Are You Afraid of Clowns?

When you were a child, did clowns scare you?

Do they still creep you out?

Mayor Tom Barrett has some bad news for you.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

More than four years after the animals, wagons and marching bands of the Great Circus Parade took their last noisy, multicolored trip through the streets of downtown Milwaukee, Mayor Tom Barrett is calling for the return of the summer spectacle.

In his "state of the city" address this morning, Barrett plans to cite the parade's tourism value.

"For generations, the portrait of Milwaukee included the annual Great Circus Parade," says a draft of the speech. "A half million people or more would line our streets, fill our hotel rooms and restaurants and take part in one of our nation's truly historic events. It's time to bring back the parade and once again showcase Milwaukee's fine tradition of hospitality and our revival. It is my hope we will be able to do this next year."

Barrett has already contacted the Circus World Museum in Baraboo about reviving the parade, his spokeswoman Eileen Force said. Museum officials asked for Barrett's help with raising the money to do that, and he agreed to help them appeal to donors, although he did not offer any city money, she said.

I fully support bringing back the Circus Parade.

However, Barrett has to do more than just throw the idea out there. Fund-raising is the issue. If he wants to revive it, the onus is on him to secure the funds to make it happen.

Otherwise, his call to bring back the parade will be just an empty, forgettable line in his State of the City address.