This Just In...
Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “InterCHANGE,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Boomgaard: The gift that keeps on giving
By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, May 4 2008, 08:56 PM
DISCLAIMER FOR EVERY SINGLE BLOG KEVIN FISCHER WRITES ABOUT BOOMGAARD FROM 5/4/08 UNTIL HIS LOVELY AND MUCH YOUNGER WIFE, JENNIFER FINALLY DOES HIM IN: KEVIN FISCHER ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTS THE VISIONARY BIG PICTURE CONCEPT OF THE S. 27TH STREET CORRIDOR, BUT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE NAME, “BOOMGAARD DISTRICT” AND HOW IT CAME TO BE (i.e. zero input from public)
The other day, Franklin blogger Fred Keller commented on my Boomgaard blog where I said the decision to name the 27th Street Corridor is just about set in stone and there’s no turning back from those who came up with the name.
Here’s Fred’s comment:
Kevin, I know your stance on the "Boomgaard" name, and I realize you're just the messenger here, but you used 847 words to justify a decision process by the "Boomgaard Brotherhood" that I can explain with one. Arrogance.
Here’s my response from the “Hindsight is 20/20 file”:
The problem the Boomgaard Brigade brought upon themselves is that they spent a half year developing and working on this nickname via the hush-hush route.
Even though 998 out of 1,000 people, to varying degrees, dislike the name, they’re still gung-ho about it and have no desire to go back to the drawing board. That is the impression I get.
OK.
What they should have done is involve the entire communities of Oak Creek and Franklin in the process from day one along with the Zizzo group that resembles the deer in the headlights adult contestants on this show.
Can you imagine how the populace would have embraced not just the naming aspect, but the concept as a whole? There would have been an excitement built that would have galvanized both cities.
We need your help!
Lend us your expertise!
Help us name this soon to be successful business district!
But they decided to lock the castle doors while they worked on the Frankenstein monster.
Now the townsfolk are outside yelling and screaming with pitchforks and lanterns.
LEARN FROM THIS!
The rest of the way, be as open as possible!!
That’s my brief answer to Fred Keller’s comment.
I conclude with this.
1) Please read my disclaimer again. In all seriousness, we lose sight of the project at hand. The goal is to take a street sullied with drug-infested motels and transform it into a destination worthy of respect. That’s #1.
2) I know Fred Keller. Fred Keller is a friend of mine. He’s pretty sharp. How is it that Fred Keller found out in what could be a just a matter of hours or days what the Boomgaard cheerleaders couldn’t uncover in six months?
