I really don't care if they build a new ice arena or not. My husband took our grandson last night to the game and they loved it. But, I draw the line at the taxpayers footing the bill. This should be privatized.

Nancy still ignores the fact that Janesville's tax rate ranks 91st in Wisconsin municipalities. Ninety-first. This is not a highly-taxed community by any measure.

SSNancy/Hank, why was your account deleted?

Southsidenancy - There's also no place to park your horse so we can't expect any money from the amish either. What a shame.

happycamper- I don't gamble so I have never been to Dejope. Is it a casino or something else, I was just wondering because they don't advertise as a casino.

Beloit has been trying for eons to get a casino. I don't know how it actually works but, I do know in Wisconsin casinos can only be built on tribal land, this would require a tribe to own property in downtown to build it. I like your thinking though.

This is just a question. So,need to jump all over it if you don't have a genuine answer (Hank-Nancy whoever you are). Is it feasible to put a Casino or some sort of gaming facility like Dejope down town somewhere? I've seen that in other cities and it really revitalised the area around it. It would also create jobs.

Zoom - I'm republican, and what's ironic about your comment about republicans and reducing taxes is, most of the people on here that complain about an increase in taxes are democrats. Ice arena is a prime example. I think it go's both ways. Regardless, anything to help the community, I'm all for. Even if means spending some.

Reducing the sales tax .5% will not only reduce revenue, it won't be enough of an incentive for someone to travel to Janesville who wouldn't have otherwise. Contrary to one-note Republicans, reducing taxes isn't the answer to every economic problem.

jterry-What is wrong with you people. WHY do you have a problem with people visiting here. I have flatlanders as relatives and enjoy when they visit and SPEND money here. No wonder people think Janesville is a SNOB town!
Somebody has to support local business since nobody has a job here!

Yes some Il people drive bad but EVER look around here and see all the JVL people who CANNOT drive either?

Do you have a problem with out of towners WORKING here too?

The one problem I have with this is.
If you go downtown on a Sunday nothing is open. They wont open because they don't think people will come down town. Somebody has to give here! It cannot be us if you are CLOSED!

Yes there are nice things to do downtown but most of it is business hours unless you are dining or boozing it up in the eve.

I do love the Rock around the block.

gopackers- I agree take the $10k and put it into something. Why do the idiots need to spend $10k. ASK US! It is our money you are wasting and now another $10k for what????

Happycamper- you must have RUN past COdos coffee shop and Metro coffee shop. Both on N Main St.

Yuri- it seems 2 way traffic on Milw would not be a good idea. What about 5 points? Already a confusing mess and to add another street option into that mix seems like a bad idea. Court St isn't far from Milw to turn to go down town.

ilovehockey-It almost went down river in 08.

Hey Nancy...Hank - That response has nothing to do with this story, but anyways. I suggest you do a little more research if you think that's what killed our biggest company in town. You couldn't be farther from the truth. Oh, and not everyone in town is out of work and there's plenty of people making money.

Yeah, that's Nancy Hank. And I don't mean Honest Abe's wife.

Zoom, possible nice catch. Hank was banned from this site yesterday in the mid afternoon -and all his posts were deleted.

SSNancy's first post was last night!!!!

I think this is a wonderful idea. If some of you had your way, you would just stay inside all day and let the town wilt away. Well move to a different town! This town needs the business, especially downtown. Not everyone has lost their job, and I'm sure the downtown businesses would love to see increased patronage. I have heard alot of feedback from out of town Jet's parents that they really liked going downtown and visiting things such as the Farmers Market. When they come on the weekends, and yes some come every month, they need to know what this town has to offer. This is a great start!

IMO its rather low to go after a person's nationality....please just don't go there.

I've come to one conclusion on this website. All the people that complain and bash any idea that could possibly shed positive light on this city, are pretty much useless to the community. That's why they sit on here and complain. You wouldn't know how to have a positive thought if your lives depended on it. Why do you stay here? If there's no jobs, then move. Let me know how many you find in other cities. The answer will be zero at this time.
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By the way. Jobs, jobs, jobs aren't going to come, come, come to a city that has nothing to offer. And, if jobs do show up, I suggest the greed go's bye, bye. The days of being over paid are done.

It is so nice to see positive efforts to showcase all of great attractions that we DO have here in Janesville!

I was wondering why we hadn't heard from Hank on this issue!!

SouthsideNancy is Hank. That didn't take long.

If you drop the sales tax .5%, and someone travels to Janesville to save money and spends $200, they will save...$1.

SouthsideNancy Do you work for WMC?

Sales tax in Janesville is still lower than Madison, Milwaukee and Rockford.

And while I'm certain Yuri is a son of mother Russia, I'm equally certain that he is not a son of the USSR.

The USSR was tyrannical political system that enslaved and murdered millions of people and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

SouthsideNancy- Wow that's is really big of you to allow another person to speak. Yuri is the first council member I've seen even bother to take the time to read and answer questions or comments posted in the Gazette blogs. I'm not an expert in economics, but I'm pretty sure the Janesville City Council didn't cause the recession.

nancy that .5% is a county tax and this idea mr rashkin has to promote downtown business IS outside of the box thinking.

gfan i like yo idea...i will soon be residing on the rock north of the damn and would be happy to open up my deck for a casual after dinner smoke;)

Commercial boat rides and restaurants on the Rock River north of the dam would really get people here.

How can anyone be against this idea? Our city's lack of jobs is due to our obsolete workforce, not what our city council spends money on. I think an alive downtown area might raise everyone's attitudes enough to rid our city of this pessimism that clouds us and makes us look so bad to the outside world. Just my opinion though.

I guess my my first comment on wal-mart was a little sarcastic and based on bad experiences. I moved out of my east-side apartment, at least in part, because of the dump smell. I patronize east side businesses less now, but that is more because of geography and not the smell.

I think this is a great idea. Bring a little small-town flavor back to Janesville. It's sad there are those out there that feel the need to bitch and complain about EVERY idea that comes up to better our hometown. Perhaps the whiners should get off their butts and DO something about our problems instead of just knocking down everyone else's ideas. Just a thought.

The really ironic thing about the illegal noise is that I'm sure the business owners have to have their "business licenses" and have everything "up to code" and LEGAL and yet people that probably spend little or no money there and don't live there are allowed to come in and flagrantly break the law with noise with illegal exhaust pipes and deter other people from patronizing their businesses.
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I'm not going to walk downtown from store to store and be subject to that in the spring/summer, I'll just go to the big box store.

couchsit- Not in the spring/summertime, there isn't.

ladystardust, this is NOT a City of Janesville project. It's the Convention and Visitors Bureau, an independent non-profit funded by the hotel room tax.
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It's really sad that so many of you don't understand that downtown merchants are also hurting because of the economy and also need all the help they can get. This little promotional idea, though, is not costing Janesville taxpayers anything.
http://www.janesvillecvb.com/about-us/ab...
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Some people are extremely short-sighted and can't seem to understand that life goes on and other agencies keep operating even when there are important problems like a lack of jobs. I suppose you would prefer that the downtown shut down for good just because GM left. But the fact is that downtown is actually still open and generating revenue and jobs for Janesville. They deserve our support.

The trouble with the economy shouldn't cause us to shutdown interest in seeing the downtown as a positive experience.

YuriRashkin- I almost forgot, Thank you for taking the time to respond to the issues concerning the Gazette Xtra readers.

YuriRashkin- You could, if all those things had events happening at the same time. I don't see anything out of the ordinary to make people leave their community for ours. I am not saying I don't think revitalising the down town area is not a good idea. I think it is a great idea. But, what about courting some of the businesses out of the mini-malls and into the downtown area? Maybe give them tax incentives move there business in to an empty space. Or maybe put one or two mini-malls on the mile or on Milwaukee or Court St. I don't agree people won't walk around the town, they will if they could get the things they want or need.

REALY ! didn't our council give the citys citizens a vote of no convidence in the chicken issue now it wants the same type of people to ruck up and make this city attractive to out siders get real nice idea Mr Rashkin but I wont get behind this one

good job mr rashkin. highlighting the positives of this town is absolutely one of the pieces that make the 'jobs' puzzle come togethor.

Everyone,
Thank you for your feedback. Please consider taking a look at the attractions along the Janesville Mile if you have not had a chance lately. Especially once the weather gets better.

There are possibilities of organizing 5k runs/walks, festivals and many other events along the Mile. I'm hopeful that merchants who have similar clients along the Mile, will start offering packages with discount pricing for attending 2 or 3 events/venues as so many potential partnerships are possible - go to the Jets game and have a beer downtown afterwards - go to dinner at Speakeasy or the Armory and see a show at the JPAC, check out Rotary Gardens and Farmers market.

jterry1955 - yes, Janesville needs jobs and making sure that businesses in our downtown prosper is important in that respect also.

Bobb1951 - while it may seem inviting to tie everything together, consider the fact that I voted against that particular ordinance, and my involvement in the Janesville Mile is as a private resident.

theone - Good idea.

emac - What are you talking about? You can easily spend hours on the Janesville Mile. Rotary Gardens, Ice Arena, JPAC, Library, bars and restaurants, shopping, Senior center, court house stage.

Sandman - I don't believe anyone is proposing for Janesville to compete with Chicago when it comes to shopping. Then again, they're not trying to compete with us when it comes to the cost of living.

GoPackers - As a Lion and a Janesville resident, I agree that the Lions Beach is a gem and we should look for ways to bring it back to its glory days. There is some interest in putting the visitors center there, and I was approached by a restaurant owner who would like to put a cafe in there. Combined with the Rotary Gardens next door, that whole area could be much more than it is now.

truth1 - Can I count your statement as a vote for making West Milwaukee street a two-way?

ladystardust - please pick up a map at a downtown merchant (or see it online) and you will see that the mile actually DOES guide and show you the businesses along Main street past Milwaukee/Main corner. You're right - how could we not? Also, this is not a council project. As far as businesses on river street and others, when designing the map we were looking for an area with the greatest density of businesses along a route thus some difficult choices had to be made.

Janesvillean, Zythia13 and happycamper - thank you for your support of this project. I'm really pleased that it's been embraced by those who its designed to help the most - our downtown businesses and attractions - and I look forward to more input in making the Janesville Mile a success for our downtown.

I would NOT want to smell the river while eating. PERIOD.

The downtown will not improve if we sit back and do nothing! I find myself going downtown for more things than ever (haircut, meet friends at Time Out, running trails)but, what would make me visit more is good, independently owned,restraunts, coffe shops and clothing stores.
Outdoor eating that takes advantage of the river is a must.

Mark my words. This WILL cost Janesville taxpayers money!

It's funny how the map does not go across the river to river's edge bowling alley, at least have something fun to do and everyone knows that bowling pin sign itself is part of our local history. I also like how the map doesn't guide "tourists" further down main street, where they will find many smoke filled, peanut encrusted bars, a new parking ramp (in the place of the old parking ramp) a "firemen's park" that is just cleared land (with a bench) between two buildings and the river. According to this map, there's nothing good down there, so how are the "tourists" supposed to see the brand new piece of art that's plastered up next to the looking glass (one of the three "janesville" through history pictures) why not have the "mile" keep going down main street all the way thru traxler park where the best firework shows are displayed, where the big cleared park can be a 'market' place or a stage or a craft fair, or a wanna be rennaissance faire. What Janesville's city council doesn't understand is that many citizens are forced to work third shift or other shifts where most of these "fun attractions" are closed *(after nine pm) and many people do not get to go anywhere until that time. There's little to do unless you drink or gamble. Or want to drink and watch your kid knock out some other kid's teeth with a hockey puck.

There is more noise from loud exhaust pipes at Wal-Mart than there is anywhere else in this town.

I'm not interested in going anywhere and being assaulted with ear-splitting noise from illegal exhaust pipes....I'll just go to Wal-mart and McDonalds, then get in my car and go home...I won't put up with that...I wonder how many others think the same thing and won't patronize "downtowns" for that reason.

I am appalled that they would include Lion's Beach in the Janesville Mile. It is not something to be proud of. Lion's Beach used to be great when I was a kid and I always rode my bike there everyday to swim. I have great memories of that place. But the city has let it fall apart and now you can't even go there unless you want to fight the geese and walk among their droppings. Oh yeah, and take the chance of your kids getting E.coli. I wish the city would put some money into the beach to make it clean and safe to swim. So that we can enjoy one of Janesville's gems. Why do they need so many advisors? Isn't that their job? To advise and make decisions for the city.

That's sure to bring 'em in droves (but who even drives a drove anymore?).

Glad someone is trying, but with Chicago's Miracle Mile in the area, I doubt J-ville can compete with (or even claim) that slogan, nor does it make a lot of sense. How about "The Janesville SMILE" (if you can find one nowadays!)...OR..."Janesville--You're Among Fiends!"

Either way...don't pay $10k to hire a consultant on this one too--we're going to need it, and far sooner than you think!

Living just off the "Mile," I spend quite a bit of time there. Farmer's markets, consignment shops, library, -- definitely the garden.. Top floor at the Armory is very nice, and our kids enjoy skating. To me, living on this "side" of town has much more to offer than the "big box" side of town -- where I used to live a few years ago, and where I find myself trying to avoid, for the most part.

SouthsideNancy- the article read that no one from the hockey club attended the meeting yet they approved 10K to hire a consultant to "advise" the council on the issue.

wahoo_35- The council and the city manager decided to spend 10,000 more dollars to figure out what needs to be done. But, let's not spend 10k on getting people back to work or give it to Echo to feed people.

What exactly is there down town to attract "out of towners"? I mean there are a couple of good places to grab a bite to eat and a couple of decent shops, but it's not like you can spend hours there. I don't see it drawing people that live here. When we go to the farmers market on Saturdays the downtown ain't exactly swamped.

Does anyone know what the new deadline is? If this group only raised less than half of what they said they could, shows that there is not enough support for a new arena. They tried and they failed, time to move on.
They city should use that money in way that would benefit more than just a select few. Take that money that was going to thrown away on the ice rink and build a new fire station.

If they really want to "shine a light on downtown Janesville", they could start by replacing the burned out bulbs and lighting all of the street lights to make it more inviting.

jterry1965, tourism dollars are still dollars. I mean, they're the same shape and color and size and everything.
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The council is in a very limited position to create jobs. This is a private effort by the CVB to promote the downtown and city. Even with manufacturing jobs gone, the downtown is still here and still needs promoting. Congratulations to everyone for putting this together and to Yuri for such a creative idea!

once again Mr Rashkin is way out of touch with reality, Janesville does not need a bunch of flarlanders coming here, what Janesville needs are jobs, jobs, and more jobs,oh yea according to the city council and forward janesville, minumum paying jobs, are part of jnesvilles job market diversity, GO YOU GUYS WHO SUPPORT THE MIRICLE MILE,and isolate youselves from the unwashed masses, or as your idol would say " LET THEM EAK CAKE "