Milwaukee Streetcar Opponents Circulate Petitions Ahead Of Council Vote

More votes are ahead this week on a plan to create the state’s first modern streetcar system.

The Milwaukee Common Council will again debate whether to use federal money and tax increment financing to build a streetcar line through a few miles of the city’s downtown.

Over the weekend, streetcar opponents continued to collect petition signatures aimed at triggering a referendum on the streetcar before construction begins. Petition circulator C.J. Kliesmet said citizens need more say in their government.

“I mean you wouldn’t like it if someone took $5 from your pocket and spent it on something else without asking you first,” he said.

A Milwaukee business coalition held a news conference Monday morning to promote the streetcar ahead of Tuesday’s expected common council vote.