The Milwaukee Common Council voted to move the Milwaukee Streetcar forward today.
Discussion involved opportunities, costs and general merits and concerns of the Streetcar project.
Ald. Bob Donovan called for "letting the people of Milwaukee decide" via a citywide referendum. Ald. Nik Kovac noted that the Streetcar is a public works project similar to a bridge remodel or road repaving, and that the Common Council has an obligation to build and develop the infrastructure of Milwaukee.
A motion to mandate a referendum failed with only three aldermen (Bohl, Donovan, Dudzik) voting in favor.
Ald. Jim Bohl praised Downtown Ald. Bob Bauman for his leadership but said he "has additional concerns" about the project. Ald. Dudzik called the Streetcar an "absolute horrible idea" and said, "shame, shame, shame" on aldermen that voted for the project.
Ald. Michael Murphy also echoed concerns on costs but said he hoped that "he's totally proven wrong."
Kovac said "he looks forward to healthy debate on how to expand the route in the coming years."
Ald. Zielinski offered an amendment on costs. Spending will be limited to engineering costs for now, and the project will need reviews along the way during construction.
Alds. Davis, Bohl, Donovan, Murphy and Dudzik voted against the project.
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.
