Again, today, still much to blog about. So here’s the schmorgasborg.
(How often do you get to use that word?!)
D’ANGELO
This whole D’Angelo thing is just a sad, disgusting situation. They should just give up the documents, now. Let’s not make a bad situation worse.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Well, its about time. Tho I’m quite certain, no one really knows what they actually agreed to. Speculation is running rampant about what the agreement means and doesn’t mean. In reading the press release and the “fact sheet” that was sent out with it, it seems that there are a few unresolved issues, listed as “next steps” that need to be resolved, such as:
- Work with the Governor and the Legislature to authorize the RTA.
- File the New Starts Application for Transport 2020 with the Federal Government at the end of this summer.
- Pass the intergovernmental agreements to form the RTA.
- Receive Federal funding.
- Ask citizens to decide if the sales tax is the right way to fund these transportation improvements.
No matter what, at least Mayor Dave and County Executive Falk at least pretending to get along. (Tho some are convinced they were only pretending to argue.) However, there is one HUGE outstanding question about all of this. Does it include trolleys? The press release and information don’t even mention the word trolley, or streetcar as the Mayor prefers. However, in listening to AM radio yesterday, I heard audio of the the reporter asking if this means the trolley is dead and the Mayor replied “No. No. Not at all.” Its also in the Cap Times. It looks dead. I wonder how he’ll Dick Cheney his way out of this one?
BAD LANDLORDS
Disgusting Landlord of the day.
ANTI-BUSINESS
Sometimes, I gotta agree, the City of Madison is anti-business. Check out this email the entire City Council got yesterday. I don’t really blame this person for being upset.
Dear Alders,I want to give you an update on the adventures of being a small bookstore in this fine city. I have been waiting for the application I must now fill out to be able to buy secondhand textbooks in the city of Madison starting July 1 ( this coming Sunday). It is still not on the city clerk’s web page, but my alderperson Ms. Konkel did have the city atty. office e-mail me a copy on Tuesday. It took me a day and a half to get the information from my employees, since it is information that is not legal for an employer to ask when hiring people ( i.e. birth dates, and if they have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor). But I did take the time and call everyone that was not working that day and filled out the form. Today, Wed., I checked the city web page to find the hours of the city clerk’s office and it states that the office is open until 4:30pm. I biked up the street and got there at 4:20 to hand in my application and pay my fee only to be told that they turn off the computers at 4:15 since they leave at 4:30 and have buses to catch. Yes, indeed, everyone had their bags and flowers from the market in hand ready to head out.
Now, I know everyone works hard, and the staff was nice, but they did not have anything to offer me except to come back tomorrow.
I know this is not the way I run my business, and I don’t think it is the way to run a city. I close at 8pm and pay my employees until 8:15 so they have time to close down the computers, etc. At the very least, the city web page should state that the office closes at 4:15pm.
Maybe it is not just rhetoric when people say the city is not business friendly. I certainly I am feeling that way today.
