Outgoing Milwaukee mayor John Norquist writes about his tenure in Sunday's Journal Sentinel.

He continues to evoke ire among many suburban elected officials and residents, but I think it's become increasingly obvious that their anger is generated mostly by envy. Norquist has spent his time in office looking out for the interests of Milwaukee residents by focusing on his new urbanist philosophy. The suburbs don't understand why a mayor would be more focused on turning one-way streets into two-way streets, tearing down a freeway, improving mass transit, and streamlining zoning regulations than on building them wider freeways. Milwaukee is now the most attractive place in Wisconsin for young professionals to live.

Norquist, a Democrat, also held growth in city operating spending below the rate of inflation, and dropped the property tax rate from $13.09 in 1988 to $9.73 in 2004. Meanwhile, property taxes are at record highs in many suburbs, and many of their planners haven't quite grasped the fact that lifeless strip malls are losing out to vibrant urban neighborhoods.

Hats off to you Mr. Mayor. You've helped transform Milwaukee into a place people are proud to call home. Admit it, suburbs. You're just jealous.