The weekly digest returns after a midsummer hiatus — just in time for the latest batch of campaign finance disclosures!
Campaigns for state Legislature submitted their reports containing revenues and expenses for the first six months of 2026. Tosa Forward News summarized the details from Wauwatosa's two most prominent races here.
David Paulsen
The debate is heating up over proposals for upgrades to Wauwatosa's City Hall and the Wauwatosa Public Library. The Library Board voted this week to officially endorse construction of a new library building, which is included in Option 3 and Option 4.
Public feedback to all four proposed options will be presented and discussed 6 p.m. July 21 at a special committee meeting of the Common Council, at City Hall and on Zoom. The council then is expected to consider those options and possibly choose one at its regular July 28 meeting.
The city also announced recently that it had been approved to receive state grants totaling $22.8 million over the next five years as an incentive to proceed with the merger of the Tosa and West Allis fire departments. The Tosa council is expected July 28 to discuss a plan for how it will use that money, including possibly applying some of it to the cost of the City Hall and library upgrades.
And the city has agreed to purchase Unity Church's property at the corner of 73rd Street and Milwaukee Avenue for $657,000 through the city's Community Development Authority. There are no immediate plans to redevelop the property, and Unity Church and the Children's Workshop preschool have until next year to conclude their use of the building.
David Paulsen
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Surely you noticed Wauwatosa has smelled like smoke this week?
On Thursday, the city and the whole Milwaukee region had some of the worst air in the country as smoke from Canadian wildfires drove our air pollution levels up to "hazardous." (The quality has since improved to the less ominous but still worrisome "very unhealthy" category, according to AirNow.gov.)
TOSA Pool was among the summer activities that were canceled Thursday because of severe health risks from the pollution, and the pool remained closed for much of Friday. As the air quality improved, the pool announced it would reopen at 4:30 p.m.
Over on Warren Avenue, regardless of the quality of the air, the quality of the homes is historic. More than 40 homes on Warren Avenue from 83rd Street to Church Street are being considered by the city for a new historic district designation. That would give the city's Historic Preservation Commission some say when homeowners are applying for city permits to alter the exterior of their homes.
The commission voted earlier this month to begin the process of creating a Warren Avenue Historic District, and the public will have multiple opportunities to weigh in before it goes to the Common Council for final consideration.
David Paulsen
Speaking of homes, On Milwaukee's Bobby Tanzilo posted a report on an old home in the 8500 block of West North Avenue for his latest Story Behind the Real Estate Listing.
CBS 58 reported on the wheelchair car wash organized by the Lutheran Home earlier this month.
WTMJ-TV recently profiled the family behind Cuppa Tosa Kitchen & Cafe, now located on Bluemound Road.
And there has been a bit of buzz about a new Mayfair Mall restaurant moving into the former Panera storefront. Are you familiar with this phenomenon, known as "conveyor-belt sushi"? As odd as it may sound, it may be coming to a mall near you, courtesy of Kura Revolving Sushi Bar.
Talk about a raw deal!
