MILWAUKEE — Two Milwaukee Aldermen are taking action to get a referendum in place so that Milwaukee voters can decide if the city should spend over $120 million for streetcar proposal presented by the mayor.
Milwaukee Aldermen Bob Donovan and Joe Davis, Sr. announced that they support a citywide petition drive designed to force a binding referendum on funding for the proposed downtown streetcar project.
The two Aldermen will be facing off against each other for mayor in 2016, but for now they are teaming up in opposition to Mayor Tom Barrett’s $123 million streetcar proposal.
Alderman Davis said the reason why he’s opposed to the streetcar proposal is because, “My constituents have made it very clear that they don’t see a return on investment in this particular initiative”.
Alderman Donovan stated that he’s simply trying to give the people of Milwaukee a voice on the matter.
To get the referendum on the ballot the aldermen have formed a committee they call “UNITED for Milwaukee.” They need 31,000 signatures in 60 days in order to get a referendum put on the April ballot. The referendum would be asking voters to decide whether they want the streetcar.
The official launch of the “UNITED for Milwaukee” campaign was held this week at Serb Hall in Milwaukee.
Citizens for Responsible Government is organizing the petition drive against the proposed Milwaukee streetcar. This group also wants the taxpayers to have a say through a referendum.
State law requires signatures equal to 15% of the number of city voters in the last gubernatorial election — that would be roughly 31,000 signatures the group would need to gather and submit for validation before the referendum is placed on the ballot.
Citizens for Responsible Government says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett sidestepped the voice of the people.