Please make this a part of the file.

 

Thanks, Nik

 

 

 

Check below: The $100 permit fee means that the art in the Alleys project would have cost $1700.

As this ordinance stands, it looks like any of us who have murals on our garages will have to pay a $75 annual inspection fee.  In other words, we're being penalized for beautifying our garbage-strewn alleys.

Please call your Alder (286.2221) and forward this to people throughout the city.

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Mural Ordinance
Date:	Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:02:44 -0600
From:	Sarah Dollhausen <sarah@trueskool.org>
Organization:	TRUE Skool, Inc.
To:	'Sura Faraj / SuraForChange.com' <sura@suraforchange.com>

Peace…PLEASE FORWARD!

 

This mural ordinance will make it illegal to have murals facing alleys…this means that the Art in the Alleys project will be considerably affected and no murals facing an alley will be allowed per this proposed ordinance. Also, existing murals facing alleys will have to get permits and pay fines within 90 days if this ordinance passes. Please read the Mural Ordinance text document attached for more details.

 

There is currently an ordinance being proposed by Alderman Zilenski (District 14) and Alderman Witkowiak (District 12) that if passed, would make it very difficult to paint a mural in Milwaukee. This ordinance calls for the City of Milwaukee to regulate the size, location, amount of, and content of a painted mural in public view. These Alderman want to create a permit process and regulations for painted murals which would include a $100 permit fee and approval process and an annual $75 inspection fee. This would give the City of Milwaukee and these Alderman the right to review and approve content of a mural, which is against our right to free speech according to the 1^st Amendment. We believe the real intent is to stop graffiti style murals from being painted whether they are commissioned by a business or done with permission. This will cause problems for ALL artists, graffiti or otherwise, to be able to paint what they want or what they are being commissioned for.

 

This ordinance is illegal! It goes against our First Amendment Right in the Constitution of Free Speech. This City of Milwaukee has more pressing issues to contend with such as teenage pregnancy rates, segregation, police brutality, a failing school system and the list goes on than to create another fee that us citizens have to pay to beautify our communities. Also, there are already signage permits and regulations on the books that are suffice. We do NOT need another ordinance for painted murals.

 

For more information on the actual ordinance and to read it in it’s entirety visit:  http://milwaukee.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=301125&GUID=10E7AA95-74E7-49AB-8C65-14F8EF558E3E&Search=&Options=

And check out the FOX 6 News coverage of the Zoning Committee Meeting where Alderman Zilenski stormed out: Graffiti Ordinance Fires Up Alderman
http://www.myfoxmilwaukee.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8219255&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

 

 

This ordinance is illegal and unfair, please STAND UP and join us by doing the followings things to show your support for art in Milwaukee and positive opportunities for young people:

 

• Contact your Alderman and tell them you do NOT want the proposed Mural Ordinance passed! You can find out who your alderman is and their phone number by visiting the city of Milwaukee’s website at: http://www.milwaukee.gov/CouncilMemberWebPage810.htm or call 286.2221
  
  

• SHOW UP! Come to the Anti-Graffiti Committee meeting tomorrow Monday January 12^th at 10:30am at City Hall room 301-B and speak up against it. Also, come to the next Zoning & Neighborhood Development Committee February 3^rd 9:00am in City Hall Room 301-B and speak up against it.

 

• Contact the members of the Zoning, Development & Neighborhoods Committee and voice your opposition to this proposed ordinance. Contact info for committee members is attached.

 

• Send TRUE Skool an email at info@trueskool.org showing your support for public art and voicing your concerns about this ordinance so that we can provide these statements to the Alderman and Committee members proposing and voting for this ordinance.

 

If you have any questions or want to get involved and volunteer with TRUE Skool to stop this ordinance from passing, contact Sarah at 975-4130 at any time.

 

Thank you and we hope to see you at these meetings!!

 

-- 

It is useless and futile for us to continue talking peace and non-violence against a government whose reply is only savage attacks on an unarmed and defenseless people.  -Nelson Mandela