I think not. But nice photoshop job David.
The last three Blaska Blog’s have some how made some reference to me and affordable housing and all that allegedly wacko crazy lefty talk about providing services for the least among us in this crappy Republican economy where it is hard to get a good paying job and find decent affordable housing on that wage. Based on all the crap he has been spewing, former County Board Supervisor and Alder Andy Olsen started a thread on thedailypage forum addressing the Blaska-bashing of the homeless and the recent murders. Then, the ad hominen attacks ensued. I’ve tried to ignore it. But one of Blaska’s latest posts, was actually sent as public comment about what should happen in James Madison Park, it even will be linked in Legistar, so I thought I’d better set the record straight for those of you who might not fully appreciate Blaska’s style.
Make no mistake. Blaska is just trying to provoke with the ridiculous, which is why he says the Collins House should be a wet shelter. And facts are completely irrelevant with this guy. His whole post is predicated on the “fact” that “Given that this regal home is planted in Ald. Konkel’s district, it would make the perfect location for something the good leftist has long sought: a “wet” shelter for homeless vagrants.”
Do me a favor, test his hypothesis. Google “brenda konkel” and “wet shelter” and find where I have “sought a “wet” shelter”. Nothing. Except his post.
When I talked about having a “public use” for the Collins House, along with the neighborhood associations and neighbors in the area, we were talking about a coffee shop, a bakery, a book store, a Madison souvenir shop, a Madison history museum, a demonstration project for retrofitting old houses or new environmentally positive retrofitting techniques, a restaurant, a library, a neighborhood gathering place/neighborhood center, an activity center for children in the neighborhood, a deli, and I’m probably forgetting many, many more creative ideas that people talked about. But not once, not ever, has anyone suggested using it as a “wet” shelter. That idea is as absurd as the class-clown persona that suggested it.
The point of all the above ideas was that the public would be able to come into the home and enjoy the great architecture of the home. It’s a lovely Claude and Stark home with wonderfully crafted woodwork and part of the park history, and it should be shared, not sold the to the highest bidder to be used as a private home.
If you have a serious idea for the home, the committee will be meeting this evening to discuss the committee members ideas for the first time as a committee. (Previous meeting were initial information gathering, a tour of the house and a public hearing.) Public comment is allowed, or you can send comment to drolfs@cityofmadison.com or swidstrand@cityofmadison.com. Former, serious written comments by the public, can be viewed here, and info on what people said at the public hearing is here. To see my previous comments, search “james madison park” on this blog site (look at/scroll to the top of the screen) and you’ll find plenty.
