Panhandlers box, Madison’s Cultural Plan, Sheriff’s Overtime (doubled what has been budgeted for years), Future Cities, Nancy Mistele screams at County Board Supervisors, Bus Pass program for small employers, Edgewater coverage & Friday Night plus a couple extra things thrown in there.
LITTLE GREEN SQUARE
So, I found it interesting that this morning, as I was watching channel three they showed the little fluorescent green box where panhandlers are now allowed to ask for money by Peace Park. It appears to be about 3 x 4 or so. Don’t hold me to that tho, cuz I am a horrible judge of distance. It is clear that only one person can stand there. What I found appalling, was the statement to the effect that “News 3 has confirmed that the police department plans to move garbage cans into that space to prevent further panhandling.” Makes me think, I’d love to know the story behind that new ATM there that created these changes, did the police encourage that as well. And how demeaning to make someone stand in that little box – maybe that was why the police painted it there?
MADISON’S CULTURAL PLAN
An Important Opportunity for Individuals and Neighborhoods to Participate in the Madison Cultural Plan
The Madison Cultural Plan is launching a Toolkit designed to allow interested citizens to contribute ideas and information.
The Toolkit will be previewed in a hands-on workshop at the 2009 Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable, an annual convening hosted by the Mayor to connect neighborhood activists with current city issues, projects, and resources. At the workshop, neighborhood residents will learn what the cultural plan can mean at the neighborhood level and how to use the Toolkit to host discussion groups and submit opinions and ideas from those groups directly to the planning team.
Since arts and cultural activity at the neighborhood level is a critical and often ignored part of any city’s creative environment, it’s important to make sure your neighborhood is included. In addition, the Toolkit can be used in other settings such as businesses, faith community organizations, professional associations, schools, or even among friends-where ever a small group of interested citizens can be gathered.
Please come, and ask you neighborhood association to attend the workshop as well. Bring others who are interested in the Madison’s arts, cultural, and creative issues. We need your support to make sure every city neighborhood has an opportunity to be heard.
Details about the Neighborhood Roundtable can be found here and you can register there. The Roundtable is a free event.
AND I THOUGHT THE MADISON POLICE SUCKED AT BUDGETING
Check out how the sheriff’s department over-spends consistently every year. Why bother budgeting for overtime if you’re going to just ignore it and double (or more) your spending every year, to the tune of $7M over spent in the last few years. I understand extraordinary circumstances and one time issues, but this is a clear pattern of complete disregard for the budget process. The numbers below are the budgeted numbers, the amount they went over and the difference between the two.
2008
1,225,377
3,182,944
(1,957,567)2007
1,210,112
3,294,344
(2,084,232)2006
1,254,911
3,065,463
(1,810,552)2005
1,113,810
2,789,333
(1,675,523)Total
11,672,496
24,596,250
(7,558,510)
FUTURE CITIES
You might be interested in this . . .
Future Cities 2009 will help you to strengthen and practice democracy at the local level to move our society toward a greener, more peaceful future. If you want to learn more about making the shift from carbon and nuclear energy sources to renewables and conservation, from war spending to a peace economy, from sprawl to greener transportation and development practices, from nuclear proliferation to global elimination of nuclear weapons . . . then Future Cities 2009 is for you!
Future Cities 2009 will take place November 5-8th, 2009, at the Wisconsin State Capitol building and at the Inn on the Park hotel in Madison. To register and for more info, see www.FutureCities2009.org
This will be a participatory conference. Numerous workshops will help you explore how to make a positive change with initiatives ranging from climate-friendly transportation policies, to participatory green planning and budgeting, to working through your city for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Panel discussions will feature local, national, and international experts on climate protection, nuclear power and weapons, and sustainable cities; the positive role cities are playing in these areas and what more can be done; and empowerment of citizens at the local level. A special panel will feature mayors and cities who are making a difference. For a full list of panelists and workshop leaders, click here.
Future Cities 2009 is inspired by the active role cities have assumed in nuclear abolition and climate protection initiatives, and by the growing global movement for local democracy. For more, click here.
IS THIS THE WAY TO MAKE YOUR POINT
An email from Nancy Mistele to County Board Supervisors is a great way not to make your point:
County Board Supervisors, I am unable to attend the hearing tonight about the authorization of the RTA but wish to add my voice to the large numbers you are likely to hear from tonight.
I DO NOT SUPPORT THE AUTHORIZATION BEFORE YOU TODAY AND ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO LOOK YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR, GET SOME COURAGE AND JUST SAY NO! YOU SHOULD BE (AND I AM) COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO A NON-ELECTED BODY IMPOSING TAXATION ON THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY OR ANY IN THE STATE FOR THAT MATTER.
FURTHERMORE, YOU ARE ABOUT TO CREATE A TAXING BODY THAT WILL PROVIDE NO REPRESENTATION FOR THE TOWNS OF DANE COUNTY. IF YOU CREATE THIS BOARD AND BY DEFAULT TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, AND THINK YOU CAN PASS THE BUCK TO THEM YOU ARE MISTAKEN.
It goes on, but I doubt many read past this point . . . she might want to bone up on email etiquette.
CITY SHELLS OUT MILLIONS IN TIF
This isn’t Madison, but it sounds like it. Looks like their priorities are as misplaced as ours.
SMALL EMPLOYERS CAN GET BIG EMPLOYER BUS PASS DISCOUNTS
Coming in 2010
Metro plans to expand its unlimited ride pass program to smaller businesses, non-profit groups, schools, and college/tech-school campuses.
This program is currently being organized and expected to be available at the beginning of 2010.
If you or your businesses would like to be contacted about this program once it is underway, contact the Metro customer service center at (608) 266-4466 or mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com.
For more information on the existing pass program, visit here.
WHO NOTICES IF A BUILDING IS 8 OR 11 STORIES
Seriously, does it matter. Once its over 3 to 6 stories, it kind of just becomes a very tall building, doesn’t it? Plus, I’ve never thought we should measure buildings in stories, instead, we should look at height measured in feet. Just saying.
OH, WAS I TALKING ABOUT THE EDGEWATER?
Maybe. 🙂 What I find interesting is the difference between the Isthmus coverage and the Wisconsin State Journal coverage. In one, it says:
As a sign of how quickly Hammes needs to move, the company wants to take the new project designs, located in city and national historic districts, to the city Plan Commission Nov. 2, and to the Urban Design Commission Nov. 4.
The response of Ald. Mike Verveer is a loud, “What?” As of early Wednesday, neither he nor Ald. Bridget Maniaci had seen details of the new designs. And he wishes there had been more opportunities for public engagement.
In another:
Alds. Bridget Maniaci and Mike Verveer, who represent the area, said Dunn has responded to concerns in good faith and produced a strong proposal.
I bet you don’t need to click on the links to figure out which is which.
I’ll wait to see more details of the plan to decide if I think the changes are significant enough or not. It looks like next week will be filled with opportunities since they seem to be planning to be at Plan Commission Monday, Urban Design Wednesday and they have a public meeting planned at some time, some where for Thursday.
SPEAKING OF FUNNY COVERAGE . . .
They Mayor cuts the ice rinks, the public responds with its displeasure and suddenly, according to this article headline, he’s the hero who vows to save the ice rinks . . . from . . . himself. To the Mayor’s credit, he sheepishly admitted that council leadership warned him this was a bad idea, and he went forward anyways.
IT’S BUDGET TIME, PERHAPS SOMEONE SHOULD CUT THIS
I wonder how much we are paying for this? Do we really need it?
Madison Parks Hayrides noon – 5 pm:
Madison Parks Trick or Treat Hay Rides on the Capitol Square
Friday, October 30, noon -5 pm
Hay rides around the Capitol Square, pulled by tractor, leaving approx. every 20 minutes.
$2.00/person, no reservations required.
Call (608) 266-4711 or see www.cityofmadison.com/parks/hayrides.html for more information.
HOPE TO SEE YOU FRIDAY
Busy, busy, busy, I want to be in all these places . . .
Tenant Resource Center Fundraiser 5 – 7 at the Brink Lounge.
Dane 101’s Freakin’ Halloweekend 8 – bar time at the High Noon.
Soul Shaker at the Brink 9 – bartime, Brink Lounge
Night of the Dead 9 – bar time? at the Barrymore.
More details here.
