Ex-alder gives advice to colleagues, Olinger leaving the city, kudos to public health, Kailin service, Brews for WYOU, Homeless Memorial Day, composting, and more, more, more Edgewater . . .
ANOTHER EX-ALDER WEIGHS IN ON THE EDGEWATER . . . PROCESS
Former Alder urges colleagues to do the right thing, not the politically expedient thing. Good letter.
CLARENCE KAILIN MEMORIAL RE-PLAY
Clarence Kailin Memorial will play in its entirety ( 03:00Hrs) starting @ 3pm Saturday Dec.5 – WYOU ch 991 or WYOU ch 95 or wyou.org
Thanks to Judith leurquin and Russ Attoe for letting their program “third world view” be preempted
Peace
Luciano
OLINGER – OUTTA HERE!
From: Olinger, Mark
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 6:02 PM
To: ALL ALDERS
Cc: Mayor; Veldran, Lisa; ‘Gregg Shimanski’; Harmon, Ray; Strauch-Nelson, Rachel
Subject: InformationDear Alders:
I wanted to let you all know that effective January 5, 2010, I will no longer be under contract as the Director of the Department of Planning & Community & Economic Development.
The Mayor has asked me to continue to serve as Director on a provisional basis subsequent to that date to help finish a number of projects that are in critical phases of implementation or financing. I have accepted the Mayor’s offer in order to make sure that these projects get across the finish line.
It has been a pleasure working with you as Director.
Thank you.
KUDOS
I happen to be one of the “lucky” people who have an “underlying condition” (Type 1/Insulin Dependent Diabetes) so I was able to get a H1N1 flu shot the other day. It reminded me how great our Public Health Department is. So, kudos! And thank you!
WHAT MY NEIGHBORS ARE SAYING ABOUT EDGEWATER (FROM LISTSERVES)
Why not East Washington.
I know most are getting sick about the Edgewater discussion. Everyone on this list is well aware of the condition of the commerce on East Washington — or lack thereof. We have a newly abandoned Madison Dairy, a vacant Mautz paint factory, an almost vacant Marquip factory, Don Miller is almost completely gone, and we have a huge abandoned Union Corners development. Some influential people in this city are bending over backwards to give $16 million to a luxury hotel that will charge $300/night that none of us will ever stay in. No serious amount of long term jobs. The developer refuses to build to the standards of which the property sits, so let’s wake up and kill this project now while we have a chance, and divert this money to a stimulus package to invite real jobs to town. Let’s invite proposals for all these decaying properties and long lost jobs so that we can once again be proud to bring visitors up East Washington Avenue. I would bet the mayor never brings guests up East Washington — and it is a shame that the gateway to our city is falling apart.
This is a shameful hour for our city.
Need a new leader.
I think it is time for a future mayoral candidate to step up and address the infantile, temper tantrum histrionics of our present mayor. I hope there is someone out there to step forward and challenge his ability to lead.
E-mail your alders
Please e-mail allalders@madison.com. This entire project is fraught with deception and inaccuracies too numerous to mention. For me, what really is at stake now is the democratic process – including the citizen committees which are a time-honored tradition in Madison. These largely consist of experts in their particular fields who give their knowledge, experience and time freely.
To see so many ordinances violated, as well as the process itself, puts our city at great risk.
Once again, please e-mail allalders@madison.com and let them know that they are accountable to all of us to uphold the ordinances as written, not to bend to the will of a capricious despot.
No TIF
There seems to be an assumption on the part of a lot of people that TIF is free. But the city issues bonds. Issuing bonds affects the city’s credit rating. Issue too many and the credit rating goes down and the cost of issuing the bonds go up. Or, another way to look at it, issuing 16 million in TIF bonds for the Edgewater project reduces the amount of money available for other projects, or raises the cost of all city borrowing.
Second xxxxx mentions that TIF is an investment. Again there seems to be an assumption on the part of a lot of people that TIF districts always repay the investment. That assumption is based on the notion that the TIF district gets better as a result of the project, all property values raise, and over time more money comes back to the city. It very questionable whether the Edgewater project will ever pay back the TIF expense. What additional development is theproject going to cause? There is no vacant land in the area to speak of. There are no empty buildings to redevelop. It’s a residential area. Is having a large hotel as a neighbor going to inspire landlords to maintain their buildings better? Or maybe they’ll let them deteriorate to make it easier to get their own TIF handout. It will probably actually lower the value of nearby residential buildings.
The Edgewater project doesn’t meet the city’s stated TIF goals and objectives. Giving the project TIF will simply make it harder to say no to all future mediocre-to-bad projects.
More on TIF for Edgewater
I have issues with giving TIF money for a for profit company, if a business has to ask government for money to do something, that is bad business. It is not as if they are approaching the city and saying, “we have all the money, but 2 mil for the development, can you help in any way?” That is a little easier to understand, especially if the 2 mil was to be spent in “green” technology. I can see supporting something like that.
The developer spent, I do not know how much money in ads, TV, radio and newsprint, to out shout any opposition. I can see why the developer did not want supporters at the last meeting. I would ask how much they were paid.
I cannot see how the city council and mayor can add to the tax burden of Madisonians when State workers are taking 3-4% or higher pay cuts, as well as Dane county workers (most may not live in Madison). I would have to ask, “how is your raise from work this year, and how about that bonus”. I don’t plan on either this year, but I have a job. Another round of state worker layoffs.
The city council and mayor have put us on the hook for a new library for 47 mil. I am sure in years to follow library workers will be hired and cut as the budget needs. Why build something bigger requiring more staff if you are going to have to cut them in later years. Sorry for the digression.
I think there is a money printing press in the basement of the city county building and the mayor has the keys.
PRESERVATION STAFF OUT
Not only don’t we have a full time Preservation Planner because the Mayor refused to hire one, but now, the very capable and wonderful Acting Preservation Planner won’t be at the council meeting either.
I will be out of the office until Monday, December14th. If you need immediate help, please call the Planning Division at 266-4635.
Thank you. -Rebecca Cnare
I’m sure her supervisors Bill Fruhling and Brad Murphy will do a great job filling in, but if we ever needed a Preservation Planner, Tuesday would be it. How convenient the Mayor didn’t do that hire.
CAP TIMES TAKES A SWIPE AT MAYOR DAVE
This surprised me. I always kind of considered them as apologists for Mayor Dave . . .
HOMELESS MEMORIAL DAY
December 21st, 4:15. From Madison Urban Ministry.
On Monday, December 21st (the longest night) we will be co-sponsoring a memorial service/vigil as part of the National Homeless Persons Memorial Day. The event will begin at 4:15 in front of the downtown library as we gather in community and concern with the men waiting to line up for the men’s shelter at Grace Episcopal Church. We will wait with the men until the shelter doors open at 5:00 p.m., at which time we will proceed to the Capital square, to the bench where Dwayne Warren’s body was found this summer. At the bench we will offer prayers and meditations for those in our community who were homeless and died this past year, for those who have lost friends and family, and for a home for everyone. Please join us for this memorial service.
IF DOROTHY BORCHARDT CAN DO IT
Someone on the Northside discussion list asked if anyone needed compost materials. I don’t know why this surprised me, but it did . . .
I wished I could help you but we have more then enough. Work with your board to have compost bins. Everyone that can should compost to help save our lakes.
We started composting over 10 years ago. Our lot has lots of trees and we don’t have to rake leaves on the terrace, to blow into the streets and end up in our lakes. It takes a little longer to break down, due to the shade, but it works and I never have to buy potting soil.
Hope someone takes you up on your offer. db
BREWS FOR WYOU
You, brew & WYOU
Beers and TV are natural companions, so it should be easy to come out and support WYOU Community Television at its first “Brews for WYOU” event on Saturday, December 5th at 8 p.m. at the Nottingham Coop at 146 Langdon St. Donated beer from Furthermore Brewing in Spring Green and Blucreek Brewing in Madison will be on hand, plus live local music – DJ Polarbear, hip-hop group The Crest, grunge rockers Axiom and the indie group The Sesters – will entertain revelers at this fundraiser for the city’s public access TV station. Bob from “Cooking with Bob” will grill live on the ourdoor patio. Admission ranges from $8-$10 and includes complimentary beer.
Can’t make it? Donate here.
