Let the people decide! That's the ultimate goal of those opposed to proposed downtown streetcar
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Let the people decide! That was the plea from Serb Hall on Tuesday night, January 6th -- as dozens gathered to voice their opposition to the proposed streetcar project for downtown Milwaukee.
Those against the project point to its $123 million price-tag as a reason voters should have the ultimate say. They'll go door-to-door in an effort to gather signatures -- hoping to stop the project in its tracks.
Robert Weiland joined dozens at Serb Hall on Tuesday night, hoping to derail the proposed downtown streetcar project.
"I think the people do not want this at all. Once you put it in the ground, it`s done. You will not be able to move it ever again," Weiland said.
Those in opposition have been aided by efforts of the group "Citizens for Responsible Government." That group aided in recall efforts against former Milwaukee County Executive Tom Ament, and also a Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail plan.
"Do we have crime? Do we have poverty? Joblessness? Those are the things the next tax dollars need to be prioritized for," Chris Kliesmet said.
At Serb Hall Tuesday evening, concerned citizens learned about a petition drive that those opposed to the project hope will bring the issue to a referendum. Thirty-one-thousand signatures will have to be gathered in two months to make that happen.
"I took enough for 100 signatures. And I'll get them," one concerned citizen said Tuesday.
The four miles of track that would connect downtown, the Lakefront and the East Side has been a point of contention between Alderman Bob Donovan and Mayor Tom Barrett. Donovan is running for mayor in 2016 and has been a vocal opponent of the proposed project. Mayor Barrett maintains the project will be good for the region.
"We want to give people options as to how they are going to travel into the heart of the city," Mayor Barrett said.
Complicating matters further -- the Milwaukee Common Council is set to vote on the matter on January 21st.
Those in opposition to the proposed streetcar project hope they'll meet their goal of 31,000 signatures by then -- to send a clear message to city officials.
"Just the ink on paper should be powerful affirmation that this is what the constituents want," Kliesmet said.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the proposed downtown streetcar project.
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