Is Milwaukee poised for a big boom one of these years? (Oshkosh: unemployment rate, neighborhoods)

[ComfortablyNumb]

I grew up in Oshkosh and went to school at UW, so I'm not really that aware on what is happening in Milwaukee. I really didn't go there much after my relatives who lived there moved away in 94, so I really didn't know much about Milwaukee for quite awhile. After visiting several times last year, I'm really surprised its not doing better than it is.

When I visited last year, I really hadn't been there in awhile. I expected it to be like I remembered it as a young kid when we visited more: dark, depressing, falling apart, and overall just not an exciting nor a happening place.

Although it still could use a few tall buildings and a lot more retail, what I saw surprised me: There was a good deal of construction, it seemed very clean, and above all, there seemed to be an invisible energy of civic pride humming through the air. Most of all, I just got the vibes of a dying city that was finally getting its **** together and getting ready to actually become a really awesome, hip, and cool city.

Milwaukee, except of weather of course, has just about everything to offer. Beautiful parks, an array of festivals, good diversity, a beautiful lakefront, close proximity to other major cities, beautiful architecture, beautiful neighborhoods, and even some really great suburbs.

I feel like if Milwaukee, unlike Cleveland, St. Louis, and some other rustbelt cities really has what it takes to evolve into a white-collar city.

Is this just me foolishly grasping at a naive hope, or does anyone see this too?

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb

I grew up in Oshkosh and went to school at UW, so I'm not really that aware on what is happening in Milwaukee. I really didn't go there much after my relatives who lived there moved away in 94, so I really didn't know much about Milwaukee for quite awhile. After visiting several times last year, I'm really surprised its not doing better than it is.

When I visited last year, I really hadn't been there in awhile. I expected it to be like I remembered it as a young kid when we visited more: dark, depressing, falling apart, and overall just not an exciting nor a happening place.

Although it still could use a few tall buildings and a lot more retail, what I saw surprised me: There was a good deal of construction, it seemed very clean, and above all, there seemed to be an invisible energy of civic pride humming through the air. Most of all, I just got the vibes of a dying city that was finally getting its **** together and getting ready to actually become a really awesome, hip, and cool city.

Milwaukee, except of weather of course, has just about everything to offer. Beautiful parks, an array of festivals, good diversity, a beautiful lakefront, close proximity to other major cities, beautiful architecture, beautiful neighborhoods, and even some really great suburbs.

I feel like if Milwaukee, unlike Cleveland, St. Louis, and some other rustbelt cities really has what it takes to evolve into a white-collar city.

Is this just me foolishly grasping at a naive hope, or does anyone see this too?

Milwaukee has the good the bad and the ugly. MKE can evolve and do better, but it needs alot of work.

[Milwaukee City]

I have been telling people for the last 3yrs that Milwaukee has changed so much from the MKE from 10yrs ago.

[Metamucil]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb

I feel like if Milwaukee, unlike Cleveland, St. Louis, and some other rustbelt cities really has what it takes to evolve into a white-collar city.

Is this just me foolishly grasping at a naive hope, or does anyone see this too?

you're kidding right? have you actually looked for a job in Milw? are you a welder, CNC machinist or metal stamper? if not, that's 50% of the jobs out there. Don't register with a temp service if you want an office job, 80% of their jobs are blue collar.

Pittsburgh has revitalised towards health and white collar, MKE isn't even close, and never will be. It's completely stuck in the past.

[ComfortablyNumb]

I think it really has a chance to someday. The first thing that needs to change, of course, is the "Wisconsin" inferiority complex that is far deeper than just Milwaukee. Even if we deep down ove our state, we are afraid to admit it to others.

As sad as it is, Wisconsin is like South Park in Butters. We are like the kid in elementary school who, when people call us stupid, we play along and say "Yeah, I'm so stupid."

That needs to change. There is so much great stuff here. Its really better than most states.

[Milwaukee City]

you're kidding right? have you actually looked for a job in Milw? are you a welder, CNC machinist or metal stamper? if not, that's 50% of the jobs out there. Don't register with a temp service if you want an office job, 80% of their jobs are blue collar.

Pittsburgh has revitalized towards health and white collar, MKE isn't even close, and never will be. It's completely stuck in the past.

<Mod cut: argumentative / personal attack>I do a lot of research about Milwaukee 7's business economy and there is more white collar jobs growing in our area as opposed to blue collar. What's wrong with blue collar jobs? San Jose seems to be getting by just fine.

[Metamucil]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

<mod cut: argumentative / personal attack> I do a lot of research about Milwaukee 7's business economy and there is more white collar jobs growing in our area as opposed to blue collar. What's wrong with blue collar jobs? San Jose seems to be getting by just fine.

queludes and dexatrim actually,

MKE is great for Blacks

National: Milwaukee Has the Highest Unemployment Rate; Justices Hear Voting-Rights Case; Blacks Save Less For Retirement, Survey Finds | News You Should Know | BET.com (http://blogs.bet.com/news/newsyoushouldknow/national-milwaukee-has-the-highest-unemployment-rate-justices-hear-voting-rights-case-blacks-save-less-for-retirement-survey-finds/ - broken link)

second highest unemployment rate is in Milw. county, you know, because we don't make anything anymore in America.....


""As the economy worsens and balancing the budget becomes increasingly difficult, this behavior compounds the challenges we face. At a time when Milwaukee County suffers from the nation's second-highest unemployment rate, we need money to create jobs and fuel our economy. Instead, Walker is turning his back on county residents.""

Your Day - JSOnline

at least MKE isn't as bad as Detroit!!!!

""the city of Milwaukee ranked second in unemployment rates among the largest 50 American cities last year, behind only Detroit. ""

[Empidonax]

Originally Posted by ComfortablyNumb

I grew up in Oshkosh and went to school at UW, so I'm not really that aware on what is happening in Milwaukee. I really didn't go there much after my relatives who lived there moved away in 94, so I really didn't know much about Milwaukee for quite awhile. After visiting several times last year, I'm really surprised its not doing better than it is.

When I visited last year, I really hadn't been there in awhile. I expected it to be like I remembered it as a young kid when we visited more: dark, depressing, falling apart, and overall just not an exciting nor a happening place.

Although it still could use a few tall buildings and a lot more retail, what I saw surprised me: There was a good deal of construction, it seemed very clean, and above all, there seemed to be an invisible energy of civic pride humming through the air. Most of all, I just got the vibes of a dying city that was finally getting its **** together and getting ready to actually become a really awesome, hip, and cool city.

Milwaukee, except of weather of course, has just about everything to offer. Beautiful parks, an array of festivals, good diversity, a beautiful lakefront, close proximity to other major cities, beautiful architecture, beautiful neighborhoods, and even some really great suburbs.

I feel like if Milwaukee, unlike Cleveland, St. Louis, and some other rustbelt cities really has what it takes to evolve into a white-collar city.

Is this just me foolishly grasping at a naive hope, or does anyone see this too?

I do see a lot of the changes you mention, though it might be a while before Milwaukee can claim to be a white-collar city in the way that Seattle or SF are white-collar cities. However, I'm quite okay with that. The Milwaukee area has had and continues to have a really good mix of industries, lifestyles, and cultures, and I think that's a benefit. If you take away the blue-collar part of Milwaukee, you also take away the truly ethnic markets and restaurants, many of the close-knit neighborhoods, and some of the other features that make this city unique.

I lived in Buffalo, NY and rural Alabama before moving here, so in comparison, Milwaukee seems like quite the upscale, white-collar haven. Heck, for the hardcore, there's even organic markets, world-class arts, good used bookstores, fashionable boutiques, and Fortune-500 companies. The blue-collar presence may be more visible in many parts of the metro, but the white-collar presence holds its own quite well. But again, it's a good mix. I grew up in an uber-white-collar part of California, and though I liked many things about it, it lacked a cultural and historical authenticity that Milwaukee and similar cities have. If Milwaukee were to turn into Seattle or Carmel or Palo Alto, it would be less interesting and engaging (though the bookstores would be better )

[Empidonax]

Originally Posted by Metamucil

...the facts that MKE is in bad shape...

Is MKE in bad shape? Compared to places like Dallas, sure, but the metro is still growing (slowly) and economic indicators are fine. According to the report recently released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Milwaukee's unemployment rate is about on par with the country's rate, and the growth in unemployment is expected to be slower than in harder-hit parts of the country.

[EastSideMKE]

Originally Posted by Metamucil

queludes and dexatrim actually,

MKE is great for Blacks

National: Milwaukee Has the Highest Unemployment Rate; Justices Hear Voting-Rights Case; Blacks Save Less For Retirement, Survey Finds | News You Should Know | BET.com (http://blogs.bet.com/news/newsyoushouldknow/national-milwaukee-has-the-highest-unemployment-rate-justices-hear-voting-rights-case-blacks-save-less-for-retirement-survey-finds/ - broken link)

second highest unemployment rate is in Milw. county, you know, because we don't make anything anymore in America.....


""As the economy worsens and balancing the budget becomes increasingly difficult, this behavior compounds the challenges we face. At a time when Milwaukee County suffers from the nation's second-highest unemployment rate, we need money to create jobs and fuel our economy. Instead, Walker is turning his back on county residents.""

Your Day - JSOnline

at least MKE isn't as bad as Detroit!!!!

""the city of Milwaukee ranked second in unemployment rates among the largest 50 American cities last year, behind only Detroit. ""

Ten Cities For Job Growth In 2009 - Forbes.com
Milwaukee is #5 on this list, so we must not be doing too bad.

As far as having the second highest unemployment rate among working age African-American males, that's a shame. I think it's ironic that you learned this information from BET, since they are indirectly responsible for contributing to those figures. BET bombards its viewers with images of young, successful, self-made millionaires who never graduated from high school and made it big in the entertainment industry. Not exactly a realistic goal for 99.9% of people. Many "urban youth" feel like they have to drive a Bentley and sport a Rolex in order to be successful and emulate these so-called role models. Anything that requires performing actual work seems like a waste of time unless it pays off right away.