Have you taken the time yet to give your elected officials your input about the City of Madison Budget? You don’t even have to go to a meeting, you can do it on-line.
MEETINGS
I’m not sure I understand these categories, but here’s the upcoming meeting, I’d say just pick one and go.
Be Healthy & Safe / Live
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 | 7pm – 8:30pm
Jefferson Middle School
101 South Gammon Road
Madison, WI 53705
Eat / Play & Enjoy
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 | 7pm – 8:30pm
The Villager Atrium Community Room
2300 South Park Street
Madison, WI 53713
The two that are done covered Work/Invent & Create and Get Around/Build Opportunity for All
ON-LINE
There’s this thing called IdeaScale that allows you to propose things that should be funded, as well as vote on the ideas others have. At the moment, as I write this, there are 147 ideas that have been submitted. Curbside composting has the most votes at the moment, at 186. Help Expand Sector 67 is second at 176 votes. Connection through Public Transportation is third at 150 votes. More affordable housing is fourth at 128 votes. Fifth is Invest in Early Childhood Education at 109 votes.
You can vote too. I signed in with Google and that seemed to be simpler. Others registered and got confused about what was supposed to happen with the password. I understand that you type in your email and they send you the password, then you can type it in an vote. You can either agree or disagree with the ideas. Seems like most people who “disagree” are “Community Member”. Once you agree or disagree you can’t change your vote – I accidentally clicked on something and accidentally disagreed with something I didn’t mean to do.
Other ideas that I support that you might want to vote for are:
In the top 25
Short term living unit/Shelter for Youth – 87 votes
365 Homeless Shelter – 83 votes
Madison Mural Program – 70 votes
Fare Card Machines at Bus Transfer Points – 47 votes
Lowest Possible Police Priority: Enforcing Anti-Marijuana Laws – 45 votes
Expand Night Bus Service – 43 votes
Other (random) ideas
Land for People Who Can’t Go To Homeless Shelter – 39 votes
Vibrant Transfer Points – 33 votes
Rooftop Gardens – 33 votes
Put the City on a Road Diet – 31 votes
Tenant-landlord law and financial education – 30 votes
Paperless City Hall – 25 votes
Equity Impact Statements – 24 votes
Fee free ATMs at Neighborhood Centers – 23 votes
Northside/Warner Park Swimming Pool – 20 votes
Temporary Lockers on State St – 18 votes
Stop Paying for Rhythm and Booms – 12 votes
Expand Homeless Support at Bethel – 12 votes
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Homeless Shelter – 12 votes
Shelter for Families – 11 votes
Trash Barrels in City Parks – 11 votes
There are a ton of other ideas . . .
Unpopular Ideas
Subsidize the overhead for clubs presenting local musicians – -22 votes
Convert Downtown US Post Office to Central Netro Bus Stop – -19 votes
Funding for Inspiring/Awesome/Cool Stuff – -15 votes
Hire an Export Specialist – -11 votes
Support State St. Businesses with Short Term Parking – -9 votes
I’d suggest going to the site, registering and voting. There’s lots of variety and items to vote on. Add your own ideas. I don’t know if the Mayor or Council will follow our advice, but I think it will play a role of some sort. The more people who vote, the more likely they will take it seriously. And at least this mayor is trying to ask us, in advance, when it matters. Unlike the past mayor who held poorly noticed meetings, when the budget was nearly done, in August when everyone is one vacation.
