Yesterday I went to the Government Structure meeting and they spent most of the time talking about housing and transportation – and other basic needs that people need met before they are going to participate in government.
As I listened to the Northside navigators, I started to get a very sick feeling. They were describing our all day, every day experience at the Tenant Resource Center. Some of the things they talked about were not necessarily city issues, and were more about Dane County Human Services and the School Board – but what average person on the street knows that? City, county and school issues are all lumped together in people’s minds and you don’t know the difference unless you figure things out by attending meetings. Worse yet, if someone is wrong about who they should be talking to, some elected official typically tells them that in a snotty way and they walk away saying “see, government doesn’t help” or “they don’t listen” and I can’t blame them. Our local government structures are more obtuse than ever. (Resisting the urge to continue on with that rant . . .)
Anyways, here’s some of the things I heard the Northside navigators talking about (forgive me, I wasn’t actually taking notes and don’t have 2.5 hours to re-listen to the meeting, but these were my take aways and in my own words, in slightly random order):
– People don’t want to go to meetings unless something happens as a result of the meeting, they don’t want to just talk.
– Neighborhood associations just represent homeowners and renters aren’t welcome but the city gives neighborhood associations all the power.
– People go to (social service) agencies to get help and they don’t get the help they need. (Several of the agencies mentioned were County Department of Human Services, but also nonprofits)
– People get cut off from their benefits and it takes months to straighten it out, meanwhile people get evicted.
– People are getting evicted for as little as $35 and there is no eviction prevention help available.
– There isn’t enough eviction help available for people (I think this also mean attorneys to fight back against the landlords in addition to eviction prevention dollars)
– Neighborhood stability and organizing is hard when people are being evicted and constantly moving.
– Kids who live close to schools also need the bus passes, especially in the cold winters.
– There needs to be more affordable housing.
– People know how to solve their own problems, just ask them. Don’t solve their problems for them.
– People have lost their cars in flooding incidents and there is no recourse.
– Landlords are randomly towing cars from spots people are legally parked in, then tenants can’t afford to get to where they towed the cars (out of town) and the fees pile up ($200/day) and people lose their cars and get charged to dispose of their cars.
Then Annette Miller talked and she shared what she’s been hearing in focus group meetings for Oscar Mayer. She said the following:
– Our transportation system has been broken for 20 years and we’ve done nothing to fix it – it shouldn’t take 1.5 hours to get somewhere. People can’t carry groceries on a bus. And the buses don’t go where you need them to go within sides of town. (Can’t get from Allied to West Town)
– People of color don’t feel comfortable showing up to things, especially in groups because they feel like either they’ve become a “show” or that people begin to feel unsafe.
– Many of our policies prevent people from doing things that are part of their culture. (She used the example of “going home” traditions and park policies)
– There were other things from the focus groups like, everyone loves Madison for the same reasons, etc. (There were no handouts, but the info will be shared later)
And then Justice Castaneda talked about housing patterns, racism, and how the maps over time tell the story of how we got here. It wasn’t pretty, but he did it in his always amusing kind of way. You’ll have to check out the powerpoint when its available.
It’s overwhelming when it gets presented all together in one meeting that was supposed to be about government structure, but ended up being about how people are struggling to just live in Madison. The conclusion drawn by many was that until basic needs are met, government meetings aren’t seen as relevant, because the government doesn’t listen or help anyways, and who has time for that when you spend 3 hours on a bus per day and still can’t pay your rent and your groceries are getting soggy.
Writing this, I have that pit in my stomach again. I see this every day at work. I know its true from my organizing work. We have to listen to people more, and not just the people who have the time and privilege to show up to government meetings. We have to find better ways to bridge the divide between city hall and people who are trying to make life work in Madison. And it won’t happen by moving meetings around town. I’m starting to have hope that this committee about government structure might make some meaningful changes – but they don’t meet again for another month . . . I hope the meeting last night sticks with them as they think about what Madison needs.
p.s. The solution that kept coming to my mind: participatory budgeting. Give people resources to solve their own problems and take note of what problems are happening throughout the city to be solved at a more systemic level. I know there are many pitfalls if done incorrectly, but it would be a start.
