As "they" like to say, there’s a lot of "heavy lifting" left on the arena project. As it moves forward and into the final stages of the City’s portion of the financial pie, designs, deals and estimates will come together to help make the project even better.
We all need reminders of the importance of keeping the project on pace. So, since it’s public record once I submitted it last week, I’m sharing the letter I sent to all members of Milwaukee’s Common Council.
Today, there’s another public hearing at 4 p.m. at City Hall. Show up, listen, learn and communicate.
The Common Council is expected to vote on Milwaukee's share of the arena on September 22.
Letter to Milwaukee Common Council
Sent Aug. 26, 2015
Good morning!
I was a part of the event that helped "kick off" the tear down of the Park East Freeway. Several of you were too. Remember that 0.8-mile highway spur that was part of a loop that separated our Downtown from north-side neighborhoods? Yep. That was 2002.
Today, 13 years later, when you walk the area you truly get a sense of what’s happened and what’s coming. All thanks to great vision and leadership.
Parks, plazas, neighborhoods and a new entertainment district. I walked the area last week and got goose bumps thinking about what’s next. It’s been a process, of course, but one that is playing out the way that it’s meant to. Big things are truly ahead of us!
So, today I write you all as a Downtown property and business owner, board member of the Wisconsin Center District and Marcus Center, Play it Forward coalition member and - most importantly - a passionate Milwaukeean who has devoted most of my life - like you - to bettering our city.
Thus, I ask for your support for prompt passage of the City of Milwaukee portion of the Downtown Milwaukee arena package.
It truly is a catalytic development that will trigger additional civic love and investment in an area of greater Downtown that needs it.
Thank you for your leadership and for your thoughtful consideration of the minimal investment and tremendous potential benefits the arena project offers for our amazing Milwaukee community.
Let’s get it done, and I ask that you please act quickly to approve this important proposal. Thank you!
Onward and On Milwaukee,
Jeff Sherman
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.
