The "imminent, not-imminent" talks designed to get public funding for the new Downtown Milwaukee Arena seem to be in a down cycle right now, but there is a pretty firm deadline rapidly approaching.
The talks, between the Milwaukee Bucks, the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee have been hot and not so hot.
Governor Scott Walker, who a week and a half ago predicted that a deal would be reached in "the next couple of weeks" – and who is busy running around the world trying to be president – recently pointed out that there are other issues in the budget process that have to be settled before the arena deal is reached, including K-12 funding.
But time waits for no man and the state budget, by law, has to be passed by July 1. That means between now and then the Joint Finance Committee has to get a budget, one version needs to pass the Assembly, another needs to pass the Senate and then a conference committee has to come up with a final version to send to Walker, who will then use his line-item veto power and then sign a final two-year budget.
In the past the budget has occasionally been delayed, but funding continues at the previous spending levels, but nobody wants that to happen.
Walker has proposed $220 million in bonding to help pay for the new arena, but there is a lot of doubt that the legislature will go along with that amount.
What this all amounts to is most likely a rocky road between here and there.
Meanwhile the Bucks have released the video called "Milwaukee Ripple Effect." They are showing this to anyone willing to spend a few minutes watching it, in hopes that it will help convince people that the new arena Downtown is a good idea.
The clock is ticking on whether the video, plus all the meetings and efforts at persuasion, will result in a comprehensive deal to fund the new arena.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
