Poths General: City Backs Eichmann’s “Official” Town Hall While Salous and Residents Are Sidelined By Franklin Community News Out-of -district alderwoman — aligned with Mayor Nelson, Supervisor Steve Taylor, and developer Mike Zimmerman — promoted as the public face of the project, while the district’s own alderman is left out. Back in August, FCNewsWI published “From Promises to Revisions,” documenting how the bold original vision for Poths General — a hotel, band shell, food truck court, and more than 400 apartments — had already been pared back. Now, new details reveal the plan continues to evolve. But what hasn’t changed is the sense among residents that Franklin politics, not just planning, are shaping the outcome. The New Plan on the Table At the July 1 Council meeting, the developer presented a scaled-down proposal. The unit count fell from 426 to 312. The hotel, band shell, and food truck plaza were eliminated. Two-story apartments now ring the perimeter, with 12 townhome...

  By Franklin Community News State report shows sharp swings in Franklin’s TID valuations — raising questions about fairness, accuracy, and who benefits. 📌 Fast Facts from Our Investigation $50M jump with no construction: Ballpark Commons (TID 005) shot up 64% in one year despite no major new building. Strauss doubles: Strauss (TID 006) soared by 176%, raising eyebrows about how values can shift so drastically. Velo Village drops: Velo Village (TID 007) lost 23% of its value in a single year. Corporate Park climbs modestly: Corporate Park (TID 008) rose by 13%, a steady gain compared to the wild swings elsewhere. Carma Labs skyrockets: Carma Labs (TID 009) jumped 247%, far beyond initial consultant estimates. Missed shortfall payments: Zimmerman’s Ballpark Commons project skipped nearly $935K in obligations — forcing Franklin into court (Case No. 24-CV-7479). Revaluation reset: In 2024, Franklin hired a new assessor (Forward Appraisal...

By Franklin Community News A Crisis of Standards Today the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Milwaukee County Board Chair Marcelia Nicholson spent more than $13,000 in donor funds on Uber and Lyft rides, cocktails, and candy. (Read the JSOnline story here.) That revelation underscores a deeper problem: at the very moment County leaders are telling residents the budget is in crisis and warning of looming fiscal cliffs, Nicholson and her close allies — Supervisors Kathleen Vincent and Steve Taylor — are flouting the very standards they demand of others. Nicholson and Vincent have quietly padded expenses, omitted conflicts, and misused staff. Taylor, meanwhile, has loudly postured as a budget hawk , even as the nonprofit he runs has bled money year after year. Together, they embody a troubling double standard: austerity for the public, perks for themselves. 📢 Crisis for Thee, Perks for Me While County leaders warn of a “fiscal cliff” and tell ...

By Franklin Community News 🔑 Key Points:  “Crank up the sound” — developer Mike Zimmerman and ally Steve Taylor brushed off residents’ early concerns, setting the tone for a decade of disregard. Emergency Meeting, Sept. 2023 — Mayor Nelson, Zimmerman, Taylor, and Hersh mocked residents, calling them “terrorists” , “Karens” , and “crazy.” UDO Changed in 2025 — Franklin raised legal noise caps from 55 dB ➝ 65 dB , despite residents saying they could hear concerts “word for word” inside their homes. County RSG Study ($200k) — validated residents’ complaints but was blocked by Zimmerman, monitors left broken, and recommendations ignored. JPM Study ($78.5k) — approved in Feb. 2025 but delayed for months ; Zimmerman only signed after Nelson confronted him at the Umbrella Bar in August. The study began after the Milkmen season, making results meaningless. Complaints vs. “No Data” — Nelson admits he reviews complaints with the police chief weekly. No citations iss...