Catching up on a few things . . .
CITY LOOKING FOR NEW PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS
With all the talk at Community Services about new programs not being able to get funding, I found this of interest.
The Dane County Homeless Services Consortium, serving in its capacity as the local Continuum of Care organization, will hold an informational meeting for those non-profit agencies interested in learning more about the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Homeless Assistance Grant application. This meeting will take place Monday, October 26, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. at Housing Initiatives, Inc. Board Room, 1110 Ruskin Street.
HUD has published program specific guidelines for its Supportive Housing Program (SHP) and Shelter Plus Care (S+C) Program. The grants can be used for supportive services and to provide housing for homeless persons either transitional or permanent. In past years, the amount available has included the amount of funds necessary to renew programs currently funded with SHP and S+C that expire during the coming year. In addition, a bonus of approximately $125,000 has been available in new funding to provide permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals.
Additional information about the regulations governing these funds can be found at: http://www.hudhre.info/
documents/FY2009CoCNOFA.pdf If you have questions prior to the meeting, please contact Karla Jameson, Porchlight, 257-2534 or Sue Wallinger, City of Madison, 261-9148.
THAT’S JUST PRECIOUS
Yes, developers will just come in and tear down two houses at time and build small apartment buildings . . . right . . . In my eight years on the council, I had ONE proposal to do that and it still hasn’t happened, but I had proposals to tear down houses and build the Butler Plaza, the Odessa, the Acadia, McBride Point, and the 600 block of East Johnson. All tearing down multiple houses, none of them just two houses (except maybe the Odessa) and none of them built something to the scale of the neighborhood. They all were major and drastic changes to the neighborhood. And if this plan goes through for Mifflin, you can bet that tearing down multiple houses and building big apartment buildings will happen and happen swiftly. This proposal didn’t just occur to someone, someone has plans . . . in the interest of transparency, it should be disclosed who and what they own.
IF ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR MAYVILLE . . .
Why not Dane County? Why are people so opposed to this?
WOULD YOU NOTICE $1?
$1 for democracy? Would you opt out? Do you opt in?
And meanwhile, I find this elections/campaign issue of interest.
ISN’T IT RAINING?
The city has a $35M or so rainy day fund. The county $3M? Or less. Why do we screw around with basic services like garbage collection when we could be paying for it out of the rainy day fund for this one year? Why is it always the same controversial things that get recommended for cutting, and then get restored allowing people to feel like they tried to cut the budget but responded to the public outcry? Oh, and speaking of public outcry . . . here’s another silly and unpopular idea that’ll save a whopping $38,000. It’s also pretty short sighted as this is a constructive and healthy thing for kids to be doing, and I’d rather spend the money here than with Community Services who are left to pick up the pieces of stupid decisions to cut budgets and services. It just all the more absurd when they’re throwing around $8M in TIF for a yet to be defined project as if its peanuts.
NO! NOT BIKE LANES!
eyeroll. Ooooo, so scary. It’s kind of a bummer that the neighborhood and alders felt so threatened by bike lanes that they couldn’t do the right thing. It’s a plan, and there is much more to the process. I understand wanting something to pass and not be divisive, but what is this, Thuy’s district? Bike lanes shouldn’t be so offensive to people. And TWLTLs (Two-way Left Turn Lane) are used all over the nation, its not that hard, especially when the traffic slows down. This is a missed opportunity.
WHERE’S THE CITY?
This looks like a good idea, I’d like to see our Economic Development Unit working on things like this . . .
Grow your own Northside Business
The Northside Small Office/Home Office Group (SOHO Group) is hosting a free presentation about small business planning featuring Mike Conklin, former Nothsider and member of SCORE, the Senior Corps of Retired Executives, a nonprofit organization.
If you are thinking about launching your own business or want to grow your existing business, Mike will tell you about SCORE’s free and low-cost services and mentoring delivered by local experienced business leaders.
This event will take place:
Tuesday, October 27
6:00 PM
Lakeview LibraryCall Mary Schumacher at 242-1879 with any questions.
Tell your friends and neighbors!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?
Not Jon Stewart, the 30 people who voted with Halliburton and in favor of gang rape. Government pro-business taken waaaaayyyy to far.
NOW WHAT IS GOING ON?
I saw this working being done when I walked up to sign my papers to refinance my house . . . yay, better interest rates! And then this came across the Capitol Neighborhoods listserve from president Adam Plotkin.
For those of you wondering what is going on at the top of the Capitol Dome, here is a description from the state Department of Administration on the project:
Dome construction: A construction project is underway to mitigate the moisture in the interstitial space between the inner and outer domes. The project involves building platforms and enclosures at the oculus level. The spiral stairways above the observation deck will be blocked off and sealed to prevent debris and dust from contaminating the lower levels; however the observation deck and 6th level museum will remain open daily through Sunday, November 8, 2009. The West Washington Avenue circle drive will be closed to vehicle traffic during the project. The construction will continue through the winter months.
THAT EDGEWATER MEETING
I went. I stayed for 50 minutes. Had a beer. Heard nothing new worth blogging. So here’s all I got . . .
