CONTACT: Luke Hilgemann at (608) 609-6663 or lhilgemann@afphq.org
MILWAUKEE – The state’s largest grassroots advocacy organization has launched an online petition drive in opposition to the proposed city of Milwaukee Streetcar Project.
Americans for Prosperity’s Wisconsin Chapter participated in a City Hall news conference this morning to officially launch http://www.AStreetcarNamedDisaster.com.
“It’s bad enough we don’t know how much this streetcar named disaster will cost or who will be expected to pay for it,” said Luke Hilgemann, AFP-Wisconsin’s Executive Director. “At the very least the taxpaying public should have the opportunity to express their opinion.”
More than 15,000 of AFP-Wisconsin’s 120,000 statewide members live in the City of Milwaukee. More than 60,000 of them are residents of Southeastern Wisconsin who may have to pay for tens of millions of dollars of utility infrastructure costs to complete the project.
“We truly believe this project is a disaster for taxpayers, ratepayers and local business owners,” said Hilgemann. “We started this petition drive to give those people a voice and we will continue to push this until the elected leaders in Milwaukee and the region allow the citizens to vote on this disaster they are expected to finance.”
The petition notes that the Streetcar could cause property taxes and utility costs to go up for everyone in the area.
Also at the press conference was Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan, who will be sponsoring a measure this fall to put the issue to a city-wide referendum.
The website features the online petition and background information provided by the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, the Wisconsin-based free market think tank.
“We’ve looked at both Milwaukee’s history with streetcars as well as the impact similar projects have had in other cities and the fact of the matter is the promised benefits never materialize,” said Healy. “Our research is free from the spin and pr efforts of the streetcar proponents and shows that this is a dubious public investment.”
Hilgemann said the early response to the petition “has been phenomenal.”
“By noon we already were approaching 1,000 online signatures,” he said.
For additional questions contact Luke Hilgemann at (608) 609-6663 or lhilgemann@afphq.org.
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. For more information, visit http://www.americansforprosperity.org