Abele-O-Meter: Tracking the promises of Chris Abele

The Promise:

Will "use the proceeds from the sale of underused county facilities to help accelerate debt repayment as part of his Milwaukee County facilities and energy reform plan."

Update March 28th, 2012:

As the term ends, still nothing sold for debt-relief

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The Promise:

Will direct revenue from land and building sales "into a segregated fund to provide loans and grants to businesspeople eager to launch or expand ventures but are having trouble finding startup capital in the current tight credit market."

Update March 28th, 2012:

Blocked by board in budget, no final fund created in months since

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The Promise:

Will "sell at competitive terms unused and underused land and building assets to companies and entrepreneurs who want to start or expand business ventures."

Update March 26th, 2012:

At the close of the term, no sign of closings

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The Promise:

"As County Executive, I’ll freeze the executive office budget and cut perks like cars and cell phones."

Update March 26th, 2012:

Some progress on all fronts

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The Promise:

"Abele pledged to work with stakeholders from all sides to combine employees from Milwaukee County, the State of Wisconsin, local municipalities, school districts, and other government entities to establish and focus on growing a purchasing pool large enough to negotiate lower costs in the health care marketplace."

Update March 21st, 2012:

Some preliminary steps, but won't be done during about-to-end one-year term

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The Promise:

"Will convene leaders from public and private companies to identify a long-term plan to tackle the County’s long-term debt program."

Update March 21st, 2012:

Panel held its first meeting in January

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The Promise:

Will "remove roadblocks to development in land parcels like the Park East, and he will sell at competitive terms unused and underused land and building assets to companies and entrepreneurs who want to start or expand business ventures."

Update March 19th, 2012:

Kohl's HQ bid was not a success, but showed new level of city-county cooperation

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The Promise:

Will overhaul "the transit system to ensure residents without transportation are connected to the highest density of employers, as well as job training centers like MATC, MSOE, UWM and when possible, using smarter routes during shift changes and rush hour."

Update March 19th, 2012:

Some steps toward improvement, but system has not been remade

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The Promise:

Will, as one of his first acts as county executive, "order a comprehensive audit of county land and building assets, identify those that are unneeded or underused, and then deliver a plan to transform those assets into job generators."

Update March 19th, 2012:

No plan on the table, no properties sold

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The Promise:

Will "implement a real jobs strategy for Milwaukee County, including establishment of a final Park East Plan that will turn the vacant land into job-generating development."

Update March 16th, 2012:

With one-year term running out, no evidence of implementation

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The Promise:

Abele said that, if elected, he would move the county’s economic development office into the same building as Milwaukee’s Department of City Development.

Update March 16th, 2012:

There's now a county desk at the Department of City Development

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The Promise:

Will establish "a final Park East Plan that will turn the vacant land into job-generating development."

Update March 16th, 2012:

Nothing final about the effort for still-vacant land

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The Promise:

"Establish an official framework to guide consolidation of services and functions between County, State and local governments."

Update February 3rd, 2012:

The promised plan has been put in place and already some progress

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The Promise:

Will "use the proceeds from the sale of underused county facilities to help accelerate debt repayment as part of his Milwaukee County facilities and energy reform plan."

Update February 3rd, 2012:

Nothing sold, so nothing to help pay the debts

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The Promise:

"Abele pledged to work with stakeholders from all sides to combine employees from Milwaukee County, the State of Wisconsin, local municipalities, school districts, and other government entities to establish and focus on growing a purchasing pool large enough to negotiate lower costs in the health care marketplace."

Update February 3rd, 2012:

Some steps, but unlikely to be fulfilled in this term

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