I still feel a little crappy, but much, much better than Monday, and even better than yesterday, so I call that progress. Here’s a quick round up of things that I found over the last few days.
MAYOR’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
Anyone tired of this formula, leak it to the press and then give it to an exclusive group at the Rotary Club. Why not do it to the council? Afraid someone might ask a question he doesn’t want to answer? Does he feel more comfortable in front of the business community than the people and their representatives? Here’s the preview or highlights:
Cieslewicz will offer a list of goals — some controversial — including an effort to change the city’s development review process, the redevelopment of an area to the southeast of Capitol Square, a November referendum on a half-cent sales tax to fund the new Regional Transit Authority, and city ownership of the Overture Center with a nonprofit to operate the arts facility.
Read the rest of the article, he’s asking the labor community and business community to revamp the development process. Um, didn’t we already do that and have reports from the Economic Development Commission. And, isn’t that the equivalent of letting the fox guard the hen house?
BIOLINK TIF REQUIREMENTS DROPPED
I may have missed Gromacki being at the council meeting, but I didn’t see him watching from home and assumed if he was there, Rummel would have asked, maybe I was wrong. No one to call an confirm this early in the morning.
GRANT TO REDUCE FARM RUNOFF
How far will $2M go? If 100 farmers are eligible, that’s $20,000 a farm, that might make a dent for Lake Mendota, but will it be a one time fix or have long lasting effects? I guess its better than nothing, I just hope it is used for the best long term affects.
CONSUMER PROTECTION BUSY
Going after raw milk farmers aren’t the only things they are working on. Madison company violates no-call list and New Jersey company using deceptive practices.
ETHICS AND RADIO FREQUENCIES
Wow, both the state and county have issues. What an odd topic to have so many ethics questions. And bizarre to profit off public safety.
NERAD’S PAY CUT
Think he’ll even notice?
ALRC RUN DOWN FROM DANE 101
Schumacher absent again.
ROYSTER-CLARK DEAL COMING TOGETHER?
And how much is it going to cost us? How much of the land bank money will they use?
JUDGES CAN JOIN POLITICAL PARTIES
Interesting. But they still can’t endorse partisan candidates or solicit campaign donations.
WELCOME TJ MERTZ
Our first guest blogger with his first guest blog . . . more to come. Let us know if you are interested. You know TJ from AMPS but he’s expanding outside the school and education realm.
GREYHOUND STILL HOMELESS
Doesn’t seem like much progress.
ALDERS AND 80% OF THE BUDGET
Yeah, having a special work group would be going just too far . . . eyeroll. And “its involvement could be cumbersome, risk injection of personal agendas, and even cost the city more if negotiations are forced to arbitration and the city loses, union leaders said.” Wow, they are desperate to have the alders and therefore the public have a say in a system that they seem to like just a little too much.
Well, I have quite a bit from the last 4 or 5 days, but that’s it for now . . .
