There’s just sooooooo much . . . cuts at local newspapers, county land purchases, lobbying complaints, tif and economic development, city failure to hire a preservation planner and Bruer video conspiracy.
FIRST AND FOREMOST
15 more positions in the NEWSroom at the Wisconsin State Journal and Capital Times are being cut . . . I don’t get it. It seems there is less and less news in the papers every day . . . it just seems like the absolute wrong place to cut. The biggest value of the LOCAL NEWSpapers is the LOCAL NEWS.
What we’ve noticed at the Tenant Resource Center is that this year is that even tho we’ve used the same media list as last year – with updates for all the people who are no longer there, we are getting more press, yet less contacts from reporters. Stories are popping up with no one even talking to us. Are we moving to the point where the newspapers just print whatever they are given with no follow up to verify or get footage or quotes? That sounds a little scary.
I can’t decide what the worst part of this is . . . more lost jobs for some underpaid hard working people who essentially have to find a new career or the impact it has on democracy. Most immediately, I really feel for those folks who are already demoralized having to wonder who goes next and if it should it be them. Looking at the bigger picture and long term impact, how can people know how to vote if they don’t know what is going on in their local government and aren’t informed about what their elected officials are and are not doing. Additionally, the less coverage, the less transparency and then the more shenanigans. And the ability to get away with crazy stupid spin increases and the little news we do get is so distorted it hardly makes it fact based news.
You might also want to read Dusty’s take on it. That parts about “truth” and “loyalty” are especially important.
SPEAKING OF THINGS LITTLE COVERED . . .
I sat through the meeting, took the notes and never blogged about it – I went on vacation instead. So, I wonder how many know that when it came to the purchase of the land for Ice age Trail, it was the progressives on the county board that led the way in questioning the details of the deal and the left was the one that delivered the votes to prevent an unwise deal. Instead, I think all people heard about was the conservatives desire to freeze all land purchases, a political gimmick. I much prefer this approach.
YOU CAN DO IT TOO, I WILL HELP
So, ever since I filed a measly 6 lobbying complaints, I’ve been getting calls and emails from people who are telling me what else I should file. Mostly, its neighbors of development projects that feel like they got run over or are getting run over by their alder, the developer and the bureaucracy. Well, I appreciate that, and there were no surprises, all of them have been on my radar screen, but Emily’s right . . . this can’t just be about me, because it will be too easy for people to dismiss. So, if you looked at the list of lobbyists for the last two years and don’t see your “favorite” people seeking money or development project approvals from the city listed there, I can help you file the complaint and find the information you need to do it. I’d welcome the support! And based on what I’ve been hearing, many others, who may not realize what is going on, will appreciate it as well!
UH-OH . . . HOW LONG BEFORE WE GET A TIF REQUEST FOR THIS?
I don’t see them registered as lobbyists . . . yet . . . but based on the direction this article seems to be going . . . I’d put my money on a TIF request. If they don’t ask for TIF, I bet the economic development staff chases them down and asks them if they want some, so they can be players in “the deal”.
WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ PRESERVATION PLANNER
In fact, its more convenient if we don’t have one as they try to ram through the Edgewater proposal and tear down more of downtown. Too harsh? Maybe. Ok, probably. But . . . the city has a $35M rainy day fund, major development issues going on downtown, perhaps the most controversial landmark’s decision in the last 10 years and no permanent staff to the landmark’s commission to support them.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if anyone has to fill in, I’m glad its Rebecca Cnare! She’s great a breaking things down so people understand it, proactively providing information that is helpful and generally being conscientious about how she staffs committees! In short, she rocks! (Sorry Rebecca, I hope that doesn’t get you on the Mayor’s shit list.)
However . . . downtown neighborhoods are concerned! On March 10th, the Landmark’s Commissioners received an email as follows:
Good afternoon Commissioners!
Here is the link to the Preservation Planner Job Announcement, put up on the City’s website today. Please feel free to distribute the notice to anyone that you wish. We will also be making sure that it gets publicized.Link:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/employment/employmentListingDetails.cfm?Id=342Thank you, Rebecca
Then in May, Brad Murphy sent this letter to the Mayor. No good word, so the neighborhood associations with historic districts are getting concerned, so Marquette Neighborhood and the Tenney Lapham Neighborhood have both sent letters, asking for the position to be filled. (MNA, TLNA). If we really want to use development as economic development for our economy, we need to have the tools in place to make sure we do it right . . . and that includes a full time preservation planner.
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH . . .
While I find it convenient that no one can get to the video of Tim Bruer swatting at the City Clerk during the meeting, I believe them when they say its a technology problem . . . and I don’t think there is a conspiracy theory (3rd section down) . . . hopefully all this attention will get them to make the changes they need to make, sooner rather than later. And here it comes, the connection back to the beginning . . . without LOCAL NEWSpapers to cover what’s going on, the raw footage will become the one of the few places people can go to find out what happened.
