Friday Finishers, 10-24-08

By The Journal Times Editorial Board

Thursday, October 23, 2008 10:09 PM CDT

THUMBS UP: Pretty skinny. At first blush that’s the impression Racine Mayor Gary Becker’s proposed 2009 budget gives. A handful fewer employees — 5.5 — next year, a tax rate that’s about the same, increased fuel costs, more money for police ammunition and overtime, some cuts in the police department’s salaries and fringes by replacing retirees with less costly new officers, a $50 new sewer fee for commercial properties, and a plan to assess properties every other year instead of every year. There are bound to be more details coming out in the weeks ahead, but it looks like Racine gets a lean budget that’s appropriate for the times. The street lights will all be on though — the Public Works proposal to turn off every eighth street light wasn’t part of Becker’s package.

THUMBS UP: “Exemplary.” Now that’s a nice word, and one that we’re glad to hear applied to a couple of Racine Unified middle schools. Kudos to Gilmore Middle School and Walden III Middle School for being recognized as “exemplary” for their reading efforts by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators. Gilmore Middle School was recognized for high growth in reading scores for a school with a population of low-income students and Walden III was cited for being among schools with the top 10 percent of reading scores in the state.

THUMBS UP: Halloween is almost here, and there are pre-winter chores yet to be done. Not just around the house, but around the county, too. Saturday is Make a Difference Day and it’s a fine opportunity to spruce up our little corner of the state with a little elbow grease that will warm your body and your heart as well. You can clean up Highway D in Rochester, spread some mulch or help remove the dock at the Root River Environmental Center, donate used athletic shoes to the Re-use-a-Shoe drive at the Cesar Chavez Community Center or weed out buckthorn and invasive species at several parks and nature areas. Most activities are slated from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, but there are events on some other days as well. For a complete listing go to: http://www.volunteercenterofracine.org/index.php/Volunteer_Opportunities

THUMBS DOWN: Of course newspapers, television and other media should pay their own way when covering political events — that’s always been the custom. But the Obama campaign’s proposals to charge media some hefty fees — up to $1,870 — for primo camera and reporting positions at the election night gala in Chicago’s Grant Park smack of pay-to-play journalism. Yes, there’s a general media area, but as the Obama campaign noted it’s “outdoors, unassigned and may have obstructed views.” A reporting gulag of sorts where it seems doubtful reporters would have access to Obama campaign officials. Paying for phone lines and Internet connections is one thing, but access shouldn’t have a For Sale sign.

THUMBS DOWN: Hands-down winner in the bad parenting category this week goes to a Waukesha couple summoned to a middle school after their son was accused of bullying. According to a Milwaukee newspaper account, one of the parents was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and felony battery to a peace officer after a shouting and swearing brouhaha in which they were escorted from the school, swearing and yelling as they went past classrooms. One parent allegedly challenged the principal and an officer to a fight. When police went to arrest the father and pointed a Taser at him, according to news reports, he grabbed their 13-month-old infant who was with them and used the child as a shield. Now settle down, class.

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