Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Cheryl Nenn, was recently published in a Journal-Sentinel op-ed about UWM's plans to build an engineering campus on the County Grounds, an 89 acre natural area in Wauwatosa.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper believes that UWM's recent effort to get a $12 million TIF district contribution from Wauwatosa taxpayers is a bad gamble on development that may never happen, and there are far better places to develop than a natural area filled with wildlife and used by many for recreation.

[excerpted from the Journal-Sentinel]

In an Aug. 15 Journal Sentinel editorial headlined “UWM needs help to cross the finish line,” the region was urged to get behind UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago’s plans to build Wisconsin’s second major, state-supported research campus and to advance the university’s research goals, which are important for our region that has been “battered by job loss and economic malaise.”

The editorial went on to urge Wauwatosa to expedite a proposed $12 million tax incremental financing district for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s proposed engineering campus on the Milwaukee County Grounds as well as urge support for the university’s Schools of Freshwater Sciences and Public Health.

UWM should be congratulated for its efforts to bring in research funding, develop new technologies and create jobs in the region. Likewise, Santiago should be commended for having a bold vision for revitalizing UWM. However, we do not feel that building the engineering campus at the County Grounds is in the best interest of UWM students, the community or the environment.

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