Latest news with #SheldonWasserman
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee abandoned boat 'Deep Thought' sold to familiar face
The Brief Milwaukee County launched an auction for the abandoned boat "Deep Thought." The winning bid came from the owner of All City Towing, the business that successfully removed the boat from the lakefront. The county hoped to raise around $20,000 but fell well short fo that goal. MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County Parks launched an online auction for "Deep Thought," the boat abandoned at the lakefront – and it sold Tuesday to a familiar face. Local perspective The auction went live on July 22 and closed just after noon on Tuesday, Aug. 5. County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman announced the winner with a bid of $2,525 – far short of the county's goal. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android That bid came from Jeff Piller, the owner of All City Towing, the business that successfully removed the boat from the lakefront. He plans to sell pieces of the boat to fuel charitable efforts. "Have you ever had something when you're cleaning out your house and you just can't throw it away, or you can't let it go?" he said. "I think my staff and I, and everyone involved, has really grown to love it. And we want to keep doing good stuff with it." Piller encouraged local charities that hold auctions to reach out and collaborate on "some nice pieces of artwork" that could be be of interest to bar owners and other local spaces. "It's gonna be very labor-intensive, and a lot of time to be able to make this into good charitable pieces, and we may even sell some small pieces to help pay for the labor of getting rid of the boat," Piller said. Online auction What's next The boat will be sold as-is with no minimum bid required. Milwaukee County Parks is now working with the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation Fleet team, the auction platform provider, to verify details of the bid and confirm payment. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News While no certificate of title exists, the Milwaukee County Office of Corporation Counsel has created a process for transferring ownership legally and appropriately. The winner, in this case Piller, is responsible for transportation and removal – something his business is all too familiar with. Auction coming up short By the numbers The county hoped to raise around $20,000 to recover some costs of the boat's removal. Leaders hoped the excitement that surrounded the vessel would carry over to the auction, only to see those hopes sink. Despite slow bidding, the county stuck with its plan to sell the 75,000-pound boat (in full size) hoping someone would come along with a higher bid to give Deep Thought a second life. Removal costs Dig deeper Wasserman, chair of the Milwaukee County Parks and Culture Committee, said it cost Milwaukee County $50,000 to finally free the boat. Some donations covered $30,000 of that, but as for the remaining balance? "I hate saying it, but taxpayers are going to have to pay this bill," he said Friday. "I got senior centers that are falling apart, so $20,000 – it does make a difference." The Source FOX6 News interviewed Wasserman and referenced prior coverage related to the boat, its removal and the auction. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Milwaukee abandoned boat 'Deep Thought' auction, bids fall short
The Brief Milwaukee County launched an auction for the abandoned boat "Deep Thought." The county hoped to recoup $20,000 of the vessel's removal costs. With the auction nearly closed, bids have fallen far short of expectations. MILWAUKEE - If you thought the saga of "Deep Thought" was over, think again. Milwaukee County launched an auction for the infamous abandoned boat last week in hopes of recouping some of the money spent on its removal, but the bidding has not drawn nearly as much interest as the boat itself once did. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android 'Memory in Milwaukee' The backstory It was a moment that made Milwaukee history. Deep Thought spent seven months abandoned at the lakefront between Bradford and McKinley beaches until a towing crew finally freed it in May. "It's good that it's gone, but at the same time it's part of a memory in Milwaukee," said Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman, chair of the Milwaukee County Parks and Culture Committee. Auction coming up short By the numbers The county hoped to raise around $20,000 to recover some costs of the boat's removal. Leaders hoped the insane excitement that surrounded the vessel would carry over to the auction, only to see those hopes sink. "Unless some miracle happens, we are at $1,125 – far smaller than we ever expected," Wasserman said. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Despite slow bidding, the county is still sticking with its plan to sell the 75,000-pound boat (in full size) hoping someone will come along with a higher bid to give Deep Thought a second life. Removal costs What's next Wasserman said it cost Milwaukee County $50,000 to finally free the boat. Some donations covered $30,000 of that, but as for the remaining balance? "I hate saying it, but taxpayers are going to have to pay this bill," he said. "I got senior centers that are falling apart, so $20,000 – it does make a difference." Why not stick the boat's owners with the bill? Wasserman said Milwaukee County's attorney decided the legal costs to go after the owners would cost even more money. It's now up to the bidders until Tuesday, when the auction closes. "We want to to sell it as is, and the buyer can do whatever they want. So if the buyer gets this, they could chop it up, they could sell it, they pay their costs," said Wasserman. The Source FOX6 News interviewed Wasserman and referenced prior coverage related to the boat, its removal and the auction. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From eyesore to icon, Milwaukee says farewell to abandoned boat, ‘Deep Thought'
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) – After spending nearly seven months abandoned along Milwaukee's lakefront, the boat known as 'Deep Thought' was finally removed. On Tuesday, May 6th, the long-awaited operation led to a full day of street closures, announced by Milwaukee County. Hundreds of people gathered at Bradford Beach yesterday to witness the long-awaited removal of the 75,000-pound boat. 'Get ready to clown around:' Insane Clown Posse coming to Green Bay 'Deep Thought' had been stranded between McKinley and Broadford beaches since October 13th, 2024, after its owners ran out of fuel, causing the boat so wash ashore. Over the months, the boat became a quirky local attraction, drawing curious visitors, serving as a backdrop to countless photos, featured in an animated music video, and even a song have been written about the local landmark. The National Bobble Head Hall of Fame even made a bobble boat. Earlier attempts to remove the boat didn't work, at one point, even a barge brought in to help got stuck. But on Tuesday, Milwaukee-based All City Towing finally got the job done using three cranes set up on the beach. District 3 County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman emphasized the importance of finally resolving the issue. He said it was a serious safety and environmental concern as the public starting climbing the boat, risking injury. 'Huge relief': Drivers and businesses thrilled Oneida St. is back open following NFL Draft The removal cost is estimated at $50,000, with Milwaukee County covering the initial expense. Crews faced major challenges during the extraction, calling it a difficult and complex operation. But saying goodbye wasn't easy for some, as many residents felt the boat had become a quirky piece of Milwaukee's shoreline history. According to County Executive David Crowley, there's even talk of possibly salvaging parts of the vessel and selling them, giving the boat one final chapter before it fades into memory. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's abandoned boat; vessel's removal set for May 6
The Brief The abandoned boat Deep Thought is expected to removed from Milwaukee's lakefront on Tuesday, May 6. The boat has been on Milwaukee's shore south of Bradford Beach since October 2024. Milwaukee County plans to spend at least $50,000 to remove the abandoned vessel from Lake Michigan. MILWAUKEE - Roughly six months ago, a luxury boat was abandoned on Milwaukee's lakefront after the owners ran out of gas. During those last few months, the boat has become a landmark on the lakefront, tagged by multiple people, and for some, a blight on the beauty of the lakefront. Now, it appears the abandoned boat, known as "Deep Thought," is finally going to be removed from the water between Bradford and McKinley beaches. What we know According to Milwaukee County Parks, the day to remove Deep Thought is set for Tuesday, May 6. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman said between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Lincoln Memorial Drive will be closed in both directions between Lafayette Hill Road and E. Tower Road. What they're saying "I can't emphasize enough how big the processes will be to get this boat out because it is really stuck. It's 3 1/2 feet stuck down in the sand," Wasserman said. "They're gonna be bringing three big trucks up to lift the boat up off above the rocks and pulled away so there's a very big operation." All of the work does not come cheap. "It's gonna be expensive. We're expecting to pay the cost upfront. It's at least $50,000," Wasserman said. Dig deeper Starting Monday night, May 5, there will be no parking allowed along Lincoln Memorial Drive from Lafayette Hill Road to E. Water Tower Road. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News For commuters who frequent Lincoln Memorial Drive, including thousands of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students, they will have to find an alternate route on Tuesday. The Source The information in this post was provided by a Milwaukee County supervisor and previous FOX6 News coverage.
