Is It Monday Already Round Up

I woke up this morning, thinking it was Sunday. Bummer, no such luck!

MONROES STREET MUSINGS
Very interesting. On the day where the Board of Estimates will be looking at trying to get money back from the TIF for Trader Joe’s/Monroe Commons, it is also being partially blamed for potential vacancies on the street. Higher rents and increased competition from Trader Joe’s are partially responsible for making on business leave. Interesting.

SOCCER MOM SECURITY THREAT?
Where, oh where, will anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan be today. Very interesting story unfolded on Friday. The State Journal version sounds very different than the press release. I guess I’m kind of naive, I had no idea she was such a security threat. Even more interesting, the UW’s attempts to shut down the even have not been successful. According to the press release, the event till go on:

Despite this cancellation, the organizing committee of this event and the panel has decided that the event will still take place at the Union, only, it will not be held in a reserved room, but instead, in one of three places: a.) the front steps, b.) the Union Lobby, c,) Lakefront on Langdon in the Union.

Event attendees are set to meet at the front steps of the Union at 6:45 PM, and from there, the panel will either be held there, in the Union lobby, or in Lakefront on Langdon in the Union.

I guess we can thank the UW for bringing extra attention to this issue for the organizers. Potential law suit to follow.

EXPERT SAYS TWO TRAIN STATIONS BEST
It does seem obvious. But in case you want to hear from yourself, tonight at the downtown library you can hear more about it. No security risk here at 7:00 when James McCommons, author of “Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service – A Year Spent Riding Across America,” will talk about his book and address transportation policy, Amtrak and his experiences while spending a year riding trains across the country.

ANOTHER OPTION FOR TONIGHT
Don’t like the train guy or the anti-war activist, go learn about bottled water and why it is evil. That is if you’re not at Plan Commission talking about a grocery store or at Board of Estimates talking TIF or Landmarks talking about updating their ordinance. Or, at the School Board meeting. Geesh, its all today . . . the rest of the week is . . . weak.

WOW! CORRECTIONS USES TECHNOLOGY
This is awesome, helping parents connect with their kids that have been sent away via webcams! Yay for technology and the County using it well! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but the county doesn’t even have RSS feeds on their website.

GEESE-OCIDE
This plan certainly sounded crazy the first time I heard about it. Where was the community discussion? Where was the alternatives that could have been done first? Someone really blew it here.

I DIDN’T REALIZE IT WAS THAT BAD
I knew it was a challenge, but I didn’t realize it was that bad.

Today, 24 percent of Madison public school students are black, but fewer than 3 percent of their teachers are. Hispanics make up 15 percent of the student population, but only 4 percent of district classroom professionals.

WSJ WANTS CAKE, AND TO EAT IT TOO
No surprises there. They advocate for furloughs, pay freezes and reopening a teachers contract, to keep the cuts away from the kids. But, won’t that impact the kids anyways?

WHAT CUTS WILL BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT?
The school board has just weeks to get it all figured out. Here’s the budget amendments they suggested which they will be discussion tonight. More news here.

CLEAR, THE RUBBER STAMP
Well, its about time people are figuring it out. I don’t see anything changing, I expect more of the same. Re-ink the stamp pad! Meanwhile, the Mayor calls it “cooperation”. Yeah, as long as everyone agrees with him.

ISTHMUS LOOKS AT COMMENT POLICIES
What’s the answer? Who knows. My comments have been fine since I required a registered user, not anonymous comments. Tho, I wonder every day how long that will last. I want people to comment, but I want the discussion to remain sane. I have deleted comments where people have engaged in name calling, even against my former opponent, Bridget Maniaci. Zero tolerance here.

FUNDRAISING FOR COPS
They’ve been supposed to do this for a couple years, never happens. It seems a little crazy given the neighborhood bike rides and time they have for writing you a love note about how your ipod was left in plain view and your doors are unlocked.

That’s it for this morning, since I thought it was Sunday and didn’t get up right away . . . duh . . .

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