Public Investigator answers reader questions on civic life, consumer issues in Wisconsin

For more than a year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Public Investigator team has fielded tips from Wisconsin residents about issues they see sprouting up in their communities. 

Our consistent goal has been to help readers find ways to get their problems solved, resolve burdensome financial disputes and ensure residents’ safety throughout. 

So far this year, Public Investigator has published 64 stories in response to reader tips and inquiries. Each piece has answered a variety of questions about workplace discrimination, mail scams, political disinformation, incorrect medical billing, contractor scams and more. 

As our team continues to tackle stories into the new year, we want to hear what questions you have about the local policies and decisions impacting your neighborhood, workplace or local government. That includes helping you get answers to obscure or even quirky questions you might have about what’s happening where you live.

Are you wondering how many potholes have been reported in your neighborhood? Or getting a call from a suspicious company offering cheap home buying opportunities? Have you wondered whether your landlord can enter your unit without permission? Has a local development proposal been introduced in your city council, and you are curious how it might impact you?

To give you a better idea of how Public Investigator could help, here’s a glimpse at some of our recent stories where we found answers for readers.

Keep in mind our motto: No question is too big or too small.

Is it legal for my landlord to split the utility bills equally?

In an apartment building with more than 160 units, a reader wondered if it was legal for his landlord to split the water bill evenly, even if some units use more water than others. Public Investigator reporter Gina Castro went to city officials and local utility companies to get him the answer. (It’s perfectly legal, it turns out.)

Was this prize letter a scam?

In April, a Wisconsin woman received a $750,000 prize in the mail. The letter detailed that she had won a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, but she was unsure if it was real. The company confirmed to Public Investigator that the letter and check were fake. Our story explains what consumers should watch out for to identify mail scams. 

What happened to the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse?

Ten years ago, the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse was acquired by a Brookfield nonprofit, which pledged to spend millions to restore it. A Madison resident was curious where that stood. Public Investigator reporter Quinn Clark reached out to the nonprofit for an update and spoke to the federal agencies that once owned the lighthouse to learn whether the nonprofit could lose ownership.

Is donating at the cash register a scam?

72-year-old Teresa Grimm makes a habit out of rounding up her grocery store bill at the register for charitable donations. In July, she asked Public Investigator, “Does the money really get where they’re telling me it’s going?” Public Investigator talked to tax experts about whether these donations are legitimate — and whether grocery chains are getting any benefits.

Who’s behind this political mailer?

Kris Miller, a resident of a West Bend senior living community, was skeptical of a political flyer that landed in her mailbox shortly before the election. The flyer accused the Biden administration of raising Medicare costs to fund its “liberal, green agenda.” Public Investigator reporters helped figure out the dark money funders behind the mailers, which also raised eyebrows in other states.

What can the city do about e-scooters blocking sidewalks?

When Lower East Side resident Nick Rozwadowski stumbled upon two Lime scooters blocking a sidewalk on Brady Street in June, he wondered if the issue was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Public Investigator contacted Milwaukee’s two electric scooter companies and city officials for insight on fines the city can issue against the companies for badly parked scooters, and how residents can report them.

How can I check my city’s water quality?

In February, Public Investigator reported that residents in the small village of Cleveland in Manitowoc County frequently dealt with brown, fishy-smelling water flowing out of their faucets. The same month, Public Investigator published a guide detailing how communities that rely on public water systems can check if their water passed safety tests. 

What do I need to know about the eviction process?

After residents at Sycamore Place Apartments in Milwaukee contacted Public Investigator about multiple residents who received unexplained five-day no cure eviction notices, Public Investigator published a guide to Wisconsin’s eviction process and tenants’ rights, alongside investigative stories about the apartment complex. 

How to contact the Public Investigator team

Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We’ll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips.