Sheboygan letter-writers on Enbridge Line 5, Democratic Party's 4th of July parade display
Last fall, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources determined — after more than four years of review and nearly a thousand pages of environmental assessments — that the Enbridge Line 5 relocation project in Bayfield, Ashland and Iron counties could be built within the boundaries of our state's strict environmental laws. The DNR included more than 200 stipulations in their permits — including independent observers — to ensure the construction of this pipeline project followed state laws.
This would seem like a reasonable conclusion and requirement for reasonable people. But opponents of this project have long put reason aside.
They have now moved on to the courts. Not only are they going after the DNR's decision through the administrative court process, but they have also filed a lawsuit against the decision.
The DNR performed a comprehensive review of the Line 5 relocation. They spent years compiling data and coming to a justifiable conclusion. Sadly, opponents of the project have put their radical views ahead of the science the DNR used in issuing the permits. Line 5 is an integral part of our energy supply and the relocation needs to move forward. These legal games need to stop, and we need to trust the DNR's decision.
Ted Keneklis
Sheboygan
I just returned from watching the Sheboygan Fourth of July parade, which was excellent. Of all of the groups in the parade, only one was disappointing: the Sheboygan County Democratic Party. All other groups and people set aside their differences for today and came together to celebrate the greatness and uniqueness of America. Whatever religion, color or ethnicity they were, they gave their respect to our flag and country.
The Black-American group, the Hmong, the different churches and branches of government proudly showed their uniqueness with their costumes and customs. Yet, they were there for one purpose: to celebrate being Americans in the best country in the world.
Unfortunately, the Sheboygan County Democratic Party showed up with anti-American, anti-president and unpatriotic messages and signs. Shame on you. This was not the time and place for protesting. I was not the only person in the crowd who was shocked to see signs like 'No Kings' and 'The Big Beautiful Bill is Bad.' I heard verbal gasps and remarks like 'Really?' and 'That's terrible.' People were shaking their heads.
Judi Pool
Sheboygan
Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to news@sheboyganpress.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan letters to the editor on Enbridge Line 5, 4th of July parade
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5 hours ago
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GOP lawmaker faces raucous crowd in Wisconsin, critical questions over tariffs and immigration policy
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The congressman began to respond, by saying, 'This really at its core needs to be an opportunity to make sure that other countries are treating the United States fairly,' a remark that was met with booing. 'What we need to do is work with our allies, put trade agreements in place,' he said as he was repeatedly interrupted by yelling from the crowd. 'I think part of this is what gives Trump the authority to put in place the tariffs. The authority that he's operating under is, as it relates to the imbalance of trade,' Steil said. 'There's a court case that's going on right now where there'll be more clarity provided on this, but that's the authority that he's operating under.' The event's moderator had to interject on multiple occasions in an effort to get the crowd to quiet down. 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But Van Orden is 'missing in action,' refusing to hold town halls of his own, and Democrats need to push back harder against the GOP's massive tax and domestic policy bill, Pocan said. 'I think doing, bluntly, town halls in Republican districts where they refuse to do them is one of the best things we can do,' Pocan said. He called himself an 'early adopter' of the tactic and said other progressive lawmakers are following suit. 'I think this is what we need to do. I mean, is this in your face. Is this a little douchey? Yes,' he said. 'But you know what? Taking away your health care and taking away your education funding and adding $4 trillion to the national debt so that the richest people are getting a tax cut is enough that we need to push back.' Pocan told CNN after the town hall that he'd come to Prairie du Chien to goad Van Orden into publicly defending the GOP bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4. 'Come on down the road, Derrick,' he said. 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CNN
5 hours ago
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GOP lawmaker faces raucous crowd in Wisconsin, critical questions over tariffs and immigration policy
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'It's not politics, it's morality,' one audience member told Steil, saying, 'I care about people, and what I see happening to our immigrant population embarrasses me, and you have not raised a voice to complain about it. Where do I see your leadership? I see no leadership, I see following Trump 100% of the time.' A different attendee told the congressman, 'I am so disappointed. I am so disappointed in how you represent us as the citizens of Walworth County. Southeast Wisconsin has not been represented by you. President Trump seems to run Southeast Wisconsin through you.' Another audience member said that his 'main concern' is tariffs. 'I was under the impression that Congress was responsible for issuing tariffs,' he said. 'I really feel that this is a terrible tax that's going to be placed on the citizens of the United States.' The congressman began to respond, by saying, 'This really at its core needs to be an opportunity to make sure that other countries are treating the United States fairly,' a remark that was met with booing. 'What we need to do is work with our allies, put trade agreements in place,' he said as he was repeatedly interrupted by yelling from the crowd. 'I think part of this is what gives Trump the authority to put in place the tariffs. The authority that he's operating under is, as it relates to the imbalance of trade,' Steil said. 'There's a court case that's going on right now where there'll be more clarity provided on this, but that's the authority that he's operating under.' The event's moderator had to interject on multiple occasions in an effort to get the crowd to quiet down. At one point, the moderator interrupted a yelling outburst by jokingly asking if the crowd would'rather the congressman go to lunch and you get to shout for the next 45 minutes?' and called out a specific audience member as 'very obnoxious and very disrespectful.' At one point, the congressman said, 'The civil discourse that is a cornerstone of our democracy is challenged right now.' Not long after, he said, 'I don't support anybody denigrating anyone else. People have a right of free speech. But a lot of our discourse, writ large, is really challenged. It's challenged on all sides. So I think we have a real opportunity to improve our discourse a little bit. I'd say the overwhelming majority of people here want to learn and understand my perspective, want to hear the questions, and then there's a small group of people that are challenging and are booing and yelling at each other. The same occurs in Washington. I share the frustration.' On Trump's sweeping tax and spending law known as the 'big, beautiful bill,' one person asked what is being done to protect individuals who are not wealthy, raising concerns that tax breaks under the legislation will only accrue to higher-earners. The congressman responded, 'In part, I would disagree with the way you framed it. As I look at the provisions of the bill, and what was in large part done, was keeping the 2017 tax reforms in place, that's the bulk of the bill,' but was soon interrupted by shouting from the crowd. He added, 'It builds onto that additional tax reforms for hard-working families.' Towards the end of the event, a man jumped up from his seat to question Steil on the war in Gaza. 'Two million people in Gaza are starving – what do you have to say about that?' the man shouted, then stood up and waved his arms in the air. A police officer approached the man, who then sat back down. The officer appeared to say something to the man and then walked away. 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But Van Orden is 'missing in action,' refusing to hold town halls of his own, and Democrats need to push back harder against the GOP's massive tax and domestic policy bill, Pocan said. 'I think doing, bluntly, town halls in Republican districts where they refuse to do them is one of the best things we can do,' Pocan said. He called himself an 'early adopter' of the tactic and said other progressive lawmakers are following suit. 'I think this is what we need to do. I mean, is this in your face. Is this a little douchey? Yes,' he said. 'But you know what? Taking away your health care and taking away your education funding and adding $4 trillion to the national debt so that the richest people are getting a tax cut is enough that we need to push back.' Pocan told CNN after the town hall that he'd come to Prairie du Chien to goad Van Orden into publicly defending the GOP bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4. 'Come on down the road, Derrick,' he said. 'If you really think this bill's as good as you've been saying it is, not in front of people, let's have an actual debate. Let's talk about the various parts of it. The fact he won't doesn't pass the Wisconsin smell test.' Pocan's hour-long town hall, in front of an audience of about 50 people in the town of about 5,000 was a friendly one with none of the fiery exchanges that other town halls across the nation have featured. Pocan was asked questions largely from the left, about ways Democrats can be more aggressive in taking on Trump. He was also asked about immigration policies, the sustainability of Social Security and Medicare, and about whether he fears Trump will declare martial law and cancel upcoming elections. He focused most of his comments on railing against Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful bill' — but peppered the entire hour with jabs at Van Orden for failing to host town halls. Van Orden's office did not respond to CNN's request for comment on Pocan's town hall. CNN's Eric Bradner contributed to this report.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
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Milwaukee police chief calls for officers' 'just compensation' amid contract negotiations
Amid public tensions over a contract for the Milwaukee's police officers, the department's chief called for "just compensation" and said he had talked with Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman issued a statement in support of a raise for the city's officers on July 31, days after the union for rank-and-file officers lambasted Johnson for his approach to negotiations on a new contract. Those negotiations have stretched on for nearly three years, as the city and Milwaukee Police Association, the union for officers, have been working on a contract that expired at the end of 2022. "There are no words to express my personal gratitude for their daily sacrifices as I know that this calling is no easy task," Norman said in a statement. "It is an honor and a privilege to lead our members of MPD, and I believe their steadfast service warrants just compensation." Norman spoke with Johnson to advocate for his members in their negotiation, his statement said. "I support a swift and fair resolution to the ongoing negotiations between the City and the members of MPD," Norman said. Norman's support is the latest development in the suddenly public negotiation. It comes as the union and city are heading toward arbitration — a process where a third-party ultimately decides on the specifics of a contract — and the union has become vocal in its criticism of Johnson. That arbitration meeting is scheduled for September; however, a scheduled date for August was canceled after the city attorney working on the negotiation left for a new role. That prompted the police union to go public with its distaste for how negotiations have gone so far. "Enough is enough," Milwaukee Police Association President Alex Ayala previously told the Journal Sentinel. "The mayor has the power to give us an offer that is similar or the same as what we're asking for and to end all of this." The city and union have been disagreeing over pay raises and backpay in a contract that would cover 2023 to the end of 2025. Records obtained by the Journal Sentinel show the two sides appear far apart in their wants, according to contract offers submitted to a state arbitrator. The union proposed an overall 4.5% wage increase per year between 2023 and 2024, with a 3.75% increase in the first half of 2025. Each raise would be applied retroactively within 60 days of an arbitrator's decision. The city's proposal called for a 5% wage increase on 2023 salaries, with no retroactive backpay. Then, in 2024 and 2025, it proposed for 2% raises each year, with the backpay. The current salary range for a Milwaukee police officer is between $63,534.75 and $84,743.87 with annual pay raises in the first five years, according to the city of Milwaukee website. The negotiations have stalled repeatedly. That's primarily due to the city having staffing changes in its labor negotiator role and, recently, in the City Attorney's Office. Talks also paused while the city and union agreed to work on 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, a state funding law that, in part, mandated Milwaukee grow its police force. The union thanked Norman for his statement in a Facebook post shortly after the chief shared his support. "Thank you, Chief, for standing with the men and women of the Milwaukee Police Department for what's right and be paid what they're asking for," the statement said. Once approved, and if the contract is not amended to cover 2026, the city and police union would likely immediately reenter negotiations on a contract for 2026 and on. Council member Peter Burgelis issued a July 30 statement advocating for the two parties to reach a four-year agreement to avoid that. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police chief speaks out in support of officers amid labor talks Solve the daily Crossword
