By Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer Published Jul 27, 2015 at 10:07 AM

Dear Wisconsin leaders and members of the state legislature,

Good morning!

First, thank you for your service and dedication to the great state of Wisconsin.  It is truly appreciated.

Today I'm writing to ask you to please vote yes tomorrow for the new Wisconsin arena and entertainment district in Downtown Milwaukee.  It’s important and vital to our state’s long term viability.  And, as a passionate entrepreneur who is always looking for great employees and team members – I know how important modern sports and entertainment are in the recruitment process.  

The performing arts, tourism, sports and music all matter to Wisconsin, and together they help us build a sense of community, a sense of pride and a greater sense of place. And while other states also have amazing groups and teams Milwaukee and Wisconsin are truly blessed with unique traditions, teams, and opportunities for us all in sports, tourism and the performing arts.

So, as a member the boards of directors of two entities that make civic arts and entertainment great - the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and the Wisconsin Center District  - I support a greater Wisconsin that will come about thanks to the entertainment district and arena proposal the Milwaukee Bucks, the Governor’s Office, Milwaukee County Executive, Milwaukee Mayor, and legislature have put together.

This is a plan that keeps the Bucks in Milwaukee, creates jobs and represents a net gain for taxpayers.  It is, though, an effort that’s about more than basketball. This is nearly a billion dollars worth of development that will create thousands of jobs, generate millions in future property tax revenues, and truly transforms the largest missing piece of the Downtown development puzzle.

As a civic steward to assets that help make Wisconsin and Milwaukee shine, I understand that with significant public investment in the Downtown and surrounding area that collaboration is king.  So, it has never been more important for the multiple publicly supported venues that stand literally within 1,000 feet of each other to coordinate, work together and support each other via this greater good project. I'm sure you agree.

This project and opportunity are bigger than any one individual and any one organization.

Let’s ALL believe in a greater Milwaukee and a strong Wisconsin.  It is not about us as individuals or stand along organizations.  It’s about doing what it is best for the community we all love. 

It’s time to stand together to look inside ourselves and around us to see just how impactful collaboration, sports, the performing arts, development and music are in our lives.  Please vote yes.

Thank you, On Wisconsin and On Milwaukee,
Jeff Sherman

Jeff Sherman OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.

He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.

Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.  He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.  

He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.

He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.