It’s a little long . . .
OOPS, I WAS WRONG!
I’m a little red faced, but only a little. I didn’t realize that the Wisconsin State Journal has been doing their calendar of what is going on at City, County and State for over a year. Typically, it doesn’t show up on line, last week was the first time I noticed it, but apparently, you have to actually read a physical paper to see it . . . However, my face isn’t this red.
VETTED BY THE PLAN COMMISSION?
Mark Clear’s claims his ordinance to remove restrictions for lakefront development for commercial buildings (not residential) was vetted by the Plan Commission raised a few eyebrows, if not the ire of a few folks. I tried to get to the bottom of it, and we nailed it down to the December 2 meeting of the Plan Commission. However, the sessions were not televised, the minutes aren’t available and because the zoning code is so dense and the materials are a bit mind-numbing, people were questioning their memories. So, I asked Nan Fey, the Plan Commission Chair what her notes said (she takes awesome notes!) and she wasn’t home to look at them, but she did have this to say:
The purpose of meetings like the one that took place on December 2nd is to familiarize members of the PC with issues, answer their questions, and explore the possibilities so people are better prepared for the policy decisions that will be made only after taking public input. No decisions are being made in Working Sessions, and everything that’s been discussed in those sessions can (and likely will) be discussed again when the Zoning Code is before the Commission at a Public Hearing.
STATE SENATE TO VOTE ON PHONY ISSUE ADS REFORM
Tomorrow!
THE CHEESE STANDS ALONE
Michael Schumacher has dropped his support of the ban on bartenders, bands, sound guys (or gals) or other employees and contractors drinking while working. He was promoting it last December, but now, Mayor Dave’s name is the only one on the ordinance. Word is, he’s having trouble getting others to sign on. ALRC will be discussing on Wednesday. And it will likely look different as they are re-working the ordinance.
SCHUMACHER DROPPING ALOT
Not only did he pull his name from the bartenders/musician drinking ban ordinance. He dropped his support of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (#57 it will be placed on file on Tuesday unless someone steps up to be the sponsor). He’s also dropping off the Water Utility Board and the City-County Liaison Committee. I guess it is getting harder and harder to do his job from out of town.
From: Cieslewicz, Dave
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 12:39 PM
To: ALL ALDERS
Cc: Nettum, Denise; Harmon, Ray; Piraino, Janet
Subject: committee openingsDear Colleagues,
Ald. Michael Schumacher has asked to step down from his positions on the Water Utility Board and the City County Liaison Committee. If you would like to fill either of those seats please let me know.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dave Cieslewicz
IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE HEARING DATES COMING UP
#1: January 28 (Thursday), 6-7pm – Madison, East Side
#2: February 10 (Wednesday), 5:30-6:30pm – Madison, South Side
#3: February 15 (Monday), 6-7pm – Middleton
#4: March 3 (Wednesday), 6:30-7:30pm – Stoughton
Exact locations yet to be determined.
TREE KILLERS, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE
The final round of Christmas Tree collection will start on Tuesday January 19th. Residents should have their trees out at the curb for collection by 7 a.m. on the 19th to insure collection during this final round.
Additional information on all of Madison’s solid waste and recycling services are available on the Streets Division’s web site at www.cityofmadison.com/streets or by calling 246-4532 (East) and 266-4681(West).
ACTIVIST STATE JOURNAL
Wow, the State Journal is getting all politically active! They want you to email your opinion to allalders and the Mayor your opinion on additional lobbying laws for alcohol licenses. Are they going to continue hand picking items they are sure to editorialize against or in favor of that are the subject of these special appeals? If you’re interested in this issue, they will be discussing it at CCOC on Tuesday, they could have mentioned that, or linked to the actual ordinance.
WHO IS LARRY STUDESVILLE AND WHY DOES HE KEEP GETTING CITY APPOINTMENTS?
This is his third job with the city in the last year or so. First he got appointed to the Department of Civil Rights temporary positions, then last week I told you he got a job with Bill Clingan in the CDBG office, now, he’ll be working in the Mayor’s office?
Dear Colleagues,
As of January 25th Mario Mendoza will be on family leave as the birth of his child approaches. We expect that Mario will be gone for about three months. I’m sure you’ll all join my staff and me in wishing Mario and Lucia well as they welcome a new member of their family.For my office, this means that we will have to fill Mario’s position while he is gone. With all Plan Commission business including the Edgewater Hotel project, economic development, legislative liaison work during the final floor period of the session, and many other projects on his agenda we will not be able to simply redistribute his work load. I am pleased to report that Larry Studesville has agreed to join my office during Mario’s absence. Larry is currently working as a Grants Administrator in CDBG. Community Development Director Bill Clingan and Larry agree that he can be spared to work in my office for this limited period.
We will need approval for a double fill of Mario’s position, which will be on the Council’s agenda for Tuesday. The Comptroller’s office tells us that an appropriation from contingent reserve is necessary, even though the changes involve no additional staff and are revenue neutral for the City as a whole. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Janet or me.
Sincerely,
Dave Cieslewicz
MARQUETTE NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVAL DATES
Friends and Neighbors,
Just wanted to let you know of the festival dates. The four events brought to you by the Wil-Mar Neighborhood
Center, Common Wealth Development and MNA are:The Marquette Waterfront Festival– June 12.13
La Fete de Marquette– July 8-11
The Orton Park Festival– August 27-29
The Willy St. Fair — September 25,26Also we have a Facebook page for all the fests I help with. That will have updated artist signings etc.
Best wishes,
Bob Queen –MNA Event Coordinator
GLENN BECK’S GROUP IN MADISON
Love their description of themselves . . .
I’d like to announce the first of what we hope to be a series of candidate forums. The Southern Wisconsin Chapter of the 912 Project is a non profit, non partisan group of individuals whose mission is to educate, inform and involve people in the political process. On Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 from 7-9 PM we will host Ben Nelson, candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Dave Westlake, Candidate for the U.S. Senate, at Bashford United Methodist Church, located at 329 North Street in Madison.
Each candidate will have the opportunity to make an opening statement, then answer questions which have been prepared by members of 912 after which, a question and answer period will be open to the public.
Over the coming months we anticipate additional forums to include candidates for the Dane County Board, U.S. House of Representatives and others.
The Southern Wisconsin Chapter of the 912 Project does not support, nor endorse either of these candidates.
Hope to see you there!
J. C. Bottensek
STATE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
You are invited to attend a State of the District presentation by Madison Schools Superintendent Daniel Nerad on Monday, January 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the library of Wright Middle School, 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. It will be the sole agenda item in the Board of Education meeting.
All community members are welcome to attend.
The 45 minute presentation will provide an overview of important information and data regarding the Madison School District – including student achievement – and future areas of focus. It will be followed by a short period for questions from those in attendance.
The speech and Q&A period will be televised live on MMSD-TV Cable Channels 96/993 and streamed live on the web at www.mmsd.tv. It will also be available for replay the following day at the same web site.
WANNA SEE A TURKEY VULTURE
No, seriously. A real turkey vulture, the animal, not the politicos around town!
You’re invited to this special event sponsored by the Friends of Cherokee Marsh.
See a Live Turkey Vulture Up Close
Meet wildlife biologist Lisa Hartman and her captive turkey vulture, “Uncle Butzie,” in a special presentation at the Lakeview Library.
Learn the inside story of these fascinating birds, which soar gracefully over Cherokee Marsh and other open spaces in our area. Find out how turkey vultures act as nature’s garbage collector, recycler, and scavenger.
Lisa will share her findings from studying turkey vultures in Wisconsin as well as stories and facts about the birds throughout the hemisphere.
Come early for the Friends of Cherokee Marsh Annual Meeting
Before the presentation, you’re invited to attend the Friends of Cherokee Marsh’s annual meeting.
Both events are on January 30, at the Lakeview Branch Library
(in the Northside Town Center (Sherman Plaza), 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison (next to Pierce’s Northside Market))10:00 am – 10:30 am
The Friends of Cherokee Marsh’s annual meeting with updates on land acquisition and Friends activities, election of directors, and refreshments.10:30 am – 11:30 am
The Natural History of Turkey Vultures with wildlife biologist Lisa Hartman and her live turkey vulture, “Uncle Butzie.”Door prizes too!
Come to one or both events. Everyone welcome. No charge.
For more information, go to www.CherokeeMarsh.org or call 608-467-5207.
MAYOR DAVE A LITTLE OFF MESSAGE
On a day when we remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Mayor Dave is preaching Hope and Patience and thinking this is a day to celebrate moderates. Seems like the exact opposition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail:
We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was “well timed” in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word “Wait!” It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This “Wait” has almost always meant “Never.” We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.”
We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, “Wait.” But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: “Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?”; when you take a cross county drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading “white” and “colored”; when your first name becomes “nigger,” your middle name becomes “boy” (however old you are) and your last name becomes “John,” and your wife and mother are never given the respected title “Mrs.”; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of “nobodiness”–then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may well ask: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that “an unjust law is no law at all.”
Mayor Dave, have you read Dr. Martin Luther King? Do you remember his moderate words? Or do you remember those that were more extremist in their day? Everyone should read that letter today. I know I do every year on this day.
