Sup. John F. Weishan, Jr.
Press Release

Weishan Pushes Ahead With Arena Resolutions

"Now is the Time to Speak Up" on Funding for New Arena, He Says

By - Jul 30th, 2014 09:09 am

Milwaukee County Supervisor John F. Weishan, Jr., said today he will bring two resolutions on a proposed new downtown arena to the floor of the County Board on Thursday, saying “now is the time to speak up on this issue.”

The first resolution seeks to put the County Board’s position on a new arena on record. The resolution opposes “any new tax to pay for the renovation or construction of a new sports and entertainment arena to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center in the City of Milwaukee and to expand the Wisconsin Center Convention Center.”

The second resolution provides for an advisory referendum on the November, 2014 election ballot on “whether tax revenue should be used to help pay for the renovation or construction of a new sports and entertainment arena to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center.”

Weishan said he hoped his colleagues would support the measures to show taxpayers that they will not face a new tax or a tax increase to fund the arena.

“If we don’t go on record now in opposition to using tax revenue for a new sports and entertainment arena, there is no telling what funding mechanism will be used by those pushing this idea,” Weishan said. “We should be able to vote straight up or down on whether to use tax money to build a new arena. If we can’t get the Board to take a stand, then we should put the question to the people in a referendum.”

Weishan said that since the Ozaukee, Racine and Waukesha county boards have already taken a stand against using tax money for a new arena, Milwaukee County should do the same.

“I’m not opposed to a new arena, but I am opposed to using tax money to build one before we address other major problems facing Milwaukee County,” Weishan said. “These resolutions offer the Board and the people of Milwaukee County a chance to go on record as to whether or not they support using tax money to get one built.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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One thought on “Weishan Pushes Ahead With Arena Resolutions”

  1. Paul Henning says:

    What time & where will the County Board meeting be held? Will the public be able to speak before it is put to a vote?

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