A Tale of Two Wisconsin Cities

  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,” wrote Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities. While Dickens wrote on London and Paris, the appropriateness of such respective comparisons in regards to two Wisconsin cities can be startling. While sharing many connections, many make the incorrect assumption that Waukesha is simply a suburb of Milwaukee. But stark contrasts show that Waukesha is an independent city of which is enjoying the best of times, whereas Milwaukee finds itself in the worst.

 A quick look at simple statistics will show that the progressive ideology governing the city of Milwaukee has failed, whereas the more conservative ideology of Waukesha has succeeded. The city of Waukesha routinely is recognized at a national level for excellence. Waukesha has received many outstanding awards, including: Wisconsin Library of the year; National Gold Medal Winner for Parks, Recreation, and Forestry; and America’s Promise Alliance for 100 Best Communities for Young People. Waukesha is also frequently listed in best small cities lists and even Money Magazine’s America’s Best Places to Live. This is due to several basic factors. Waukesha boasts a stable 97% graduation rate. Waukesha West High School has a near perfect graduation rate at 99.7%. Outstanding education along with a friendly and present police force attributes to an abnormally low crime rate. Waukesha also adopts a conservative economic outlook with downtown revitalization, business-friendly policies, and a balanced city budget.

 This is a stark contrast to progressive Milwaukee. The graduation rate of Milwaukee is around 61%, which is actually improved since state funded school voucher programs went into effect. The crime rate in Milwaukee is abnormally high for a city of that size. Violent crimes number 10 per 1000 residents, where the national average is 3.9. An overwhelmed police force protects the city as best they can, falling victim to frequent scandals the impotent police Chief Flynn rigging crime statistics. Milwaukee is lucky to also be enforced by the county sheriff’s department under Sheriff Clarke; otherwise crime could be much worse. All of these facts, combined with cold winters and high property taxes, recently landed Milwaukee on Forbes’ Most Miserable Cities List.

 These stark contrasts are not because of population differences; Waukesha has 70,867 residents, Milwaukee has 597,867. In fact Waukesha enjoys a large population growth rate where Milwaukee’s population is in steady decline. It isn’t because of ‘white flight’ from Milwaukee to the suburbs. A growing number of minority groups are leaving the city to seek refuge in the more conservative areas. These differences in the two cities are directly related to the local policies that govern them. Some critics claim Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima ran on the basis that Milwaukee is attempting to assert authority over Waukesha. However, he won, and may win reelection on that platform. Waukesha isn’t afraid of Milwaukee; residents simply see Milwaukee attempts to assert progressive authority over the more conservative Waukesha as a threat to the quality of life enjoyed by Waukesha residents. The city of Waukesha is not a suburb, but a rapidly growing, conservative leaning, and independent city. Waukesha wishes to keep enjoying the best of times as they grow. Hopefully, Milwaukee will soon see the light and change the ideology that put the city in that position.

Freedom Weekly, March 13, 2013 Vol. 003 Issue 006