Inside the corridors of Franklin City Hall, sadly, there’s a strong sense of denial about Franklin’s long history of abysmal economic development. Get outside the building and reality takes over. Just about everyone I know understands Franklin’s track record in this regard has been a colossal failure. Little changed in 2019.

The Milwaukee Business Journal, a publication widely read by businesspeople, developers, real estate professionals, elected officials, movers and shakers, etc. delivered a pair of black eyes to Franklin’s already severely tarnished image in October.

OUCH!

THE ARTICLE FRANKLIN WISHED HAD NEVER BEEN PUBLISHED!

NEXT, how about this clever Franklin scheme. Think Don Quixote. Hey look everybody. We’ve got this empty piece of land that nobody has wanted or built on for 15 years!

Also during 2019 Franklin Mayor Steve Olson continued his futile attempt to get the state Legislature to approve legislation to do away with the so-called “dark store loophole.” Olson posed for holy pictures with the likes of Tom Barrett in this wasted effort, blaming  places like Wal-Mart for his city’s local tax burden. Taking a page out of the liberal playbook, Olson bashed big businesses.

In May I blogged The powers that be in Franklin need to read this.

In July I posed this question: Has any progress been made in Franklin in the last five years?

This article demonstrated how Oak Creek is light years ahead of Franklin in economic growth, and should be required reading for everyone at Franklin City Hall. The key sentence:

(Dan) Bukiewicz, who succeeded radio personality Steve Scaffidi as Oak Creek mayor after Scaffidi’s resignation in March 2017, feels that the city’s willingness to embrace change is one of its many positive attributes.

With rare exceptions, I don’t see the same kind or scope of revitalization happening in Franklin.

But as noted, Franklin has the biggest set of blinders on, constantly denying their inability to achieve substantial measurable results. Officials here think everything is wonderful.

Let’s get real. Take Ballpark Commons out of the equation and Franklin hasn’t made any worthwhile progress in ages.

THE TOP 10 FRANKLIN STORIES OF 2019

1) ?
2) ?
3) ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUES TO FLOUNDER
4) VELO VILLAGE AND MORE
5) RECYCLING CHANGES
6) THE STRAUSS BRANDS SAGA
7) FORMER HIGH SCHOOL COACH CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT
8) WE DON’T HAVE A CLUE, SO LET’S FUND ANOTHER STUDY
9) FRANKLIN’S NEW LOGO
10) THE CARMEX COMEBACK