Wag the Dog

I need more info before I write five blogs in one day about this.

I don't think it's a scandal. It's just plain dumb.

The blogger you refer to, Bryan, said nothing last year about FAR more important topics like HUGE jumps in the city and school tax levies, and all the sex predator issues.

He also accused Franklin aldermen of putting the city in jeoprady when they wouldn't spend what turns out to be $200-thousand for the siren warning system.

What the city paid Zizzo probably pales in comparison.

The story is a great one to blog about, for sure. But it certainly doesn't warrant calling out the tar and feather brigade.

Seriously - Why can't you all leave each other alone?? You are GROWN men. How much more immature can this get? I usually side with both of you but enough is enough.

Kevin

Both you and Janet wrote stories about your amusement with the naming of the Boomgaard district. Even Greg's first story was amusing and I concur that this is a rather unusual name for a section of the city that is to become the technology corridor.

But threats of open records searches to the Mayor and his alderman if they don't answer his questions? This is a bit extreme for something that is simply unimportant as compared to other issues that the city is facing.

This just seems to be sensationalism when you blog 5 times about something this insignificant.

 bdg984:

Why is it immature to disagree with Greg? Immature would be if I called him a name, criticized his stature or something of this nature.

I am a taxpayer, the same as I assume you are. Since I have a blog, which some people read, I am stating my opinion that I feel Greg has wasted our Mayors time by pressing his this issue.

So what you propose is that we always agree with Greg, his opinion, his actions and then that would make us mature adults. In other words, I should just publish postings that agree with Greg.

BDG 984 says, "Why can't you all leave each other alone?? You are GROWN men. How much more immature can this get? I usually side with both of you but enough is enough."

Have you been paying attention?

Send your comment to Greg and all the bloggers he idolizes because they need to hear it.

Considering that our tax dollars is paying this group to name our corridor Boomgaard, I would have expected you to be front and center in support of searching for the answers, Bryan.

Just how much did we spend on Zizzo for a name like that? Isn't that appalling to you? I know many others in both Franklin and Oak Creek are quite disgusted.

I don't know Greg, the name is beginning to sound pretty good plus according to your interview with the Mayor.

It looks like Northwestern Mutual and the Wheaton's are OK with it too. After all they are two anchors to this District and look to be the largest taxpayers in the district at this time to boot.

"For negative public response, the Mayor strongly feels that if it must be Boomgaard, then something else needs to happen. He hinted around that Northwestern Mutual and Wheaton Franciscan were approached with this name before the announcement. Obviously, since Boomgaard was announced, NML and Wheaton must not have found an issue with it. Mayor Taylor made note that businesses will comprise the corridor, and perhaps the businesses should have an opinion on this as well as the residents. In speaking with one of the members of the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce, she found the name unique and interesting and liked it. Mayor Taylor got Rodeo Drive embedded in my memory bank as a name that shouldn't have been well-liked, but turned out to be a popular Beverly Hills street for the rich and wealthy."

But maybe you should continue to pursue this further as you may find that this is all spin on the Mayor's part.

Greg, you're bragging you ahd two hours with the Mayor today.

I'm curious about how much we paid Zizzo.

What is the answer, Greg?

Or don't you know after two hours with hizzoner....

Two hours.....

Greg, the record shows that I was thoroughly with you after your first blog. But your next 28 blogs did suggest that this was the biggest scandal to ever hit town. Again, let's get more facts before we fly off the handle making wild accusations like your blogging coach in Brookfield does.

And Greg, it,'s "Considering that our tax dollars ARE paying this group......"

In my opinion, the consultant hit a home run with this one. The name has already drawn tremendous attention from the blogoshphere. No doubt it will have the same affect on the general public. That is the objective of a name, isn't it? People will visit the "Boomgaard", just because of the name. Yes its a goofy name, but most new words sound strange at first. This one will eventually be as common place as "Gurkee's Corners".

That's an interesting comparison to Goerke's Corners.  I grew up much closer to Goerke's Corners that to the Boomgaard, and I must confess that I always found the name charming.  This name has historical origins, which is much different that the name Boomgaard, which feels contrived and has only a loose connection to the area (Dutch for orchard?  Ok, whatever).  I agree that that the name has drawn attention, but I fear it is not the kind of attention that Franklin and Oak Creek would like to have.  

And Bryan, I agree with BGD984: grow up.  Why do you and Kevin care what Greg chooses to blog about?  Given the number of comments on this topic and given the responses in the FranklinNow forum, this is a topic that the community finds interesting and Greg has decided to try to get some of his questions answered.  I say good for him.  

Tara

I guess you did not read my apology to Greg in by update before you pushed the submit button and I fully support a in-depth investigation by Greg as to why we are calling this area the Boomgaard District. I encourage Greg to spend as much times as he needs to get to the bottom of this. I too say good for him. He just may find a worm in this apple.

Your right, Bryan, I did miss this, or to be honest I misread the bit at the bottom.  From the tone of the entire blog entry it appeared that you were being critical.  My apologies.

Tara

You are right that that was the original intent of the blog,stating that Greg wasted the Mayors time. If you read his blog, which I did in it's entirety, it appeared that he went in to talk about this Boomgaard boondoggle for 2 plus hours. That I find to be a waste. But as he finally explains that he had a scheduled meeting about other issues he is involved with and the Mayor chose to respond to his questions is a whole other story.

When Greg makes himself part of the story and when it affects Franklin news, at that point Greg opens himself to blogging opinion just as anyone else that is part of the story (the alderman, Zizzo, The Mayor, Oak Creek) and opens the door to possible criticism just as he does in his blogs.

Fair enough Bryan, I get that you have every right to criticize anyone you want to in your blog and I respect that.  However, I also have the right to disagree with your criticism when I think it is unfounded.  One more question:  What do you think of the name Boomgaard?  Do you like it????

Tara

And that is the beauty of the blogs and keeping them civil.

I jokingly said that the name grows on you for which Cindy K promptly came down on me for on Greg's blog. But elsewhere, I can not for the life of me figure out why the Zizzo would ever come up with a name like Boomgaard District. Like other people have said "It sounds like we are an Oom Pa Pa city".  If we did pay an absorbent amount of money for them to come up with this name, I think we are owed a refund as it is becoming more obvious that very few people like the name or how it portrays Franklin - Oak Creek.

It also looks like the messages that people are not happy about the name will be delivered to both city's council members from the FranklinNOW forum thanks to FranklinNOW editor Mark Maley.

Cindy - If you are monitoring "Our Site" as you have been. I am on vacation today and my wife has given me permission to blog.

I think Greg should be commended for trying to get some answers on an issue that is troubling not only because of the taxpayer dollars spent on it - at last count some 300+ thousand dollars - as well as the lack of transparency involved in the process.