Milwaukee abandoned boat: Who's paying to remove Deep Thought?
The Brief
The boat abandoned at Milwaukee's lakefront was pulled onto land Tuesday.
Tuesday's work alone was estimated to cost $50,000.
Taxpayers are on the hook, at least for now – but that's not the end of the story.
MILWAUKEE - Deep Thought, the boat that's been abandoned at Milwaukee's lakefront since October, was pulled onto land Tuesday afternoon.
Taxpayers on the hook
By the numbers
Freeing the sand-shackled boat was not cheap. Milwaukee County leaders originally estimated Tuesday's work alone could be about $50,000. Who's paying? The short answer: taxpayers.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
"I figured if I'm paying for it, through my taxpayer dollars, at least I get to sit and enjoy it," said Glenn Borden, a Milwaukee resident who watched Tuesday's removal effort at the lakefront. "Somebody got that stuck here. It's kind of on them to take care of that. At the same time, I get it, accidents happen."
For now, Milwaukee County is paying to remove Deep Thought.
"We don't want to get stuck with a $50,000 bill. I don't think the Milwaukee County taxpayers should be paying for this," said County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman, chair of the board's parks committee.
Wasserman told FOX6 News the county may go after the boat's earlier owner – not the couple who bought the boat before it ran out of gas and got stuck. The county supervisor said it's not clear whether the boat's sale was even legal.
"I chatted with (the owners)," Dan Steininger told FOX6 last week. "These are two people who had a dream, spent their life savings to do it. Flat broke, had nowhere to go, distraught. I said, 'We don't treat people mean in Wisconsin – you are our guests.'"
Could donations help?
What they're saying
Steininger, the grandson of former Milwaukee Mayor Daniel Hoan and current president of the Hoan Foundation, stepped in with a $10,000 donation to help pay for removal efforts. Back in April, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced a different, anonymous donor.
"You'll have to ask the anonymous donor how much money they're talking about. My job was just to connect the dots," he said.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The mayor said all he did was link the anonymous donor with Jerry Guyer of Pirates Cove Diving – the man who tried, tried and tried but was unable to pull the boat from the water. Guyer said he sunk $27,000 into failed attempts to remove Deep Thought; he also told FOX6 he has not heard from the anonymous donor.
"I don't know what happened in that relationship. Again, my job was just to connect the dots, and that's what I did," said Johnson.
On Tuesday, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he believes the anonymous donation was in the ballpark of $20,000 to $25,000. He also floated the possibility of selling pieces of the boat to help cover removal costs.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it was not their responsibility to remove the boat because it was not blocking waterways and was not a hazard to navigation. The USCG did investigate for possible pollution in October and found it was all clear.
The Source
Information in this report is from FOX6 News interviews and prior coverage of efforts to remove the boat.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Maxwell Anderson verdict, push for task force on missing Black women
The Brief A jury found Maxwell Anderson guilty of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson. According to Columbia researchers, Black women in Wisconsin between 2019 and 2020 were 20x more likely to be murdered than white women. State Rep. Shelia Stubbs wants to create a task force to address that. MILWAUKEE - A jury found Maxwell Anderson guilty of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson on Friday. Robinson's mother now looks to lawmakers for help, wanting the state to set up a task force on missing and murdered Black women. By the numbers Columbia researchers found Black women in Wisconsin between 2019 and 2020 were 20x more likely to be murdered than white women. The researchers said that was the worst disparity in the country. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What they're saying For four years, Wisconsin Representative Shelia Stubbs urged the state to set up a special task force on missing and murdered Black women and girls. The group would be made up of police, survivors, attorneys, and victims' rights experts. It would look into what leads to violence against these people, and the task force would have to give recommendations on how to stop it. The Wisconsin State Assembly passed Stubbs' bill in 2024, but it stalled in the Senate. On Friday, Stubbs joined Sade Robinson's mother and family in court and then spoke with FOX6 News. "We need the state to pass this legislation. We couldn't save Sade, but we have a chance to save somebody else. And that's what I stand here today. With this verdict, I stand here with the family. And it's the right verdict," said Rep. Stubbs. Stubbs said the guilty verdict motivates her to rally her fellow lawmakers to make her bill a law. It's had bipartisan support. The governor has supported it, too. His budget proposal even included money for this proposed task force. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley "My thoughts are with the family, the friends, and the community of Sade Robinson who are deserving of our continued support. Regardless of today's verdict, real justice is living in a world where Sade Robinson is still alive and her killer never had the chance to take her life. As a husband and father, I can't imagine the pain, anger, and grief that Sade's loved ones are carrying. It's my hope that the Robinson family can rest tonight knowing that Sade's killer will be held accountable. Looking ahead, we all must recommit ourselves to protecting the lives of innocent women – particularly Black and Brown women – and working towards a community where everyone is safe from violence." The backstory Anderson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and arson of property other than a building. He is accused of killing Robinson after a date, dismembering her and dumping her body parts across Milwaukee County. One of her arms was later found on an Illinois beach. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Prosecutors said Anderson and Robinson showed up at a Menomonee Valley bar on April 1, 2024 – the night she was last seen or heard from. The next day, Robinson's burned-out car was found near 30th and Lisbon in Milwaukee. Surveillance photos show a man investigators believe is Anderson walking away from the area, and who was later seen on a bus heading back towards his home on the city's south side. Anderson had planned to kill Robinson weeks before her death, according to a statement from a "confidential informant" noted in court filings FOX6 News obtained. A search warrant also revealed prosecutors believe Anderson tried to cover up Robinson's death with a text message. Dig deeper FOX6 News is streaming the entire Anderson trial each day on FOX LOCAL. The app is free to download on your phone, tablet or smart TV. Day 9: Jury finds Anderson guilty of killing, dismembering Robinson Day 8: Closing arguments made, jury deliberations begin Day 7: Sade Robinson killed; mapping path of Robinson's car Day 6: Jurors get look inside Anderson's home; see clothing Day 5: Testimony provided our first look at Anderson's arrest Open Record: Maxwell Anderson trial Day 4: Video from Milwaukee, discovery of Sade Robinson's remains Day 3: Testimony resumes; law enforcement, friends of Sade Robinson take stand Day 2: Opening statements, testimony begins Day 1: Jury selected in single day Sade Robinson homicide: Timeline of events leading to criminal charges Sade Robinson homicide: Parents navigate grief ahead of trial Sade Robinson homicide: The psychology behind the murder Sade Robinson homicide: Lasting legacy, from tragedy to advocacy Open Record: A Date With Death The Source FOX6 News was in court for the Anderson trial. Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, Wisconsin Circuit Court, and prior FOX6 coverage of the case.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
DC Public Schools to ban cell phone use starting in 2025-26 school year
WASHINGTON () — District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is continuing to take steps toward banning phones inside its schools. The school division announced Friday that all phones and mobile devices will no longer be allowed in the classroom. The policy will go into effect during the fall of the 2025-26 school year. This means that all phones must be turned off and stored away throughout the school day. All middle schools and several high schools have already begun implementing the policy, and DCPS noted they are seeing positive changes. 'Piloting a phone-free program in our middle schools demonstrated that storing students' personal devices throughout the school day enriches academic, social, and emotional learning,' said DCPS Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. 'From increased classroom engagement to reduced anxiety and stronger student relationships — DCPS is ready to scale the program so we can keep driving outcomes that positively impact our students.' Fairfax County Public Schools defends new cell phone policy as some question whether it complies with law Despite the new policy, the school district will continue to utilize school-issued devices to integrate technology into a learning experience, and engage students in lessons related to digital literacy. DCPS said that while technology provides learning opportunities, significant challenges arise when it comes to cell phones being present in classrooms. School officials noted that growing research revealed that an increase in smartphones has fueled youth mental health concerns, negatively affected concentration and worsened bullying to include cyber interactions. At least eight states have imposed bans on cell phone use in the classroom, including Florida, New York, Ohio and Virginia. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the Bell to Bell law, stating that there should be no phone usage from 'bell to bell,' as in 'after the first bell rings at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal [bell] rings at the end of the school day.' It also includes 'lunch and time in between class periods.' Check for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
A program for women replacing judgment with compassion
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Honolulu courtroom is taking a new approach by focusing on support and healing instead of punishment. The Women's Court program helps women get their lives back on track and after a successful pilot program, lawmakers have voted to make it permanent with plans for expansion. New plaque unveiled to honor Queen's Surf Beach For years, Abcede Keawe's life was defined by addiction and arrests. 'I quit trying because every time I try, I fail,' Keawe said. Veronica Hanawahine had also given up hope. 'Something happened and from then on, my life was coming downhill,' she explained. But that all changed when they walked into Judge Trish Morikawa's courtroom where healing, not punishment, took center stage. Morikawa oversees Women's Court, a program offering women convicted of non-violent offenses who have faced trauma, addiction or mental illness a lifeline by leading with support and compassion KHON sat down with Judge Morikawa to discuss the program she created three years ago, which recently became permanent. 'Court tends to be, it should be a negative thing. So it's so nice to have something positive come out of it,' Morikawa said. 'We're extremely grateful to the (legislature) cause it's a great program and you can see the change it's made, and it really saves money.'By empowering these women and teaching them life skills, they become self-sufficient and contributing members of society. Morikawa said candidates are vetted before being accepted into the program. Space is limited to 50, but she says the most they've had is 35. 'I think people get worried that when we give when we do programs like this, you know that we're giving these people a free pass. That's not it at all,' Morikawa explained. 'They're willing to do the work and they need to earn what they're getting.' She said that what many of them have been through is devastating, and they have never been given the support they needed to succeed. 'The sad thing is that a lot of these women have not had a lot of positive affirmations,' Morikawa said. 'They were not the ones who had their artwork on the refrigerator you know, they were not the ones that their parents came to their May Day program.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Hanawahine and Keawe have spent two years rebuilding their lives through the program with every goal met, they're now just weeks away from the moment they've worked so hard for: graduation. 'It was hard work, it was hard work but it was worth it for me,' Hanawahine said. 'It gave me hope to a new life.' Beyond the milestones, they've learned to love themselves, set boundaries, accept their past and show up for others on the same path. 'All those doors that you have closed, those doors can be opened, you are the key to unlocking that door,' Keawe said. Both Keawe and Hanawahine will be graduating from Women's Court in a ceremony at the Supreme Courtroom in front of their family and friends, along with four other women in the program on June 25. Check out more news from around Hawaii Morikawa said Women's Court hopes to help more women across the state and will be starting a pilot program on Hawaiʻi Island. They are also hoping to create an alumni program on Oʻahu to offer support and a sense of community for graduates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
