The push to a build a new $500 million sports and entertainment arena in Downtown Milwaukee along with an additional $500 million in commercial and retail development heats up this week.

Last Thursday, Gov. Scott Walker, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett along with Sen. Scott Fitzgerald and Rep. Robin Vos stood together in Madison and laid out the framework for the arena financing plan displaying how bipartisan support can come together on this goal.

A number of concerns were alleviated including cost overruns being the responsibility of the Bucks owners and a cap on the taxpayer investment. The public works project will be 50 percent funded from new Bucks owners and former Bucks owner Herb Kohl, 39 percent funded from City and County of Milwaukee and 11 percent funded from the State of Wisconsin.

Today, Tuesday, June 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the War Memorial, the Milwaukee County Board will hold a public hearing to listen to the community on the transfer of the Park East land that has sat vacant since 2003.

It is incredibly important for supporters of this arena project and Downtown revitalization to step up and voice their support. We only have one shot at this opportunity to build a once in a generation project in Milwaukee. The benefits are incalculable. The cost of doing nothing will be irreversible. Say no to this project and we won’t ever have a chance to do this again.

Not only will we lose an NBA franchise and an ownership group with a plan to develop a blighted eyesore in Downtown Milwaukee, it will send a message to other billionaires and millionaires looking to invest in Milwaukee. If we can’t find a way to get projects done, who will line up to invest in Milwaukee?

I spoke with Charlie Sykes on WTMJ-AM on Friday and while he agrees with the framework of the deal as a sound business investment for the taxpayers with a net positive return in the long run, he stood firm in his philosophical stance against public/private partnerships, labeling them as corporate welfare.

"Why do we need to help these billionaires?" he asked.

The answer is simple. 

The free market he touts is just that, a philosophy. It exists in a vacuum and in talk radio and coffee shop conversations. In order to keep limited, unique assets in our community, we must operate in the economic system of the real world.  There is a reason Milwaukee worked to keep Northwestern Mutual here and provided them tax benefits. There is a reason cities line up to bring in economic generating businesses to their cities and states.

There are cities like Louisville and Seattle building NBA arenas without even the hope or promise of an incoming team. Why would they do this if NBA teams are economic drains? They bring a significant amount of economic activity and the community benefits. Every city that has lost a team has regretted it.

On Saturday, the Bucks held a block party in front of their new offices in Schlitz Park to unveil brand new jerseys to usher in a new era in Milwaukee basketball. There was live music, food trucks, vendors and a diverse group of people from all over the city and the state coming together on a day when there was otherwise no major sporting event. More than 10,000 people showed up to celebrate this new era of basketball and look forward to a new era of Milwaukee, as well. Bringing people together is bigger than basketball.

There are many social issues which currently face Milwaukee: underfunded schools, police shortages, empty storefronts, racial segregation and violence. Why are we talking about a sports team?

As Chris Abele noted, the loss of the Milwaukee Bucks and the revenue they generate in the local and state budget will result in a cut of critical services. Without their revenue these issues are certain to worsen without a beacon of hope.  The creation of jobs, the building of something where there is nothing, attracting a quality workforce to Milwaukee and the continuance of this revenue is one of the best avenues to help solve these problems.

As I left the block party and walked down Old World Third Street, I was stopped in front of the Aloft Hotel by two young roller derby players in town from St. Louis. One of them asked "Excuse me, are we in Downtown Milwaukee?" I was taken aback. "Yes, what do you mean?" "I mean, this is it?" There was no jest or rudeness in his voice, just pure confusion as we stood in front of the vacant Park East lot.

We have to do better, Milwaukee. I ask the people of Milwaukee and the elected officials not only in the city, but all over the state, to look past their philosophies and political ties and find a way to work together to move Milwaukee and Wisconsin forward.

Build it now. We only have one shot.