Our Readers Write: Don't Play Games with DJ's

An open letter to our elected officials and To the editor:

A few members of the current council promised more openness and better communication.  After last Tuesday’s vote on the rezoning for DJ’s Pub and Grile, I have to question if this promise is being kept.  It appears to me some of you are playing the same games my Dad and other past council members were accused of in the past (much of this coming from a few current aldermen during the recent election).

Yes, you are all elected officials and answer to your constituents.  However, you are expected to lead and real leaders always lead from the front.  They should not be in the back analyzing emails and phone calls from a small sample of the residents (who are usually the same people they hear from on a constant basis anyway).      

What I am saying is you, our elected leaders, need to make tough decisions.  History will judge you on whether or not you were willing to make these decisions or gave in to short-sightedness and the political fervor of a few.  You can either be a well-liked politician in the short run or be a leader who might be temporarily jeered but later much appreciated and admired for looking past petty arguments and taking bold action to build a better future.

If properly informed and motivated, the ever-present silent majority can be woken up and their voices will be heard by all.   I believe this very thing is happening now in our country and more specifically, in our state.  It is my opinion, MEG did not got their 3,000+ signatures against the Lake Park proposal in about 8 days because they properly disseminated the facts to the public; they did it in that short amount of time by using fear and spreading innuendos.  I do not understand how you could have thoughtful conservations with over 3,000 people in that short amount of time and honestly say all the facts were given out before each person signed the form. 

Members of MEG themselves stated, at that time, not all the facts had been looked at by the common council. If that is true, how did MEG have all the facts when they collected those signatures?  I believe most of you want a better business climate in Muskego and even a couple of you know in your heart of hearts, Little Muskego Lake offers the best chance to improve our business climate and the best place to build a new downtown.  We have a natural resource that most cities would give an arm and leg to have.  We can start to build a real downtown for our city and invite new business into Muskego; all the while helping to keep the services we currently enjoy and our taxes low. 

Losing DJ's will hurt our city and they should be allowed to rebuild at its current location (in the heart of a possible new downtown).  If you really are pro-buisness, you must recognize this.  Those of us with knowledge of the council know where the voting blocs lie and how strategies are played out.  The times we are living in require leadership.  I ask each of you to step up and do what is right for DJ's and all of Muskego.  Let the process play itself out.  Be fair and honest.  Again, some of you have said others were not fair and honest in the past and if you are not at this time, it will not be forgotten.  History has a funny way of repeating itself.

Matt Johnson