Bucks Fans Needed: Fri Mar 20th State Budget Public Hearing at Alverno

[BUCKnation]

https://twitter.com/AndyTarnoff/status/ ... 1753291777

Did the Bucks bring back Nate Wolters?

It's Charlie Bell's birthday today, maybe he is finally having his pizza party.

[EastSideBucksFan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/brewcitypaul/status/577147832743784448[/tweet]

[EastSideBucksFan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WIsportscom/status/577162403630170112[/tweet]

[EastSideBucksFan]

http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/wi-sports/FUEL-Milwaukee-jumps-into-arena-debate-MMAC-Bucks-NBA-296544731.html

FUEL Milwaukee jumps into arena debate
By Doug Russell. CREATED 6:32 AM

The funding debate for a new Bucks arena seems to be at a head. Already this week, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President Tim Sheehy is calling on the franchise to release at least the basics of their plans within the next two weeks.

FUEL Milwaukee, one of the groups the MMAC fronts, is jumping into the debate now a well, with a new effort called “Play it Forward.”

Corrie Joe Biddle is the Executive Director of FUEL Milwaukee. She says Play it Forward was created to “provide a voice for young professionals and Milwaukeeans that feel that (the arena) should happen. And I think that voice will sort of support and push the effort that is already underway.”

Almost instantly, Bucks fans and arena proponents have latched onto the idea that not only is a new arena good for professional sports, but will be critical as an economic driver for the city and the region.

But there is still the question of leadership on the issue. Who is providing it, and who isn’t. Play it Forward’s Facebook page, like other critics, has taken Mayor Barrett to task for his lack of leadership on the issue.
“Any part of getting buy-in behind something is about being able to first have a vision, and then express that vision in a way that inspires folks,” Biddle says. “I think that there is some frustration around what is the Mayor’s vision and intention to support this.”

But to be fair, in Wisconsin’s politically charged reality, the debate has never been purely Republican versus Democrat. After Gov. Walker proposed $220 million in revenue bonds to be paid for with tax increments against future jock tax growth, the Governor got blowback from his own party.

But there is sincere opposition from those that believe, as a matter of principle that public dollars should not be used to aid private industry. As has been the Governor’s stance, Play it Forward doesn’t believe support for the arena is corporate welfare, per se. It’s just good business.

“This would be new money for us,” Biddle stresses. “A ‘jock tax’ would not benefit the state if the arena is not built, and if the Bucks don’t stay. There is an incentive for all of us to see this play through.”

Gov. Walker, in making his original pitch for bonding support, estimated that if the arena is not constructed, and the NBA, as promised, pulls the Bucks out of Milwaukee, the state would lose at least $270 million in lost income tax revenues from player salaries.

Still, there are questions of what is the higher need for a city with Milwaukee’s economic challenges.

“I think part of the conversation is to say ‘yes. I acknowledge the city has bigger problems.’ However, it doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive,” Biddle says. “A good city can walk and chew gum at the same time. We should be able to address the issue of disparity, education, (and) poverty, without losing something that truly, and has been, an economic driver, particularly for downtown, but for the state as a whole.”

Biddle adds that she empathizes with Milwaukeeans who can’t afford to go to Bucks games, as she came from an economically disadvantaged background herself, growing up in the Berryland Projects and not having attended a Bucks game until she was an adult. Still, the arena is a project she and the rest of the FUEL Milwaukee group is passionately behind.

Friday morning at 10, there will be a public budget hearing at Alverno College where the group “Save Our Bucks” is planning to rally in support of the arena.


With the NBA’s clock ticking faster toward their 207 deadline, the likelihood that we will all know more about the Bucks, and Milwaukee’s, future, very soon.

[EastSideBucksFan]

More information on Friday's hearing.

I'm suspicious that Common Ground has "nothing" planned.

I will be given an opportunity to speak for a few minutes.

I'm not sure how much time they are going to allow walk ups to be able to speak. If you have something you'd like to suggest me to include in my speech, feel free to post it here.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/richkirchenmbj/status/577925126009806848[/tweet]

[EastSideBucksFan]

Anybody gonna be able to make it?

Questions, comments, thoughts on the PlayItForward campaign?

Feedback appreciated.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/brewcitypaul/status/577972189338693633[/tweet]

[Big Dog Yank]

I will do my best to make it, but I just started a new job and it will be difficult to get away.

My question would be, and maybe you already know the answer, is when do we expect to hear a location for the arena announced? Admittedly, I have not been following developments on a blow-by-blow basis, so I may have missed the fact that the date has been announced, but I find it rather alarming that a site is still up in the air.

Thanks for the leadership on this!

[EastSideBucksFan]

Judging by public pressure and comments from local leaders like Barrett, Tim Sheehy, Chris Abele, it sounds like we are close to hearing what the site is going to be very soon. If I had to guess, I'd say there are roadblocks the Bucks are trying to clear to make sure the site they select will be the one they can accomplish what they want to do. You wouldn't want to announce the site too soon only to have to change course because of something.

Yeah, I don't expect many to make this. It sucks it's on a Friday at 9am and probably a good drive for many. Just hope we have a few fans show up to show there is support for the plan.

There will be support cards to fill out, so even if people come and show up and fill out cards and then leaves, that helps.

All in all if you show up at 915, you'll see all you'll see by 11, so not too long.

[EastSideBucksFan]

Preview for what Friday format will be like.

Live budget hearing at Brillion. You can watch it live.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WisconsinEye/status/578210034074660864[/tweet]

[EastSideBucksFan]

Tomorrow is the day.

Hope to see a few of you there.

You should be able to watch it live online and on TimeWarner Cable if you are interested.

[EastSideBucksFan]

Free PlayItForward t-shirts at Pub Club tonight in Third Ward.

There will be a bus taking people out to Alverno if you are interested.

Is anyone reading my posts in here?

I feel like I'm spamming the RealGM board and this is a pretty big event in the arena push.


[tweet]https://twitter.com/brewcitypaul/status/578600727964049408[/tweet]

[PANDEMONEUM]

i am reading and following.

[GrandAdmiralDan]

I'll be there by 6:15ish. I've got a lot of calls to make yet tonight, but that's what cell phones are for I suppose

[EastSideBucksFan]

I'll be there by 6:15ish. I've got a lot of calls to make yet tonight, but that's what cell phones are for I suppose

Thanks for all your help and support GAD!

Much appreciated!



Do you mean 915am for tomorrow?

I'm not actually at the PubClub tonight. Fuel is running that.

[tyland]

Good work ESBF. Following your efforts from afar. Hope those in close proximity can make the effort to go.

[VooDoo7]

I see some are still calling it a new "Bucks arena". Don't like that.

[Matches Malone]

Good luck today, Paul. I'll be with you in spirit.

[MadBlueEdwards]

Just tuned in to the stream. Are those all Common Ground people in the front with the red t-shirts?

Also - Give 'em hell, Paul.

[VooDoo7]

Just tuned in to the stream. Are those all Common Ground people in the front with the red t-shirts?

Also - Give 'em hell, Paul.

Link?

[MadBlueEdwards]

Just tuned in to the stream. Are those all Common Ground people in the front with the red t-shirts?

Also - Give 'em hell, Paul.

Link?

http://www.wiseye.org/Home.aspx