GOP lawmakers again embrace anti-Milwaukee stance with BID measure
Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy - March 15, 2018
I read with great interest the article “Why does Milwaukee have so many business improvement districts?” in last week’s Shepherd Express.
The piece greatly details the huge success of Business Improvement Districts in Milwaukee and how they have helped to transform many commercial areas across our city. The 1984 state legislation authorizing BIDs opened up a creative new way for communities across Wisconsin to fund commercial district improvements and increase sales, safety and customer activity.
But special interests have swooped in to put a damper on the BID success – but only here in Milwaukee.
Interestingly, similar legislation was brought forth three years ago but would have affected ALL communities in the state. Major pushback killed that legislation.
This time it was a line item inserted into the budget in an underhanded manner with little fanfare, and 10 minutes of discussion. But it will hit ONLY Milwaukee BIDs hard.
Officials who oversee BIDs in areas such as the Third Ward, Brady Street and Kinnickinnic Avenue said they expect a “double digit percentage” effect on the assessable property base. That equates to huge reductions in the money they have available and in what BIDs can accomplish with improvements. It’s not good news for Milwaukee business corridors.
This is excellent reporting and again shows how suburban and northwoods GOP legislators have few qualms with going out of their way to please special interests at the expense of Milwaukee and its residents and businesses.
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.
In IIL any GOP would’ve been found dead, pulling a move like this
thank god i live in IIL!!!!!!!!
“thank god i live in IIL!!!!!!!!”
That makes two of us!! Now could you work on getting some more Wisconsin Democrats to join you in your little bankrupt paradise down there? It’ll make Wisconsin stronger.
This move deserves more publicity. Milwaukee has seen significant development, helped by BIDs. Madison throws roadblocks at Milwaukee at every turn. This move is counter-productive and mean spirited.
@ WashCoRepub
Being counter-productive and mean spirited is never a good way to run a state, it’s no wonder why WashCo is 6th poorest county in WI.
BID’s increase business sales, safety and customer activity, it also open’s doors for more people to startup there own business and get off state-aid, but you wouldn’t know that!
& given the fact that you never been here, YOU KNOW NOTHING!
Isn’t it GOP the reason why young people are runing away from WI so has they can ( over the last 3 yeras the UI system has had an 71% incraed in out-of-state app from WI for students wanting to go school in IL )
Here in Il we used BID-type system to fund IL – Business start-up program ( IL Stars ) which has allowed towns outside of Chicago to grow like wildfire towns like Des Plaines, Rosemont, Arlington Heights