Split Decision The Wrong Call For UWM Freshwater School

Dividing the new school into two pieces - - and not within walking distance of each other - - is a serious mistake by the University.

Lost is continuity and a consolidated plan to integrate a school into a south side neighborhood. And the Reed Street Yards, near the Harley Museum, is off the tax rolls, correct?

The private sector tail - - the Water Council, with its PR arm pushing for a glitzy so-called water hub headquarters - - wagged the research and teaching dog, which is the school's mission.

Nice for students and researchers that there is a new school, but like so many other institutions in the region, UWM will not fully embrace the "Milwaukee" in its name.

The Water Council is an arm of the M7, a business and government collaborative - - sort of an uber Chamber of Commerce on a seven county regional level - - but M7 job creation claims have been called into question by the Journal Sentinel and Milwaukee Magazine raised real questions about the Water Council's "water hub" declaration, too.

Are we getting substance here? Is there anything in the gift box, or are we being distracted by the wrapping?