Shoutout to John Norquist for downtown that fears no deer

Milwaukee - and networks broadcasting Milwaukee Bucks' playoff basketball - are all in love with the Deer District, and rightly so. It's a cool upgrade to the city and downtown.

But do not forget that without the persistence of former Mayor John Norquist who won the fight to tear down the ugly and intrusive overhead interstate highway spur that blocked the north side of downtown from the rest of the city, there would be no Deer District adjoining the new arena.

And no extended Riverwalk, no energized Water St., and so on.

It's a long and complex story. This post just hits some highlights.

And there are plenty of other people to thank- notably former Bucks owner Herb Kohl - and others to boo, including Scott Walker and other suburban-tilting Republicans who killed light rail access to the area, Amtrak connections from the West and commuter rail from the South.

But give Norquist his due.

(Ful disclosure; I worked for Norquist from 1996 to 2004.)