So, it was a very busy week last week and this week looks to be more of the same. Anyways, here’s a few items of interest to kick the week off! So much to catch uo on.
MORE EXPENSIVE POSTCARDS
So, several people got postcards that look something like this (side one, side two) from the Wisconsin Homeowners Alliance (a Realtor front group), the postcards direct you to go to www.danecountypropertyrights.com (who don’t identify themselves) that directs you here, a conservative/republican group opposed to the RTA. Also with several realtors/lobbyists/real estate interests on their board. It all makes me wonder how many organizations the realtors need to create to create the illusion of support.
SOME SORT OF FREUDIAN SLIP
So, this is how the mayor describes his own budget and the council:
I thought they bought too much stuff at the grocery store and turned the heat up too high. They thought I blew too much money on a plasma TV and new golf clubs (but, hey, that new driver is sweet!).
So, the council wants basic needs like food and heat. The Mayor wants luxuries like plasma TVs and golf clubs . . . maybe he does understand how some people see the difference between Community Services and the Edgewater! And just doesn’t care.
CENSUS JOBS
We wanted to make sure that you all are aware that the Census Bureau is accepting applications for Census jobs. For your reference, please see the WSJ article:
Interested citizens are encouraged to call the Census Bureau jobs line at 1-866-861-2010, call the local Census office at (608) 327-5600 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov They are then directed to an application/testing site that is convenient for them.
The Census Bureau has established testing sites throughout the County and continues to add more sites. Here are some of the area testing sites:
-Stoughton Fire Dept.
-Verona Public Library
-Waunakee Village Hall
-Door Creek Church (Dominion Drive)
-Dane County Jobs Center (Aberg Ave.)
-Dane County United Way (Atwood Ave.)
-Upper Iowa University (Beltline and Midvale)
-UW Memorial Union (Langdon)
-Villager Mall (S. Park)
-Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center (Jenifer St.)
MADISON URBAN MINISTRY PRAYER AND MEDITATION VIGIL FOR HUMAN SERVICES
As you know, the Dane County Board of Supervisors will begin voting on the 2010 budget on Monday, November 16th, at 7:00 p.m. Madison-area Urban Ministry will be hosting an interfaith vigil for restoration of the proposed across the board cuts to human services, and for our most vulnerable neighbors.
We will gather at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, 11/16, at the steps of the City County Building, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison.
Citizens will not be able to speak at the County Board meeting so we are hoping that the vigil will send the message to Supervisors that we are asking the cuts be restored. The proposed cuts will undermine the social safety net in our County, non-profit agencies are already preparing their lay off lists if this budget passes, many plan to renegotiate the contracts with the county as they cannot continue to serve the same number of individuals with what is, in effect, a much greater reduction in funding when stagnant funding over the last decade and increased costs of business are factored in. We are hoping that an amendment to restore the cuts will be introduced from the floor of the meeting. Amendments made at the Committee level to restore the cuts have been defeated, in addition, the Personnel and Finance Committee last week voted to increase the amount of money an individual facing evicted is charged for the actual eviction from $15.00 an hour to $50.00 an hour (these funds are to offset costs to the Sheriff’s Department for the actual eviction).
Faith communities across our county are reporting up to 30% increases in requests for help and many people are being turned away. Our shelter system is full and people are being turned away nightly. The proposed cuts to human service provider agencies will further exacerbate the current problems. The budget also includes a provision to close the Joining Forces for Families office in Stoughton. That office provides crucial assistance to residents of Stoughton and surrounding communities. The budget proposes relocating the services to Madison, which creates additional transportation problems for families in need.
Please join us on November 16th, as we raise our voices for our neighbors, as we call for a budget that reflects our values as a community.
A DAY OR TWO LATE
It’s that time of year!
A reminder that Alternate Side Parking goes into effect at 1 a.m. on Sunday November 15th. That means that you should park your car on the ODD house numbered side fo the street on Saturday evening November 14th.
Alternate Side Parking restrictions are in effect throughout most of the City of Madison sevend ays a week, regardless of weather conditions from November 15th through March 15th with the exception of the Downtown/Isthmus Snow emergency Zone where the restrictions are in effect only during a declared Snow Emergency.
For more information visit www.cityofmadison.com/winter.
DEVELOPERS GET BENEFITS OF IZ, DON’T HAVE TO PAY OR BUILD THE HOUSING
Looks like the University Square developers won their court case against the city. They got the benefits outlined in the inclusionary zoning ordinance, but did not have to make their payments for the affordable housing they did not build. Wow. Could the city attorneys mess this up any more than they have?
LABOR ENDORSEMENTS
I was wondering how labor endorsements lined up with the labor vote on the Edgewater. Thanks to Lukas Diaz for breaking it down.
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