UWM
Under the current alderman, relations between UWM and its neighbors have taken an unfortunate and avoidable dive. As a former UWM student and a homeowner who has rented to UWM students, I have seen the issues involving UWM from all sides. In far too many cases, the University and many at City Hall have missed opportunities to engage residents and work towards consensus. I am appalled that relations have sunk so low and if I was alderman, I would do everything in my power to turn that around. As alderman, I would expect and demand that those most affected by UWM growth would be actively engaged in setting the terms.

We must work with UWM to devolve some of the student population away from the hyper-concentration around the main campus, monitoring the progress of the Kenilworth and Riverview Dorms. Other ideas like satellite campuses downtown or the engineering school in Wauwatosa, or even affiliating with UW-Waukesha, are promising. All of this will require the partnership of the State Legislature and the Board of Regents. I have great working relationships with Rep. Jon Richards and Sens. Jeff Plale and Tim Carpenter, which is why they've endorsed me, and I look forward to working with them.

Having a major urban research university is an asset not just to the 3rd District but Milwaukee and the region. Everything we know about the 21st Century economy tells us that a college-educated workforce is the key to family-supporting jobs. But all major institutions, including UWM, must be accountable for their actions - it's that kind of accountability that I have been organizing for my entire adult life. There has to be a reckoning where the top university administrators commit to doing whatever it takes to restore confidence of their neighbors. As residents, I think we all acknowledge that UWM is a huge asset and that only a small minority of students pose problems. To be sure, when it's your porch that's being trashed at 3am, I understand it's tough to make any distinctions. So, we need someone at UWM with real authority to deal with that minority of students who do act out.

In addition, the City needs to do more to promote owner-occupied homes. It's the absentee landlords whose properties are most likely to be problematic. Finally, as a former UWM student - and someone who doesn't drink alcohol and didn't even back in my UWM days, I think we have to be fair and not tarnish everyone based on the actions of a few. When I was at UWM, I became involved in organizing Take Back the Night marches which brought together students and residents together to promote safety - we need a lot more efforts like that. More recently when I organized Fair Wisconsin, I was so inspired to see the lines of students turning out to vote - and they voted overwhelmingly against discrimination. That effort is a big part of what inspired me to run for office. There's a lot more that unites us than divides us.