My Thoughts

While my first a$$holish instinct is to let the burned areas of Milwaukee lay fallow, that is wrong and short-sighted. Insurance may not cover the damages, but even if they do the City needs to suck it up and put out whatever incentives, at whatever cost, to ensure those businesses return to that area. If we can build an arena, we can build a damn auto parts store.

[my reply to a comment saying the money should be spread out among the local residents] Why should money spent rebuilding a locally owned store be distributed to the community? These businesses, owned by corporations/locals/outsiders, contribute to the community in four important ways: 1. By providing goods and services 2. By employing locals 3. By maintaining the property value of the area and 4. By paying municipal taxes. I agree, best for the community to have those owners invested personally in the area, but the absence of that doesn't negate their contribution.

And the last thing that area needs is a rash of storefront churches moving in to fill the vacant buildings, paying no taxes and employing no one. Ten years ago that phenomenon almost took National Ave down completely.