Posted on Friday, 27th April 2007 by Patrick Dorwin
Update: Since WTMJ has picked up on this story, I have moved this post back to the top of the Blog. The original post was made on 4/23/07
Alderman Michael McGee/Jackson Jr. and his father have been talking for a while now about getting people to slow down when driving through busy neighborhoods, something that I support, I see people all day long speeding through the narrow inner-city streets with kids all over the place, it really is scarry. And this past week, with the young girl that was killed by a hit and run driver on 16th & Locust underscored this point… But, with McGee, there is always a “But”.
This morning, on WNOV radio, Alderman McGee said that he wants to organize young people to throw rocks at speeding cars.
[audio:McGee_throwing_rocks.mp3]
Download audio (1:38 – 1.5Mb)
He did back off on it a bit when someone called him on one of the (many) unintended consequences, by pointing out that the driver may have a child in the back and the rock could hurt them. While backing off, he went on to say that we need to do something drastic like this to fight the problem, but shouldn’t an elected official have thought this through before calling for people to throw bricks at cars that they think are speeding?
There are many other unintended consequences, and NONE of them are good. You could scare the driver and cause them to run off the road or into other cars, or, in the times we are in now, some of these drivers would get out with a gun and start shooting!
I agree that speeding is a problem, but throwing rocks, or “bricking” as McGee calls it, is NOT THE SOLUTION.
Update: Money Quote:
I really want to organize some of these young guys in the community. When they see people speeding recklessly and swerving down the hood man, just start brickin’ em, for real… And start bricking these cars, man, guerrilla style… And they are going to learn that you can’t drive down certain blocks and feel that they can be reckless.
Posted in Home | Comments (29)
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:58 am
There is a simple solution to this speeding problem. Install removeable speed bumps. I say removeable because they can come out for winter blowing.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:05 am
If we could just get cars off the streets we wouldn’t have this problem.
Sound familiar.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:11 am
Every time I go off on a McGee rant every friend and family member I have gets that glassy-eyed, “bored to tears” look in their face. But these comments are so ridiculous, knee-jerk, and flawed I wouldn’t even know where to start.
Maybe the bronze statues of himself he’s planning on putting up throughout his district (now that he’s been coronated) could also be equipped with some sort of radar device that would hurl bricks at passing motorists if they were going too fast. That way he could just say “the statue did it” when someone gets hurt. He won’t even have to whip out his poster of Chavez.
I see you all getting that same glassy-eyed look, so I will shut up now.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:23 am
Speeding, especially in residential neighborhoods is a problem in every community in the world. The problem gets much, much worse when there are children who play near the busier streets.
The only answer to this problem is personal responsibility. Generally (yes, I said generally) those who speed in residential neighborhoods are the residents of that neighborhood.
I’m not going to counsel Mr. McGee on what he should do, but there’s an answer in my post… and it works. And it doesn’t involve masonry.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
This is the same Alderman that endorsed cruising around Miller Park, uses two social security numbers, and denied fathering a child with his mistress. Is it any surprise that he’d endorse vandalism, violence, and vigilantism to solve a problem?
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Oops. My apologies to all – the above post should have been sent to a different conversation. Sorry for any confusion!
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:10 pm
And the second some punk throws a stone at a car, and that car is in an accident (perhaps killing a kid in a busy neighborhood), McGee will be all over that, right?
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
What do you think those who have rocks thrown at their cars might do in retaliation? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm??
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Well, I am sure that the first reaction of anyone driving down the street at 50mph. and has a rock bounce off of their hood and through their windshield, would be to think, “Gee, I should slow down…” That or they would circle around and unload the 9mm at the group of kids playing on the corner…
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Don’t give Mike McGee Jackson Jr. any idea’s Patrick.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Re: the last update…
my goodness. we can’t have anything reckless for goodness sake…
April 24th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I think part of the problem in Milwaukee is that a lot of areas of Milwaukee are dangerous, so people drive really fast to get out of those areas.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Yes, especially after they have just done a “drive-by shooting”.
April 24th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Mickey: That’s really funny. That made me laugh. Imagine the surprise of someone getting bricked by one of Junior’s little “rapid response” street corner soirees, after doing a drive-by… and they like stop the car, get out, sirens coming toward them, and they’re all like “Thanks for brickin’ my car, bro’. You’re right, I was swervin’ thru the ‘hood way too fast. See, I just iced this guy, and I was try’n to get up out’a here, but you threw that brick at my car, and it reminded me to drive more responsibly when fleeing the scene of a crime”.
God bless Milwaukee. What else would I do when it’s raining?
April 25th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
did you notice in the recording, miniMcGee first alludes to rolling tires…sounds like a reference to his dad’s famous threat to roll flaming tires down the freeway to keep whitey out.
He’s completely talking out of his butt when he says things like this. He probably has NO intention of organizing a rock-throwing group, but without too much thought he figures this is a relatively tame way to be RADICAL — like dear old Dad.
Mini-McGee has enough brainpower/fear of jail/fear of losing the best job he’ll ever get to realize he shouldn’t try to get as crazy as his dad.
But he feels bad about that and looks for ways to sound that crazy.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
The Great Zarquon has arrived! Does this mean that the world is about to end?
(Sorry for being off topic, but I am a HUGE Douglas Adams fan)
April 25th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
This complete embarrassment is my Alderman. My husband can’t stand my ranting and raving anymore, but I can’t handle it. How does someone like McGee (a representative for our community) allowed to continue to act this way. It is a complete disgrace!
April 26th, 2007 at 7:01 am
Alex –
He is re-elected with 60%+ of the vote – that is how he is allowed to act this way.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
In response to Clint…I know that he won 60% of the vote from the recall! I voted in the other 40%. What I was trying to say is that no other political figure would be able to get away the things he has (except for maybe his father). He also provided a free meal and transportation to voters in his district….Hmmm???
April 27th, 2007 at 12:16 am
In all honesty, there have been times when some jackass with music blaring has sped through my neighborhood. During those times, I did wish I had something substantial to throw at them.
But, as usual, just talking out his ass with no real ideas on the issue.
“If we could just get cars off the streets we wouldn’t have this problem.” Why Mickey….I always knew you were a closet Critical Mass member.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:06 am
You’ve made it, Patrick. You’re part of the top story on WTMJ’s newscasts.
Leave it to Jr. McGee-Jackson to come up with a stupid solution to a problem. I’ll echo SteveO’s advice, especially since all speed bumps do is wreck suspensions.
April 27th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Hey, Patrick Do you think McJr will finally invite you to become one of his Myspace friends now? LOL Well, there’s always Tom. That dude wants to be friends with everyone
April 27th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
[...] This is to follow up the post, Alderman McGee wants to throw rocks at speeders. [...]
April 28th, 2007 at 4:49 am
Once again, McGee has proven himself to be totally clueless when it comes to dealing with ANY issue whatsoever. He used to really anger me by his actions and comments, but now I realize that he is simply irrelevant. The City of Milwaukee will NEVER change, and the reason is because of a select group of people in it. The group is self-perpetuating, and WILL NEVER CHANGE. When will people stop trying to pretend that it will and just tell it like it is. Unreal…. Thank God I recently sold my house in this God-forsaken place!
April 28th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Yo, I need to slow down. I know we just robbed that store, but if I don’t slow down my ride will get bricked. Can’t get the 22s scratched when we’re cruisin’ later.
“Brick ‘em”. Amazing. If I didn’t know better, I would think this McGee story was out of ‘The Onion’ or an idea for ‘Jackass’.
May 1st, 2007 at 10:20 am
I’m pretty sure he meant guerrilla style, not gorilla style, Patrick.
May 1st, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Noted and corrected, oops
May 4th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
That’s Ok, you made it in the Journal (sorta) via McJr.
http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=22&date=5/4/2007&pagenumber=1
Here is the full statement from Ald, Michael McGee referenced in the posting below:
“Earlier this week on the “Word Warrior Report,” a radio program on 860 WNOV-AM, comments I made were misconstrued and then posted on a misinformed, fledgling blog site. The site indicated that I was trying to incite violence.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
[...] Patrick at Badgerblogger can be counted on for audio as always. [...]