Moving to MKE: Are these neighborhoods safe?? Help! (Milwaukee, King: rent, credit)

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by tully

you wanted data, you shall receive...

map of pollutors near 53202. click on the dot immediately above shaded area (lower left corner of 53211).. WI paperboard. Note the SO2, NOx, NH3 tons/year. Sulphur Diox., Nitrous Ox., Ammonia.. basically what we refer to as "stench". (among a few other things not monitored by EPA)

Now go to Duplin County, NC as a comparison. Click on the 3-dot cluster in lower left. Those are pig and/or poultry farms. (I think we can all agree, the average person would find those offensive.) Note the SO2, NOx, NH3.

I'll leave it for people to draw their own conclusions.

A couple parting comments:
- WI paperboard is situated at the base of a slope, west end of Eastside. Their emissions occur at low elevation (no tall stack). Just like farms.

- you'll notice 2002 is the most recent data (corresponding, uncoincidentally, with the start of the Bush era). EPA enforcement has been lacking (to put it kindly) since then. You can assume the tonnage to be worse now, perhaps several times worse.

Oh, "I can assume the tonnage to be worse now?!!" Great, we start a data session with assumptions. Let me guess, your "average person" knows this, right?

Barnhill Contracting Company, Dauphin County, NC:
SO2 6.1

Valley Proteins, same county, NC
317
Oh sweet Jesus that ain't good!!!!

Let's compare to a couple of Milwaukee places, just for fun.

WI Paperboard (and UW Milwaukee power plant)
SO2 0.2, respectively

Hey, how about the City of Milwaukee Asphalt Plant
SO2 1.2

Interestingly the University of Wisconsin power plant has much more nitrous oxide emissions than WI Paperboard. Yet they have the same sulfur dioxide emissions. The City of Milwaukee's Asphalt Plant has more SO2 emissions. And MMSD's Jones Island waste water treatment plant, hits it right out of the park with 5.something.

Interesting, indeed.

And while we're at it, since you're on a witch hunt, there are a bunch of other monitoring sites that are far worse than WI Paperboard OR the City of Milwaukee. Also, word to the wise, the hallmark of the knowledge-poor (but energetic) wannabee-environmentalist without a basic understanding of data, is "The Bush Era". Or maybe [enter your choice of most hated officials here]. Just like "The Average American", "The Bush Era" is supposed to somehow endorse whatever point you tried to prove. Because, the media tells us, "The Bush Era" equals bad. Therefore you use it to prove a point, even though proving a point means actually, like, proving it. Which you didn't.

Now send me some more data. This is fun. And admit it, you're hoping stupid people read your posts without reading the actual data behind the posts. You do it, why wouldn't someone else?

Now stop wasting everyone's time with your little witch hunt/hidden agenda. While you're at it, why not get the MMSD wastewater treatment plant shut down. And the UW-Milwaukee power plant. And the Milwaukee city asphalt plant. And how about the airport, too.

Hell, shut it all down! That's really what you want. This is nothing but a witch hunt. I know it, you know it.

[tully]

You had me, then you lost me, with the Bush defense. :lol: Then it just got rant-y.

Sorry, but an 8-year coma would be the only excuse for not knowing about the political manipulation of gov't agencies, particularly EPA. It has been detailed endlessly. Google.

And no, I'm not a liberal (or luddite). I'm an Independent. I recognize the inherent trade-offs re: pollution. But I do believe in reasonable/attainable emission standards (and more importantly enforcement).

I suspect, OTOH, you are the archetypical "Wisconsin Industrial Apologist". How quaint.

As for WI Paperboard, I was merely using it as an example (not a "witch hunt"), because it's in the immediate vicinity inquired about by the OP. The other companies you mentioned probably ARE responsible for noxious odors to some extent...Downtown is frequently odor-contaminated (this can be especially obvious when amtrak-ing from IL and walking out of Intermodal). But the source is unknown or unclear.

As for the data, it's just a starting point... EPA site cautions that in the FAQs. Topography, convection, sensor location, etc matter too, and it can get a bit apples-to-oranges.

So I withdraw the point. You win.

[karfar]

Originally Posted by vemureaux

Hmmm... I visited the area two consecutive days and didn't detect any odor, but still good to know! I am a bit sensitive when it comes to smells. Hope it's not unbearable!

What it actually smells like is wet cardboard.

[karfar]

Originally Posted by vemureaux

Ok folks,

As the OP, I'm going to make an executive decision and veto the smelly talk, especially as it has, at this point, nothing to do with my initial question. If you want to continue discussing the various aromas of Milwaukee, please open another, separate thread to do so.

I'm sure other people considering moving to MKE may be interested in reading this post (I certainly checked out the other moving-related posts), and having irrelevant arguments back and forth actually takes away from the informative nature of the CDF threads. If not, I'll just ask the mods to close this thread.

Any relevant and useful input is still very much welcome.
And thanks a bunch to all those who contributed regarding the original post.

LOL, touche. Now, I'll give you a bit of a lowdown on the area you're moving to. Beans & Barley is good if you like vegetarian food. Plus, they have an outdoor market in the parking lot, I think it may be everyday when it's nice out, seems like it was always there whenever I drove past. Unless you're very young, don't go to Judges a bar right by the bridge next to OP, lots of students or Cans. By the way, OP is a great one-stop shop & the hispanic guy that usually works there is awesome, he's very sweet. There's a couple bars on Bartlett which is one block west of Oakland, Red Dot & Champions. Champions is a bit of a dive but they have an outdoor patio. Red Dot has food. There's a library right on North Ave. on I think it's Murray & North. Hooligan's is kind of known for their burgers & onion rings. Twisted Fork is popular, however I haven't been there in awhile. Jalisco's has ok mexican food, popular w/ the bar crowd. Whole Foods is right there although they are expensive...nickname is Whole Paycheck. Blockbuster & a sushi place is around there too, can't remember the name of the sushi place. You can easily walk to Brady St. for more action when it's warmer out, it'll probably take you about 10 mins. or so to walk it. Just be careful driving around those areas at bar time, there can be lots of drunk people around, keep your eyes open. I could go on & on but you get the gist of it.

[vemureaux]

Originally Posted by karfar

LOL, touche. Now, I'll give you a bit of a lowdown on the area you're moving to. Beans & Barley is good if you like vegetarian food. Plus, they have an outdoor market in the parking lot, I think it may be everyday when it's nice out, seems like it was always there whenever I drove past. Unless you're very young, don't go to Judges a bar right by the bridge next to OP, lots of students or Cans. By the way, OP is a great one-stop shop & the hispanic guy that usually works there is awesome, he's very sweet. There's a couple bars on Bartlett which is one block west of Oakland, Red Dot & Champions. Champions is a bit of a dive but they have an outdoor patio. Red Dot has food. There's a library right on North Ave. on I think it's Murray & North. Hooligan's is kind of known for their burgers & onion rings. Twisted Fork is popular, however I haven't been there in awhile. Jalisco's has ok mexican food, popular w/ the bar crowd. Whole Foods is right there although they are expensive...nickname is Whole Paycheck. Blockbuster & a sushi place is around there too, can't remember the name of the sushi place. You can easily walk to Brady St. for more action when it's warmer out, it'll probably take you about 10 mins. or so to walk it. Just be careful driving around those areas at bar time, there can be lots of drunk people around, keep your eyes open. I could go on & on but you get the gist of it.

Now that's useful information!
Thanks Karfar!! I'll have to check out your recommendations. Sounds like I chose a pretty good location that's close to a bunch of things.

By the way, what are the grocery/household superstore options in Milwaukee? I'm thinking of a Meijer type store, if anyone is familiar with it. On a smaller scale, is there a Kroger or Marsh in Milwaukee? I didn't see any of these during my trip up there.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by vemureaux

Now that's useful information!
Thanks Karfar!! I'll have to check out your recommendations. Sounds like I chose a pretty good location that's close to a bunch of things.

By the way, what are the grocery/household superstore options in Milwaukee? I'm thinking of a Meijer type store, if anyone is familiar with it. On a smaller scale, is there a Kroger or Marsh in Milwaukee? I didn't see any of these during my trip up there.

Pic N Save (Roundy's) is the large chain in Milwaukee. Sentry is another chain.

I do not believe that Meijer is in Milwaukee; I believe that the closest store is in McHenry, IL.

Besides, you need to shop a Wisconsin store - Woodman's, one of the largest grocery chains in the US with nearly anything you could ask for. This employee-owned store carries thousands of LOCALLY SOURCED items - you know that commitment that Whole Paycheck always claims but doesn't deliver. Woodman's sources bread from 50 different bread companies, cheese from nearly every Wisconsin creamery, etc. We have a blast at these stores. They have two Milwaukee area stores with a third on the way.

[vemureaux]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

Besides, you need to shop a Wisconsin store - Woodman's, one of the largest grocery chains in the US with nearly anything you could ask for. This employee-owned store carries thousands of LOCALLY SOURCED items - you know that commitment that Whole Paycheck always claims but doesn't deliver. Woodman's sources bread from 50 different bread companies, cheese from nearly every Wisconsin creamery, etc. We have a blast at these stores. They have two Milwaukee area stores with a third on the way.

Sounds like my kind of store! I'll have to check it out!

[quijote]

Woodmans is good, but it's a bit out of the way for an East Side resident. However, it's a good place to load up on household basics for less money. Woodmans has a few gourmet, specialty, and international items, but its strength is with bread-and-butter items that middle class people buy: frozen pizzas, canned foods, popular produce, and stuff like that. Woodmans doesn't take credit cards, so bring cash (they have ATMs, though).

Around the North/Oakland area there are lots of grocery options for everyday purchases. The mainstream supermarket is Pick-n-Save; the closest one is on North and Humboldt. If you like gourmet items (diverse cheeses, olives, wines, etc.), Whole Foods is great, but Milwaukee also has its own network of upscale grocers: Sendiks. The closest ones to you will be Sendiks on Oakland (Oakland Ave. in Shorewood) and Sendiks on Downer (on Downer Ave.). They're small stores and a tad expensive, but they're great. Also near you (as mentioned) is Beans and Barley (on North), which has a smallish market with some organic/veg/specialty items. A little farther afield, on Capitol Dr., is Outpost, a co-op market (you need not be a member) which is like a medium-sized Whole Foods: organic produce, quality meats, local and imported cheese, bulk grains, etc.

This is just a sampling of markets in that area. You'll also be near the Pick-n-Save Metro Mart (near downtown) which is an upscaled Pick-n-Save, the Milwaukee Public Market which is an indoor collection of food vendors, a new organic grocery store in the Third Ward, an Aldi on Capitol, a Puerto Rican market on Holton, a Trader Joe's in Glendale, etc., etc. And don't forget to visit the various ethnic groceries scattered around the city: El Rey, A&J Polish, Glorioso's on Brady, and many more.

For household stuff (cleaners, accessories, etc.) I'm quite fine with Big Lots (on Capitol) and various dollar stores (same items, lower prices), but Woodmans is good, supermarkets like Pick-n-Save are fine, and if you really need a Walmart, you'll find a Walmart. But a good store with household stuff, home repair items, etc. is Menards--a Wisconsin-style Home Depot, but with more home items. There isn't a Menards incredibly close to the East Side, but the one on Brown Deer Rd. is not bad to get to.

[Ron Burgundy]

Woodmans doesn't take credit cards, so bring cash (they have ATMs, though).

They do accept debit cards, though. (They didn't used to but they have been for several years now.)

[Priz]

I would say that region 3 would be the safest to my knowledge.