The Truth About My 33 Year Career at MATC — and What the Journal Got Wrong

 By Dr. Richard A. Busalacchi

Publisher, Franklin Community News

Introduction

Over the past several years, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has published articles that mischaracterized both my career at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and my reputation as a person. Their reporting — particularly the March 2021 story following the resignation of Vice President Amir Law, the October 28, 2024 investigation by Tamia Fowlkes, and the January 13, 2025 “What to Know” explainer — told only half the story.

These articles took isolated remarks out of context, amplified accusations from a letter written by the African American Network (AAN), and ignored the findings of independent outside investigations that cleared me of racial discrimination and retaliation. In doing so, the Journal Sentinel created a false public narrative that I was part of MATC’s “culture of racism.” That is simply not true.

The truth is this: for more than 30 years, I served MATC as an innovator, problem solver, and leader dedicated to student success. When difficult problems arose, I was the one called to fix them. My work expanded opportunities for students of every race, religion, and background. And when allegations were made against me, independent investigators found them unprofessional but not racist. The Journal didn’t tell you that part of the story.

This article sets the record straight.

Why This Article Appears in Franklin Community News

Franklin Community News exists to hold public institutions and elected officials accountable, and to give the community access to facts that the mainstream press often omits.

The same forces that mischaracterized me in the Journal Sentinel — taking comments out of context, ignoring exculpatory evidence, and amplifying political agendas — are the same forces that have worked to silence Franklin Community News.

Both Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor, Franklin Mayor John Nelson along with co-conspirators Mike Zimmerman CEO of ROC Ventures, Joe Russ of Greendale, Grant Johnson formerly of Franklin, and an Executive Director of a local Chamber of Commerce have attempted to retaliate against my First Amendment activity by interfering with my employment, targeting my reporting, and mischaracterizing my journalism as harassment. Publishing this article in Franklin Community News underscores that their efforts to suppress the truth will not succeed.

Supervisor Steve Taylor, Franklin Mayor John Nelson, and 

ROC Ventures CEO Mike Zimmerman

The Journal’s Narrative

The Journal Sentinel’s coverage — including the March 2021 article following the resignation of Vice President Amir Law, Tamia Fowlkes’ October 28, 2024 investigative piece, and the January 13, 2025 “What to Know” explainer — repeatedly:

• Used the phrase “Who are we hanging today?” to frame me as invoking lynching.

• Highlighted my “dumb as a box of rocks” remark as evidence of racism.

• Amplified allegations from a pending DEI retaliation lawsuit.

• Relied on the African American Network (AAN) as a primary source without balance.

The Use of Amir Law’s Resignation and the AAN Letter

In March 2021, the Journal Sentinel reported on the resignation of Vice President Amir Law, framing it as emblematic of systemic racism at MATC. The article leaned heavily on a letter from the African American Network (AAN), which cited Law’s departure as proof of a toxic racial climate.

What readers were never told is that the AAN’s February 8, 2021 letter specifically named me, Rich Busalacchi, as one of the individuals accused of “racially disparaging remarks.” The letter alleged I had called Dean Equan Burroughs “dumb as a box of rocks,” belittled his competency, and mocked former Vice President Johnny Craig’s integrity.

What the Journal Sentinel failed to report is that these claims were fully investigated by independent outside counsel and found not to be racially motivated, not discriminatory, and not retaliatory. Yet instead of balancing the story with those findings, the Journal amplified the AAN’s accusations — placing my name squarely in the public narrative of systemic racism at MATC.

That omission mattered. It was the first time I was publicly labeled in connection with MATC’s “culture of racism,” and it created a template for subsequent coverage in 2024 and 2025. By repeating the same pattern — printing accusations, ignoring investigative findings — the Journal Sentinel built a storyline that falsely branded me as a racist and damaged my reputation.

My Formal Complaint in Response to the AAN Letter

On March 29, 2021, I submitted a formal written complaint to MATC’s Vice President of Human Resources, Elle Bonds, in direct response to the AAN letter and the Journal Sentinel’s March 10 coverage.

In that complaint, I documented that:

• The AAN letter named me directly and falsely accused me of making racially disparaging remarks.

• The letter had been widely circulated — not only internally at MATC but also to Board members, multiple media outlets, and external partners — ensuring the accusation was spread as broadly as possible.

• The individuals listed on the AAN letter masthead, Equan Burroughs and Michele Lamarre, had both previously filed complaints against me, which were independently investigated by Attorney Denise Greathouse of Michael Best. Both investigations concluded that my remarks were not racially motivated and that allegations of retaliation or discrimination were unsubstantiated.

• Despite these findings, Burroughs and Lamarre revived the same closed matters through the AAN letter in what I described as harassment, retaliation, defamation, and reverse discrimination.

By the time the Journal Sentinel published its March 2021 article, the paper had access to both the AAN letter and the investigative history that cleared me. Yet it chose to amplify the accusations without mentioning the findings.

Independent Findings from the 2021 Investigation

Following my March 2021 complaint, MATC again retained independent outside counsel — Attorney José Olivieri of Michael Best — to investigate both my complaint against Equan Burroughs and his immediate retaliation complaint against me.

In his June 15, 2021 report, Olivieri found:

• I was truthful in asserting that I filed my complaint in good faith to clear my name.

• Filing such a complaint does not constitute retaliation, consistent with court rulings.

• There had been no adverse action by me toward Burroughs.

• Most importantly, he reaffirmed Attorney Denise Greathouse’s 2019 finding: my comments about Burroughs were inappropriate but not racially motivated, and I had not created a hostile work environment or engaged in retaliation.

Olivieri concluded that Burroughs’ April 2021 retaliation complaint against me was “not sustained.”

This means that by mid-2021, two separate independent investigations — one by Greathouse in 2019 and one by Olivieri in 2021 — had both cleared me of race discrimination. Yet the Journal Sentinel never reported these findings, choosing instead to amplify only the accusations.

MATC’s Silence Left Me Vulnerable

By mid-2021, after two separate outside investigations had cleared me of discrimination, retaliation, or hostile conduct, I expected the matter to be put to rest. MATC had the benefit of independent findings from Michael Best showing that my comments were unprofessional but not racially motivated.

Yet while the African American Network (AAN) letter was circulated to Board members, community partners, and the press — and the Journal Sentinel amplified its accusations — MATC chose not to issue a public clarification.

This silence left me exposed. Without acknowledgement that outside counsel had already dismissed the allegations as not racial, the narrative hardened that I was part of a “culture of racism.” That impression was then recycled in the 2024 and 2025 Journal articles.

What could have been clarified with simple transparency instead became a lasting mischaracterization of my reputation.

What the Journal got Wrong

1. Independent Investigations Using Outside Counsel
MATC investigated me on two occasions but deliberately chose to retain independent investigators from Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, a respected Milwaukee law firm, to ensure impartiality.

• 2019 Investigation (Attorney Denise Greathouse, Michael Best): She concluded that while I made unprofessional remarks about a colleague, they were not racially motivated. She also found no hostile work environment and no retaliation.

• 2021 Investigation (Attorney José Olivieri, Michael Best): He investigated claims of retaliation after the AAN letter and Journal Sentinel coverage. He concluded I filed my complaint in good faith to clear my name, that I was truthful, and that there was no retaliation. Most importantly, he reaffirmed that I had not engaged in race discrimination.

Both times, the college relied on external investigators to ensure fairness. Yet the Journal Sentinel reported only the allegations, while omitting the findings.

2. Context Behind the “Hanging” Remark
The October 2024 article described my question, “Who are we hanging today?” as if I were invoking racial violence. The reality is very different. The comment was made one day while a large branch was being cut off a tree, and I jokingly asked, “Who are we hanging today?” It was never about race. It was a lighthearted remark in the moment, the kind of banter I had shared for decades with colleagues — many of them African American, many of them long-time friends.

Those very same friends often joked back with me, at one point even referring to me as “the crème in the middle of the Oreo.” In that environment, the humor was mutual and understood. When I made the “hanging” comment, the people present laughed — they did not “stare silently,” as the Journal Sentinel falsely claimed.

At the time, no one filed a complaint. The issue was only raised more than a year later, when Florence Truss, an employee, was pressured into submitting a formal complaint as part of a broader vendetta against me. I later learned of this pressure when I was contacted by a building services worker at the West Allis campus, who had overheard the conversation in the staff breakroom where Florence was being pushed to file.

This vendetta stemmed from my being asked to serve as Interim Vice President of Student Services, during which I inherited a major reorganization known as “Guided Pathways.” Many employees were frustrated about not being promoted or about structural changes that were actually directed by the President’s Cabinet, not by me. I became the convenient scapegoat.

Once I became aware of the conversation and the pressure Florence had been under, I immediately took responsibility. I wrote her an apology letter that very same day and reported the situation to Elle Bonds, MATC’s Vice President of Human Resources. Ironically, at the very time this was happening, college administrators were participating in an online seminar about grace, forgiveness, and understanding conflict — and how it is not always about discrimination or race. That principle, however, was not extended to me.

When the comment was finally brought forward, I was suspended for three weeks as discipline. I accepted that penalty. But the true context — the tree, the banter with long-time colleagues, the pressure to file a complaint, and my immediate steps to take responsibility — was ignored by the Journal Sentinel.

3. The “Box of Rocks” Comment

The Journal Sentinel also referenced my “dumb as a box of rocks” remark as if it were proof of racism. The truth is very different. The comment was made at an off-site lunch with Carl Morrency, who at the time was not only my colleague but also a very good friend. Carl and I routinely went to lunch together to talk through MATC challenges. On that particular day, I made the remark to Carl about Equan Burroughs — another African American administrator — in the context of doubting his professional ability, not his race. It was unprofessional, but it had nothing to do with race; it meant simply “there is nothing there.”

That same day, at Carl’s suggestion, I bought lunch for him to take back to his wife, Michele Lamarre, as he put it, “a peace offering.” Michele was upset because under the new Guided Pathways reorganization, her position had not been upgraded as promised by the previous vice president, Johnny Craig.

It was immediately following that very day that a discrimination complaint was filed against me. The timing makes it clear this was not about a single remark in isolation, but about frustration and resentment tied to the reorganization process and unkept promotion promises.

It is also worth noting that there is no proof that other administrators, faculty, or staff at MATC have ever been written up or disciplined for making an unprofessional comment outside of work. The fact that I was singled out for an off-site remark made privately to a friend only underscores the targeted and retaliatory nature of the complaint.

The remark was later investigated by independent outside counsel, and the finding was clear: it was unprofessional, but not racially motivated.

4. Other Complaints Were Unsubstantiated
Two additional complaints, filed years earlier, were also investigated by outside counsel and found unsubstantiated. None of this context made it into the Journal Sentinel’s coverage.

5. The Role of the AAN

The African American Network (AAN) is not an official MATC affinity group. It is an independent employee organization that has acted as a political body, with its own agenda. While it has raised concerns about racial equity, MATC’s Public Relations Director has acknowledged that the AAN is not formally recognized as an institutional group.

Several of its most vocal leaders — Equan Burroughs, Michele Lamarre, and Carl Morrency — were all based in Student Services, the very division I oversaw as interim Vice President. At the time, the college was undergoing the Guided Pathways reorganization, which had been directed by the President’s Cabinet but for which I received much of the blame. Many employees were upset about not being promoted or losing responsibilities they believed had been promised to them.

Adding to this dynamic, Lamarre and Morrency were married, further concentrating their influence within the group. Their involvement was not impartial oversight but part of an internal power struggle, shaped by personal alliances and resentment over structural changes. Despite this, the Journal Sentinel treated their complaints as objective truth, while ignoring my evidence and the findings of independent investigators.

6. Ignored Balance and Evidence
Reporter Tamia Fowlkes interviewed me for 45 minutes before her October 2024 story. I provided her with my apology letter and gave her the names and phone numbers of two African American female administrators who could directly verify my record and version of events. She never contacted them. Instead, she ignored the evidence I supplied and chose to quote only members of the AAN.

Contextual Pressures

The reaction to my remarks in 2020 did not happen in a vacuum. They occurred in the shadow of the George Floyd murder, when racial tensions across the country were heightened and every workplace was under pressure to respond quickly and decisively. While I take responsibility for words that were unprofessional, it is also clear that the interpretation of my comment was amplified by this national climate, not by my intent.

Today, the narrative has resurfaced amid a new wave of political pressure — this time on public institutions to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under the influence of national politics and statements by President Trump. These shifting political winds have further polarized discussion of MATC’s internal climate, and once again my name has been used unfairly as a symbol.

My Milwaukee Roots

I was born and raised in Milwaukee, growing up on the city’s near northwest side at 43rd and Vliet. I attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Grade School at 36th and Brown through eighth grade, where I was immersed in a diverse environment and, in both my neighborhood and parish, I was often the majority minority.

At St. Thomas, I was elected to the Parish Council, where I proudly served for five years until 1987. Those early years in Milwaukee shaped my understanding of community, equity, and responsibility — values that have guided me throughout my life.

I then attended Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School, which was a true melting pot and a representation of Milwaukee’s diverse backgrounds. My experiences there further deepened my appreciation for inclusion, fairness, and the importance of education as a pathway for all students — regardless of race, religion, economic background, or sexual orientation.

My Roots as a Student Advocate

Before I was ever an administrator, I was an MATC student (1989–1991). I began my journey here as a proud first-generation student leader, serving in Student Senate at MATC, as Resource Director for six years with Wisconsin Student Government for the entire Technical College System, and as a board member and later President of the National American Student Association for Community Colleges.

My advocacy has always been student-centered. For more than three decades — as a student, state-level organizer, national board leader, and later as an MATC dean and vice president — my work has been about expanding opportunity, amplifying student voices, and ensuring that those from all backgrounds could succeed.

My Educational Journey

After graduating from MATC with an Associate’s Degree in Marketing Communications, I stayed on for an additional year to complete a full slate of liberal arts transfer courses. I then transferred to Cardinal Stritch University, where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

My commitment to education did not stop there. I went on to the University of Wisconsin–Stout, where I earned a Master’s Degree in Adult and Vocational Education, and later to Nova Southeastern University, where I completed my Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration, Instructional Technology, and Distance Learning.

This educational journey — starting at MATC and continuing through graduate and doctoral studies — reflects the same values I have always championed for students: that access to education creates opportunity, upward mobility, and lasting impact.

From Student Senator to Associate Dean: A Legacy Built From the Ground Up

An early indicator of my leadership came in 1989, when as Day Student Senate President I spearheaded improvements to our campus’s student governance space. That same drive and vision would later define my professional career.

As Associate Dean of Hospitality Programs, I helped lead the transformation of the 6th Street Café into a vibrant, real-world learning environment for Baking & Pastry students. This wasn’t just a facilities project — it was about giving students practical opportunities to grow, work, and succeed. Faculty embraced me as a collaborator, even affectionately nicknaming me “Baby Dean.”

Colleagues praised my open-door policy and my ability to bring ambitious ideas to life. But I have always believed it is about collective effort, not individual glory. As I told the MATC Times: “It’s not all me … we can build the very best labs … but if we don’t have the faculty to put into the labs, it’s meaningless.”

In Italian, I called this journey “Destino” — destiny. Sometimes, dedication and community alignment create momentum stronger than any singular plan. My path from student senate leader to dean wasn’t chance — it was built on decades of service, humility, and trust.

My Record of Service

• Equity in Practice: As Acting VP of Student Services, I led MATC Start Fresh, forgiving student debt up to $1,500 to help returning students continue their education.

• Program Innovation: I spearheaded degree programs in Culinary Management, Baking & Pastry Arts, Meeting & Event Management, and Creative Advertising — opening pathways for diverse students.

• Workforce Diversity: I secured $400,000 in grants to expand statewide workforce programs, enrolling over 125 students with strong participation from underrepresented groups.

• Technology & Access: I pioneered MATC’s distance learning program, assisted in the launch of Blackboard, and revived “College of the Air,” which extended education to incarcerated youth offenders to earn an Associate of Arts Degree.

• Community Impact: I assisted in the design of curriculum which included student-run restaurants, labs, and bakeries, raised hundreds of thousands for scholarships, and served in leadership roles with the Greendale Lions Club, Festa Italiana, and the Greendale Education Foundation.

Even the president of the AAN attended my retirement party in 2024 — a clear contradiction to the image of me as a racist pariah.

Pattern of Retaliation and Transparency

At the same time the media misrepresented me, officials like Steve Taylor and John Nelson interfered with my employment. When MATC withheld records, I filed a writ of mandamus, which remains active today, to ensure transparency.

Attacks on My First Amendment Rights and Franklin Community News

My work with Franklin Community News has drawn retaliation from  Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor, Franklin Mayor John Nelson along with co-conspirators Mike Zimmerman CEO of ROC Ventures, Joe Russ of Greendale, Grant Johnson formerly of Franklin, and an Executive Director of a local Chamber of Commerce, who have tried to silence me by labeling journalism as harassment. The same tactics used at MATC — taking words out of context, ignoring independent findings, suppressing truth — have been used against my press work.

The Larger Truth

Yes, MATC — like many institutions — has faced cultural challenges. These need to be addressed with empathy and reform. But scapegoating me through selective reporting is unjust.

Two independent investigations by Michael Best — commissioned by MATC — concluded that my conduct was not racist, not discriminatory, and not retaliatory. Those facts matter. The Journal Sentinel omitted them, while amplifying allegations from individuals with a political agenda.

My record, both as a student and administrator, has been about creating opportunity for everyone — students and colleagues of all races, religions, economic backgrounds, and LGBTQ identities. That is my legacy.

Conclusion

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s portrayal of me as a racist is false. My life’s work at MATC was about innovation, accountability, and opportunity. Allegations were reviewed and dismissed by outside investigators.

What remains is my true legacy: serving vulnerable students of every background, creating programs that opened doors, and leaving MATC stronger than I found it. That — not sensational headlines — is the truth.

Franklin's REAL News Source.  Exercising our freedom of speech without fear of retribution or retaliation by Franklin's elected officials.  

FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF FRANKLIN

From Promises to Revisions: The Changing Face of Poth's General

 

By Franklin Community News 

The Poth's General Development is one of Franklin’s most closely watched redevelopment projects, located at the southeast corner of South 76th Street and Rawson Avenue, the site of the aging Orchard View Shopping Center.

Originally pitched in 2023 as a neighborhood-friendly mixed-use project, the plan promised apartments, retail, a hotel, and public gathering spaces — all designed to generate less traffic than a big-box shopping center.

Two years later, the reality looks very different. At a July 1, 2025 Common Council meeting, the developer unveiled a downsized version of the project — fewer apartments, lower building heights, no hotel, and the elimination of once-promised public amenities.

The evolution of Poth's General tells a familiar Franklin story: community-friendly promises at the start, followed by denser plans on paper, and finally revisions under pressure.

Residents embraced the vision cautiously, believing buffers and amenities would keep the project neighborhood-friendly.

The 2023 Promises

In June 2023, the developer told neighbors:

• Up to 440 apartments.

• 20,000 square feet of retail and a 50-room hotel.

• Public draws like a food truck plaza and band shell.

• Traffic would be manageable — “less than a 150,000 sq. ft. shopping center,” according to their own talking points.

The 2025 Revisions

Two years later, after vocal opposition and council scrutiny, the project came back downsized:

• 312 apartments (down from 426).

• Hotel, food truck court, and band shell eliminated.

• 12 townhomes added along the north edge.

• Perimeter buildings lowered to 2 stories; interior buildings 3–4 stories.

• New commercial frontage on 76th Street, with mixed-use interior buildings.

• A new traffic signal proposed at the Ace/Pick n’ Save driveway — meaning signals every 105 yards along 76th Street southbound.

• Orchard View Shopping Center demolition scheduled for December 2025.

• Developer requesting financial support from the city behind closed doors.

Traffic & Infrastructure: The Core Battleground

From the very beginning, traffic has been at the center of community concerns. In June 2023, the developer framed the proposal as traffic-friendly, pointing out that 2,440 daily trips would be far less than the 10,130 trips a shopping center might generate.

But residents quickly realized that the issue wasn’t just the number of trips — it was where, when, and how those cars would move through Franklin’s busiest intersection.

What is a TIA?

A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is a formal engineering study that evaluates how a proposed development will affect the surrounding roadway network. It looks at traffic volumes, trip generation, peak hours, intersection operations, and long-term roadway capacity.

Cities like Franklin require a TIA before approving large projects to determine:

• How many trips the development will generate.

• Which directions that traffic will flow.

• How it will impact nearby intersections and roads.

• Whether improvements (signals, turn lanes, timing adjustments) are needed to maintain safe and efficient traffic flow.

What the TIA (Traffic Impact Analysis) Showed (Aug 16, 2023)

• The Traffic Impact Analysis for Poths General, prepared by the developer’s engineers, projected:

  • 2,440 daily trips generated by 426 apartments, retail, a hotel, and food court.

  • Compared to a 150,000 sq. ft. shopping center, which could generate 10,130 daily trips — the developer highlighted this difference in their 2023 “talking points.”

  • Traffic distribution:

    • 45% north on 76th Street

    • 25% west on Rawson Avenue

    • 15% east on Rawson Avenue

    • 15% south on 76th Street

  • Peak hour impacts: Morning and evening rush projected to significantly slow traffic at 76th & Rawson.

  • Level of Service (LOS): By 2039, some approaches to that intersection would fall to LOS E/F (unacceptable congestion) without improvements.

  Recommended Mitigations in the TIA:

  • Signal timing adjustments at 76th & Rawson.

  • Turn lane / storage lane extensions to reduce spillback.

  • A new traffic signal at the Pick ’n Save / Ace Hardware entrance.

📊 Traffic Distribution Schematic

Here’s a visual schematic of the Poth's General traffic distribution from the TIA, with arrows showing where trips go (north, south, east, west) and labels marking the clustered traffic signals along 76th Street.

This illustrates the community’s main concern: even with fewer total trips than a shopping center, signal congestion creates gridlock in the corridor.

The July 2025 Update: Signals Every 105 Yards

The revised plan still calls for a new traffic signal — but this adds to an already congested corridor. If built, there will be four signals within about 1,000 feet on 76th Street southbound: Ballpark Commons, Loomis Road, Rawson Avenue, and Ace/Pick n’ Save. That means drivers will hit a red light about every 105 yards.

📊 Clustered Traffic Signals Diagram

Here’s the second diagram, showing the four clustered traffic signals on 76th Street:

• Ballpark Commons

• Loomis Road

• Rawson Avenue

• Ace / Pick n’ Save

With only about 105 yards between each signal, this stretch is almost guaranteed to create gridlock and long queues — one of the community’s strongest objections.

Residents say this is a recipe for:

• Increased congestion as queues overlap between signals.

• Cut-through traffic on neighborhood side streets.

• Pedestrian safety issues with unpredictable gaps for crossings.

As one resident put it:

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 2,400 cars or 10,000 cars — if every one of them has to fight through four red lights in 1,000 feet, it’s a nightmare.”

Category	2023 Promises	2023 Proposed Plans	2025 Revisions
Units	Up to 440	426	312
Hotel	50-room	Planned	Eliminated
Food Truck / Band Shell	Promised	Included	Eliminated
Townhomes	None	None	12 added
Heights	Not specified	3+1 stories, ~146 ft	2 stories perimeter, 3–4 interior
Commercial	20,000 sq. ft retail	Pavilion, plaza, pads	76th St frontage + interior mixed-use
Parking	Not emphasized	1,079 spaces	TBD (likely reduced)
Traffic	“Lower than shopping center”	2,440 trips/day; LOS drop to E/F	New signal at Ace; 4 signals in 1,000 ft
Natural Resources	Buffers preserved	1.18 ac woodland loss, no mitigation	Loss remains
Lighting	Neighborhood-friendly	Hotspots up to 5.1 fc	TBD

Why This Matters

Traffic may be the make-or-break issue for Poth's General. Even in its downsized form, the project still pours thousands of daily trips into Franklin’s most overburdened corridor. The new signal doesn’t solve congestion — it just rearranges it.

For the Council, the question is no longer whether the project creates “less traffic than a shopping center.” The real issue is whether Franklin’s road network — already stretched thin — can absorb yet another dense development without serious quality-of-life trade-offs for existing residents.

Resident Concerns & Community Impact

Many neighbors say the greatest frustration has been the lack of meaningful public input. While presentations were made, residents report feeling that they were told what was going to be built, rather than invited into a genuine planning process.

Against that backdrop, a range of specific concerns has emerged:

• No Appetite for a “Public Square” – From the start, neighbors opposed duplicating Oak Creek’s Drexel Town Square model. A food truck court or band shell might appeal elsewhere, but residents point out these features already exist across the street at Ballpark Commons/The Rock.

• Strong Opposition to Apartments – Surrounding neighbors have made it clear: they do not want more apartment complexes in this location. Yet the plan grew from 8 buildings in early concepts to 14 buildings in the latest revisions, with the majority being multifamily units.

• Loss of Tree Cover – Clearing woodland along the south and east edges would leave existing neighborhoods exposed, reducing buffers and privacy.

• Traffic Projections Understated – Residents believe actual traffic impacts will exceed the developer’s projections, especially when combined with nearby Ballpark Commons traffic and signal clustering on 76th Street.

• Commercial Space Shrinking – The current Orchard View site holds about 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. The Poth's plan replaces it with perhaps 18,000 sq. ft. of retail/commercial frontage. Residents argue this permanently shifts the tax burden onto homeowners, since less commercial tax base means more reliance on residential property taxes.

• Local Business Viability – With redevelopment pressure, even existing businesses like Harry’s may not survive the transition, raising questions about whether this plan truly supports the community’s economy.

• Lack of City Vision – Perhaps the most frustrating issue is that City Hall has provided little direction to the developer. Residents note that during a 2022 concept review, one resident (not city leadership) was the only one to articulate a vision. Critics say this absence of planning has left the developer free to maximize density without clear community guidelines.

• The TID Problem, Pay-Go vs. Upfront – Supporters of a new TID say this would be a “pay-go” model — reimbursing the developer only as new tax increment is collected — unlike Ballpark Commons, where the city invested upfront in infrastructure. But residents argue this still diverts money away from schools and services at the very time when hundreds of new residents would be adding demand. As one opponent put it: “Every new kid in school goes for free, while the taxes that should fund their education are locked away in the TID.”

The Financing Fight: Should Taxpayers Fund Poth's General?

Beyond traffic and design, one of the most heated debates around Poths General is how it will be paid for.

During the July 1, 2025 Common Council meeting, the developer signaled that the project would require financial support from the City of Franklin — widely understood to mean Tax Incremental District (TID) financing. Under a TID, future property tax growth from the development is diverted to cover project costs rather than flowing immediately to schools, Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), or Franklin’s general budget.

📊 How TID Financing Works in Franklin

Basic TID (Tax Incremental District) flow graphic for Franklin:

• Baseline property taxes continue flowing to the City of Franklin, Franklin Public Schools, Milwaukee County, MMSD, and MATC.

• But the new “increment” from development gets captured in a TID fund.

• That money is then diverted to cover developer/project costs instead of immediately supporting schools and services.

Residents Push Back

Residents are firmly opposed. Many argue that the project should stand on its own merits — without taxpayer subsidy — especially given how much the plan has already shifted away from its original community-focused promises.

“If this project really works, it shouldn’t need public handouts. And if it doesn’t work, why should Franklin taxpayers be on the hook?” one neighbor said.

Lessons from Ballpark Commons (The Rock)

Opposition to public financing for Poth's General is sharpened by Franklin’s experience with Ballpark Commons/The Rock, which received one of the city’s largest-ever TID commitments.

While that project delivered baseball, restaurants, and recreation, it also tied Franklin taxpayers to a long payback horizon. The city continues to work with Ballpark Commons to cover its outstanding yearly obligations and Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs). For critics, this is a cautionary tale: even high-profile projects can leave Franklin on the hook for years of negotiated support.

📊 Franklin Context: TID Financing Then and Now

Franklin Context Graphic TID Financing at Ballpark Commons vs. Poth's General:

• On the left, Ballpark Commons / The Rock: shows that TID dollars were diverted, and the City of Franklin is still paying yearly obligations and PILOTs.

• On the right, Poths General: the developer is asking for similar TID financing, despite downsizing and cutting public amenities.

Poth's vs. Ballpark Commons

• Scale of Subsidy: Ballpark Commons required heavy public backing; Poth's appears to be asking for similar help despite offering fewer community-wide amenities.

• Community Benefit: The Rock drew regional visitors; Poth's General is largely apartments and private commercial space.

• Risk Profile: The Rock’s revenues fluctuate with events; Poth's depends on stable residential occupancy, but Franklin already faces questions about apartment saturation.

• Trust Factor: With Poth's General already downsized and amenities eliminated, residents argue Franklin can’t afford another TID that leaves taxpayers exposed.

What’s at Stake

• Risk to Taxpayers: If Poth's underperforms, TID revenues may not cover obligations, leaving the city responsible.

• Equity Concerns: Small businesses and homeowners don’t get public financing; residents ask why a large private developer should.

• Precedent: Approving another TID sets an expectation that all major redevelopments will seek subsidies.

For many, the financing debate has become a referendum on trust. After two years of shifting plans and downsizing, residents question whether Franklin should commit scarce resources to a project that no longer resembles what was originally promised.

Trust Factor

With Poth's General already downsized and public amenities eliminated, residents argue Franklin can’t afford another TID that leaves taxpayers exposed. The trust gap widened further in August 2025, when Alderman Salous organized a neighborhood meeting for residents to ask questions directly. The developer did not attend, leaving neighbors frustrated and reinforcing concerns that community voices are being sidelined in the process.

Community Response

Residents say the downsizing proves their concerns were valid. “We were told this would be a balanced, neighborhood-style project,” one neighbor said. “Instead, it grew into a parking-lot campus. Now it’s shrinking again, but at the expense of the public amenities we were promised.”

Others worry about traffic. “With four signals crammed within a quarter-mile stretch, 76th Street will grind to a halt,” another resident warned.

What Concerned Residents of Franklin Can Do

For Franklin neighbors uneasy about the Poth's General project, there are still ways to make your voice heard:

1. Attend Common Council Meetings – Final decisions on the project and any TID financing will be made at the Council level. Public comment opportunities are available at these meetings.

2. Submit Written Comments – Residents can submit letters or emails to the City Clerk or their alderman ahead of meetings. These become part of the public record.

3. Hold Officials Accountable – The much-anticipated neighborhood meeting in August 2025, organized by Alderman Salous, took place without the developer present. Many residents felt this was a missed opportunity for transparency. Going forward, they can press city officials to require the developer’s direct participation before any public funding is approved.

4. Track City Agendas – Franklin posts meeting packets and agendas online. Watching for “TID” or “financing support” on upcoming agendas is the best way to know when a vote is approaching.

5. Organize Collectively – Petitions, neighborhood associations, and coordinated testimony often carry more weight than individual voices.

6. Demand Transparency – Residents can call on officials to release details of any TID financing proposals before a vote. Knowing the dollar amounts and obligations up front is essential for accountability.

As Franklin has already learned with Ballpark Commons, development decisions can shape the city’s finances and quality of life for decades. With the Poth's General project still unsettled — and with the developer absent from neighborhood dialogue — residents will need to stay engaged, informed, and vocal if they want their concerns to influence the outcome.

Conclusion

The Poth's General project has moved from ambitious promises → to dense proposals → to downsized revisions. What Franklin ends up with remains uncertain, but the lesson for residents is clear: scrutinize early, demand accountability, and track every revision.

Franklin's REAL News Source.  Exercising our freedom of speech without fear of retribution or retaliation by Franklin's elected officials.  

FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF FRANKLIN

Kathleen Vincent: A Pattern of Misconduct, Dereliction, and Ethical Failures

By Franklin Community News

Milwaukee County Supervisor Kathleen Vincent (District 11 – Greendale, Greenfield, and portions of Milwaukee) has long styled herself as a dedicated public servant. But recent investigations reveal a troubling pattern of dereliction of duty, ethical lapses, and misuse of taxpayer resources that stretch across her multiple public roles — as a Milwaukee County Supervisor, Greendale School Board President, and full-time English teacher in the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD).

Dereliction of Duty: Packers Over Constituents

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Vincent was scheduled to co-host public “In-District Office Hours” with Alderman Peter Burgelis and Supervisor Patti Logsdon at Milwaukee Fire Station 29 from 9:00–11:45 a.m.

The original flyer — posted by Alderman Burgelis — clearly listed Vincent’s name alongside Burgelis and Logsdon. The event was billed as a chance for residents to meet their elected officials, ask questions, and raise community concerns.

But on Friday, August 22, Vincent abruptly canceled her participation. The next day, Burgelis quietly released a revised post and flyer with Vincent’s name removed.

The following day (Saturday), Vincent posted on her personal Facebook page that she was at Lambeau Field attending the Packers’ pre-season game
— confirming critics’ suspicions that she ditched her
public commitment to attend a PRE-SEASON football game.

Residents who expected to see her were left frustrated:

“She made a commitment and then pulled out at the last minute,” one constituent said. “It shows where her priorities really are.” 

“Screenshots provided to Franklin Community News by multiple confidential sources. The screenshots match the style and content of Vincent’s account, and Franklin Community News has no evidence to suggest they are inauthentic.”

Double Dipping: Theft of Time at KUSD

On September 24, 2024, Kevin Mathewson of the Kenosha County Eye published a story based on a Kenosha Unified School District personnel letter accusing Vincent of serious misconduct — including “Theft of Time.”

As a full-time English teacher, Vincent allegedly:

• Took Greendale school board and Milwaukee county calls during class hours.

• Gave students “busy work” so she could attend Milwaukee County Board Zoom meetings.

• Misused taxpayer-funded teaching time for her other elected roles.

Conservative talk show host Mark Belling amplified the scandal on WISN Radio the next day, calling Vincent a “Triple Dipper” for collecting three taxpayer-funded paychecks at once.

Forced Resignation: Greendale School Board

The double dipping scandal had swift consequences. On October 7, 2024, Vincent resigned as President of the Greendale School Board.

While she clung to her seat as a member, many in the community demanded she step down entirely. For parents and residents, her resignation from the presidency was not enough — they argued she had forfeited the public trust entirely.

Misuse of Legislative Aide: Ethics Complaints Filed

In January 2024, an ethics complaint was filed against both Vincent and Supervisor Steve Taylor. In mid-2024, a second complaint followed, alleging fraud and misuse of county resources.

At issue: Vincent and Taylor directed their shared legislative aide to attend four Milwaukee County Circuit Court hearings unrelated to county business, then report back to them.

• The aide’s appearances (June 10, July 7, July 25, and August 6, 2024) cost taxpayers an estimated $141.80.

• This exceeds the $50 threshold for financial misuse under Milwaukee County Ethics Code §9.05(2).

Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson clarified the matter in an August 16, 2024 memo, writing:

“Legislative aides do not accommodate requests to the personal affairs of County Supervisors.”

Questionable Expenses

Records also show Vincent expensed nearly $700 on branded clothing and office gear — including Adidas polos, a Columbia jacket, and headphones — as “office expenditures.” Critics called this an abuse of county funds.

Spotlight Chasing at the Boat Auction

On August 5, 2025, Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman, Chair of the Parks Committee, hosted a press event to announce the winning bidder of the infamous marooned boat Deep Thought. The event was squarely under Wasserman’s committee authority and tied to the Parks Department.

Yet Kathleen Vincent was the only other supervisor to appear — despite having no involvement with the Parks Committee, the marina, or the auction process.

Video footage used by multiple Milwaukee news media show Vincent planted herself front and center behind Wasserman during the announcement, ensuring she was captured in broadcast footage and photographs. Critics also noted that her attire was “less than professional”, diminishing the seriousness of her appearance.

“She wasn’t there because of the issue,” one attendee said. “She was there because she wanted to be on camera.”

The episode reinforced a recurring critique of Vincent: that she prioritizes visibility and self-promotion over substantive engagement with her actual constituents and responsibilities. 

A Consistent Pattern

Taken together, these incidents reveal a troubling consistency:

• Canceling public office hours to attend a football game.

• Being forced to resign as School Board President following a double-dipping scandal.

• Misusing taxpayer time as a teacher.

• Directing county staff to perform personal errands.

• Expensing personal items as “county business.”

• Inserting herself into events unrelated to her role, simply to be seen on camera.

One courthouse insider summed up the problem bluntly:

“How many lies can you tell before you forget the last lie you told?”

Conclusion: Not Fit to Serve

Kathleen Vincent has shown that she is not guided by public service, but by self-promotion and personal benefit. Her actions undermine the trust of Greendale residents, KUSD students, and Milwaukee County taxpayers alike.

It is not enough for her to resign from leadership positions. For the sake of integrity, transparency, and public trust, Vincent should resign entirely from both the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the Greendale School Board.

Franklin Community News will continue to monitor this story and follow up on additional ethics filings and open records disclosures.

This is for the Greater Good.