
3 Years/4-19-11 |
| Alderman Steve Olson |
|
3 Years/4-19-11 |
| Sharon Moulds |
|
3 Years/7-30-08 |
| Joe Haselow |
|
3 Years/7-30-08 |
| Jim Rhiner |
|
3 Years/7-30-08 |
| Mary Karolewicz |
|
3 Years/7-30-09 |
| Rosanne Burac-Englert |
|
3 Years/7-30-09 |
| Diane Oleson |
|
2 Years/7-30-09 |
| Vacancy |
|
3 Years/7-30-10 |
| James Kerr |
|
3 Years/7-30-10 |
| Norman Hintz |
|
3 Years/7-30-08 |
| Ruzica Bartoshevich |
|
3 Years/7-30-10 |
| Staff Support: Mark Luberda, Director of Administration |
|
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It looks like it is not easy to get a quorum together for meetings...or there is some other problem since there have been several cancellations of meetings. I can't say what the problem is, but I can say, even on the February 25th meeting that has minutes, it began at 6:00 p.m. and was adjourned at 6:30 because there was no quorum. What's up with that? The EDC does not appear to be a very productive Commission. Yet, the South 27th Street Steering Committee is a Sub-Committee of the EDC and it has members on it from the EDC. Sounds like the blind leading the blind to me.
| January 28, 2008 |
|
|
| February 25, 2008 |
|
|
| March 24, 2008 (Cancelled) |
|
|
| April 28, 2008 (Cancelled) |
|
|
| May 27, 2008 |
|
|
| June 23, 2008 (Cancelled) |
|
|
| July 28, 2008 (Cancelled) |
|
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Economic Development Commission Meetings and Minutes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The special meeting began with Alderman Skowronski stating that Ted Grintjes resigned and that a replacement needed to be appointed. He said the South 27th Street Steering Committee began with six members and ended up with only two...Grintjes and Jim Rhiner.
Next Jim Rhiner took the floor and discussed, in great length, how much time the new replacement would need to put into the job. Because the meetings are normally held during the working day, you need someone who is in a position to be able to arrange their schedule. This person would be putting in many hours in this position, especially in dealing with the D.O.T. He then immediately nominated Alderman Steve Olson for the job.
Chairman Skowronski interjected that he was not calling for nominations at this time, but he had one in mind.
Rhiner said he still thought Olson needed to be on the committee.
He said some day this wouldn't be just a committee, but would end up being a "Management Team.
Alderman Wilhelm, in the audience, spoke to say that she thought the 27th Street Steering Committee should have Policies and Procedures in place so that if something like this (losing committee members) should happen again, there wouldn't be the issues that there are now.
Alderman Taylor, in the audience, spoke to say he felt that since the 27th Street Corridor was part of District's 3 and 4, it might be wise for he and/or Alderman Wilhelm to be on the Committee. He said when he started getting calls about 27th Street, he would start sending them to Steve Olson.
Alderman Olson thanked Jim Rhiner for his confidence in him and said he would be honored to be on the committee. He said, "the train had left the station a while ago." Steve Taylor responded with," Alderman Wilhelm and I will be two of the drivers of that train for the next 2 1/2 plus years."
Mary Karolewicz questioned Alderman Taylor as to whether he could be impartial if he represented his District while on the Steering Committee. I thought that was out of line. You've got Pete Kosovich on the Plan Commission but he is a small business owner in the Corridor. You have Rhiner and had Grintjes on the EDC and on the Steering Committee....dual roles...You have the Mayor running the city but he chairs the Plan Commission. City officials have dual roles all of the time from what I see. It seems to be the norm.
James Kerr seemed to support having one of the Aldermen from District 3 or 4 on the Steering Committee. What I thought was bizarre was that he had no clue that there was a 27th Street Corridor website. Rhiner had mentioned the site and its functions and Kerr was in the dark. How can the EDC not know what their sub-committee is doing? A group that is spending so much of the taxpayer’s money? I wonder if they are even aware of the "Boomgaard" issue? It was acknowledged that there is a lack of communication between the EDC and the 27th Street Steering Committee.
Jim Rhiner explained the S. 27th Street Corridor website to James Kerr and then it was also mentioned that there were two-person sub-committee meetings held with Wheaton and NML executives that were not Posted/Given Notice. This brings into question the open meetings regulations. There may be some issues that need to be looked at in this area.
Rosanne Burac-Englert and Ruzica Bartoshevich both seemed in support of having an Alderman from District 3 or 4 on the committee also.
So what was the outcome?
Skowronski calls for nominations.
Rhiner nominated Olson.
Bartoshevich has said she supported one of the Aldermen...but she seconds the nomination for Olson.
Skowronski asks if there is any other nomination....dead silence.
Silence after Kerr and Burac-Englert had shown support for the Aldermen. Go figure.
And it was stated earlier that there was no limit as to only having one replacement...there was nothing stopping the Commission from putting two Committee members out there.
There was no talk of a citizen member except for Skowronski saying once that a citizen could be on the committee. No citizen name was brought up.
So that's it...Alderman Steve Olson is the new S. 27th Street Corridor Committee Member.
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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, Aug 12 2008, 06:02 PM
Franklin….
We’ve got a problem.
That’s what I’d say.
How about you?
It’s 90 days (but who’s counting) since the May 13th Steering Committee meeting when it was said, maybe it would take up to 120 days until a decision would be made regarding the “Boomgaard” name for the 27th Street Corridor.
Doug Wheaton has moved on.
Ted Grintjes has left the Committee high and dry. (Conflict of interest? Unless his wife recently went into real estate with the possibility involving property involving 27th Street, it’s a mystery to me that the possibility of a conflict of interest problem wasn’t thought of in the beginning. Even my son, who is an engineer, had to list all relatives who may have had family members who may be associated with companies or businesses doing business with his engineering firm. It was a standard practice. You come clean right from the get go. So why didn’t Grintjes say something immediately when his wife began selling real estate?).
So here we are.
Well, the reason for this post…Helter Skelter…
The City of Franklin has posted an Agenda for an unscheduled meeting of the Economic Development Commission for tomorrow night. It’s a last minute meeting. Looks like things might be in a state of chaos, confusion, disorder…or maybe topsy-turvy.
You know….Helter Skelter.....
Here is the Agenda in case you may be interested in attending. But check the city website before attending. It wouldn’t be the first meeting cancelled at the last minute because of a lack of a quorum.
City of Franklin Hearing Room
Economic Development Commission Meeting
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
6:00 P.M
Meeting Agenda
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Aug 1 2008, 07:17 AM
Remember the story about the Dutch boy who finds a leak in thedyke in Holland. He sticks his finger in the hole to stop the leak. He becomes the hero of the town.
Trouble was...that story everyone thought may have been true all those years was fiction by the author of Hans Brinker and The Silver Skates, Mary Mapes Dodge. And if you asked an engineer, you would probably be told plugging a hole in a dykewith your finger just wouldn't have worked.
Well, it's been leaked that our Dutch hero, Ted Grintjes, may be stepping down from the 27th Street Steering Committee. The question will be why? And for the answer we may have to pretend we have an onion and keep peeling back layer upon layer. We may find, just like the Dutch boy plugging the leak...there may not be a hero in this story. Not like everyone makes him out to be. But that remains to be seen.
So for now, even though it's unofficial...I'll say Doei to Ted Grintjes. That's Goodbye, in Dutch. I'm sure I'll see you around at Common Council meetings.
The statue of the boy with the finger in thedyke at Spaarndam, also known as Hans Brinker
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Jun 27 2008, 07:32 PM
I’m feeling pretty confident that this may be my last Boomgaard post.
Before you know it that 120 days will be up and the Franklin-Oak Creek Joint Steering Committee and Zizzo group will have some grand plan where citizens will be involved to help name the 27th Street Corridor.
I can't wait! Can you?
It will be an exciting time.
Today I received a very nice phone call from Steering Committee Chairperson, Ted Grintjes. He wanted to thank me for testing out the new comments section on the 27th Street Website. He said they will be working out the kinks on the site and trying to make it better. I was glad to help!
In the meantime, I drive up and down the 27th Street Corridor, parts of it anyway, four times a day.
I wonder how often Mayor Taylor takes a look at the 27th Street Corridor?
I have a little game for you on this Friday night.
It's called Getting to know your 27th Street Corridor...
I'm sure it will be easy for some of you.
Guess where this picture was taken in the Boomgaard District/27th Street Corridor?
~
~
~
~
~
 I would have taken the signs down, but only the owner or city officials are allowed to do that.
Election is over.......
So what’s your guess?
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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, Jun 24 2008, 04:40 PM
Oh, Lieve Heer!
What will become of us?
The Dutch say the world is going to end.
When?
Why, in 2012!
That’s not very far off.
So what are they doing to prepare?
Why, stocking up on life rafts!
That makes sense.
“Prepare?”
Why prepare if the world is going to end anyway?
And then there is one Dutch citizen who thinks it might not be so bad....
"You know, maybe it's really not that bad that the Netherlands will be destroyed," Petra Faile said. "I don't like it here anymore. Take immigration, for example. They keep letting people in. And then we have to build more houses, which makes the Netherlands even heavier. The country will sink even lower, which will make the flooding worse."
Has someone been in those mushrooms?
Hmmm…let’s continue looking for that new name to replace Boomgaard, shall we? Are those 120 days up yet?
Take a look at the full article from UPI.com.
And while you’re there…check out the plethora of comments. Some of them are “grappig.” That translates to funny in Dutch.
Many Dutch Prepare for 2012 Apocalypse à here
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Jun 18 2008, 11:53 AM
Now that the Oak Creek Common Council has officially sent the name Boomgaard packing, (yes, they actually took a vote) it appears the Boomgaard District will be no more.
The power of the blogs….
As for Franklin, maybe it has something to do with "B" issues....
Boomgaard...Buckhorn...Budget (tax pledge)....
With the domain name “www.boomgaarddistrict.com” being of no use to the Franklin-Oak Creek Steering Committee, nor the cities of Franklin and Oak Creek, I was wondering what will now become it? It is registered under the Zizzo Group.
Most domain names cost only $9.95 for registration, but we have paid a pretty penny for the entire fiasco and will still be paying as a new name is sought. Perhaps some of the money could be recouped by selling the now infamous domain name.
You never know who might want www.boomgaarddistrict.com. Perhaps a real orchard may want to use it. Or a blogger. Actually, the possibilities are endless. May the highest bidder win…..if the committee/city is willing to sell.
Actually…I would place the first bid if they want to get something going. They’re auctioning off a house on the city website, why not a domain?
I would start bidding at let me think……$10.00!
That should start the ball rolling. So, let’s make a deal!
Boomgaard!
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By Janet Evans
Saturday, Jun 7 2008, 12:05 AM
Boomgaard….
There must be something conservative about it.
30, 60, 90, 120 days….the Franklin-Oak Creek Joint Steering Committee is working on the corridor deciding whether they will keep the fruity name.
Origin….Dutch….
Hmmm…
Dutch….
Reagan!
Ronald Reagan was born in an apartment above the local bank building in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911 to John "Jack" Reagan and Nelle Wilson Reagan. As a boy, Reagan's father nicknamed him "Dutch", due to his "fat little Dutchman"-like appearance, and his "Dutchboy" haircut; the nickname stuck with Ronald throughout his youth.
Reagan joined the campaign of conservative presidential contender Barry Goldwater. Speaking on Goldwater's behalf, Reagan revealed his ideological motivation in a famed speech given on October 27, 1964: "The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing." The address soon became known as the "Time for Choosing" speech, and is considered the event that launched Reagan's political career.
Photograph of Ronald Reagan (with "Dutch boy" haircut) Neil Reagan (brother)
and Parents Jack and Nelle Reagan. (Circa 1914).
There!
Conservative and Dutch…I knew I could do it…
Boomgaard!
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By Janet Evans
Friday, May 30 2008, 05:42 PM
Since our Common Council has been silent regarding Boomgaard, even though they are aware of the feelings of some of the citizens of Franklin regarding the name for the 27th Street Corridor, and since we know it could be 30, 60, 90, 120 days before the 27th Street Steering Committee makes some sort of decision regarding the name, I think it can’t hurt to still think about incorporating some Boomgaard themes into our lives...just in case.
Look what popped up in the news today.
An environmentally friendly, gas saving, form of transportation that not only would help with the transportation problem for schools (parents could transport children to school, therefore reducing how many buses we would need) but with the price of gas, we could seriously think about using this bike and cart to go to the grocery store, to work, and to the apple orchard. And it only costs about $1,787.00! What a deal.
The Dutch Cargo Bike í Read about it here
 Oh mijn God. Een grap!
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By Janet Evans
Monday, May 19 2008, 11:25 AM
endorse
One entry found.
 endorse
Main Entry:
en·dorse
Pronunciation:
\in-ˈdȯrs, en-\
Variant(s):
also in·dorse \in-\
Function:
transitive verb
Inflected Form(s):
en·dorsed; en·dors·ing
Etymology:
alteration of obsolete endoss, from Middle English endosen, from Anglo-French endosser, to put on, don, write on the back of, from en- + dos back, from Latin dorsum
Date:
1581
1 a: to write on the back of; especially : to sign one's name as payee on the back of (a check) in order to obtain the cash or credit represented on the face
b: to inscribe (one's signature) on a check, bill, or note
c: to inscribe (as an official document) with a title or memorandum
d: to make over to another (the value represented in a check, bill, or note) by inscribing one's name on the document
e: to acknowledge receipt of (a sum specified) by one's signature on a document
2 a: to approve openly <endorse an idea>; especially : to express support or approval of publicly and definitely <endorse a mayoral candidate>
b: to recommend (as a product or service) usually for financial compensation <shoes endorsed by a pro basketball player>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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"Boomgaard District” Chosen for South 27th Street Corridor Development
4/23/2008
New Name Blossoms from Area’s History in Apple Orchards
and Vibrant Future in Economic Development
Milwaukee, Wis. – April 23, 2008 –
The Franklin Common Council and the Oak Creek Common Council both have endorsed the name "Boomgaard District" for the area surrounding the South 27th Street Corridor, which is located in both cities.
The word "Boomgaard" is Dutch for "orchard," and is significant to both the history and the vision of the South 27th Street Corridor development. | | Continue here Ã
~~~~~~~
Both Franklin and Oak Creek Common Council's "endorsed" Boomgaard District" as the name for the 27th Street Corridor.
From what we are led to believe, these endorsements took place during closed sessions in order to protect the name from "unscrupulous" individuals who might want to secure the URL.
Oak Creek clearly states their closed session discussion of the name was at their March 18th meeting.
The URL for Boomgaard District was secured before the April 2nd 27th Street Steering committee meeting.
Franklin also entered a closed session regarding the 27th Street Corridor on March 18.
Oak Creek's Mayor Bolender publicly stated at the May 13th 27th Street Steering Committee meeting that "half of the Council liked it, half didn't," regarding Oak Creek's Common Council. He also stated, "Franklin liked it."
From FranklinNOW blogger Greg Kowalski's meeting with Mayor Tom Taylor:
"Oak Creek's Common Council was evenly split 3-3, with Mayor Bolender breaking the tie by voting in favor. Franklin's Common Council, with Aldermen Hammelman and Kosovich still serving, voted unanimously on this name."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, how exactly does a Common Council formerly "endorse" something?
According to Alderman Steve Olson no vote took place.
Okay....
Somehow, the group of Aldermen and the Mayor endorsed the name "Boomgaard."
Somehow they unanimously let each other know they liked the name.
Mental telepathy?
Did they know each other so well they could just read facial expressions?
Just a meeting behind closed doors and no one said "I don't like Boomgaard," so they went with it?
Someone told the media that the Franklin Common Council "endorsed" the Boomgaard District.
It was not discussed publicly, that anyone can see, at an open meeting.
The public only found out about the name when it was announced via the news.
A decision was made somehow.
If it wasn't a vote, just tell us what it was then.
Something is rotten in Denmark... Holland...Franklin....
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, May 15 2008, 09:23 PM
Before I begin this post, I would like to state that my main concern with the Boomgaard issue at this point isn’t the name, per se. Right now, it’s not Zizzo Group, either. It isn’t Zizzo’s fault they were hired. My main concern is the bad government behind this debacle.
The main issue is the gall of the Franklin-Oak Creek Joint Steering Committee to baptize the 27th Street Corridor with the name “Boomgaard,”and the Common Council’s of both cities blessing the christening without any input from the communities of Franklin and Oak Creek. Meeting minutes from the Steering Committee were not posted on a website to be viewed. Meeting dates were not posted in advance, even though meetings were planned weeks in advance. If these had been done in conjunction with each other, and the public had a clue as to what was going on, perhaps some public comment may have been given at Steering Committee meetings.
I question why at a minimum the 100 names that were chosen by the steering committee weren’t made public, at least for some basic input. Still worried that 100 URL’s would be purchased by an “unscrupulous” individual? Well, that would be $1,000. That’s a possibility. But you didn’t have to advertise the fact ahead of time that you were going to have a website for the Corridor. That didn’t occur to me, and I don’t believe it would have occurred to any other average person.
At any rate, I believe there was more to all this than is being said, and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Now on to my post….
“Red Light” Means Stop…and Why “Boomgaard Must Be Stopped”
Red-light district of Amsterdam
It has been submitted that the designation of “Boomgaard” as a label for a section of one of the Red-Light Districts of Amsterdam is a falsehood.
As far as I am concerned, there is no proof of this either way. I will tell you now, that I believe it could very well be a distant possibility.
I will also tell you, I believe there is no way in hell that the Franklin-Oak Creek Joint Steering Committee should retain the name Boomgaard District as the name for the 27th Street Corridor.
And this, is why….
Red-light district.
A red-light district is a neighborhood where prostitution and other businesses in the sex industry flourish. The term “red-light district” was first recorded in the United States in 1894 …get this…in an article in the Milwaukee Sentinel (September 10, 1894). Other mentions from the 1890s are numerous, and located all over the United States.
It’s said that the red lanterns carried by railway workers would be left outside brothels when the workers entered. That way if the workers needed to be located when the trains needed to move, they could be easily found. Others attribute the red lanterns back to ancient China and where sensual red paper lanterns were hung outside.
The color red has been associated with prostitution for millennia: in Biblical story of Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho aided the spies of Joshua and identified her house with a scarlet rope. During World War I there were many brothels in Belgium and France; blue lights were used to indicate brothels for officers, red lights for other ranks.
In different cultures red-light districts are identified differently, the most common being “district of prostitutes.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam….
De Wallen
Also known as Walletjes, it is a major tourist attraction and is located in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam. It covers several blocks south of the church Oude Kerk and is crossed by several canals.
De Wallen is a network of alleys containing several hundred tiny one-room apartments rented by females (and some “ladyboys”) who offer their services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theaters, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops that sell marijuana.
De Wallen, together with the prostitution areas Singelgebied and Ruysdaelkade, form Rosse Buurt (red light areas) of Amsterdam.
Location
The total area is approximately 6500 square, meters, limited by the Niezel in the north, the sea dike/Nieuwmarkt in the east, the Saint Jansstraat in the south and the Warmoesstraat in the west. Prostitution takes place within this area in the following streets:
Bloedstraat, BOOMSTEEG, Dollebegijnensteeg, Enge Kerksteeg, Goldbergersteeg, Gordijnenstee, Molenstee, Monnikenstraat, Oudekerksplein, Oudekennissteeg, Oudezijds Achterburgwal, Oudezijds Boorburgwal, Sint Annendwarsstraat, Sint Annenstraat, Stoofsteeg and Trompettersteeg.
Map of De Wallen
Organization
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, with the exception of streetwalking. However, only EU citizens can work legally in the sex industry, since no working permits are given for prostitution. While health and social services are readily available, sex workers are not required to undergo regular health checks. A study conducted before 2006 found that about seven percent of all Dutch prostitutes (including street prostitutes) have HIV/AIDS.
City authorities are concerned about reports of pimping and human trafficking in the area, although to what extent is uncertain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Above, I stated the following:
It has been submitted that the designation of “Boomgaard” as a label for a section of one of the Red-Light Districts of Amsterdam is a falsehood.
As far as I am concerned, there is no proof of this either way. I will tell you now, that I believe it could very well be a distant possibility.
I will also tell you, I believe there is no way in hell that the Franklin-Oak Creek Joint Steering Committee should retain the name Boomgaard District as the name for the 27th Street Corridor. And this, is why….
I believe the street “Boomsteeg | |
