Some changes here . . . but still plenty to round up! Let me know what you think!
Comments can be sent to forwardwardlookout.com until I get the right form plug in for the site.
NEWS
In order to keep the news up to date a little bit better, I have a new format for news. You can look on the homepage under “Konkel Round Up” and I will update that information periodically throughout the day, depending upon what else is going on.
MO’ MEETINGS
Will also be putting Mo’ meetings with the news items. There were 4 Mo’ Meetings yesterday! Also, there was an amendment to the council agenda.
CALENDAR
You will now see a calendar on the front page and a tab to the full monthly calendar. This calendar will eventually include all the events I put in this round up. At the moment, I’m still working things out, most are in there, some aren’t. They will be in the very near future (starting next week?)
BEACON MEETING
They are in need of support to counter balance the nasty business community and neighborhood bigotry.
The Beacon has been in operation for a little over a year and a half and, in that time, we have done some wonderful things. We have made some astounding progress on our goal to be part of the solution to end homelessness through our day resource center; however, we understand that there is more work to be done. We will continue to be relentless in our approach to assisting people who are homeless.
This is where we need your help. We are asking for your support in our 2019 community meetings initiative. We would like you to join us for our second community meeting of the year which will be on October 16th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at The Beacon. We hope to see you there.
LEAF FREE STREETS (AND GUTTERS)
They add phosphorus to our lakes. Now is the time to be thinking about what to do with your leaves! Check out this helpful website and sign up for their alerts.
2nd SOUTH MADISON PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING
You are invited to the South Madison Plan second community meeting planned for October 24, Urban League of Greater Madison, 6:00 – 7:45 pm. View Flyer – English, Hmong, Spanish. A light meal, childcare, and interpreters (Spanish and Hmong) will be at the event. What’s next for South Madison? We will be discussing the shared values and principles that will guide South Madison into the future. Bring your family, friends and neighbors. Questions or Comments here.
South Madison Plan Community Impact Sessions
The purpose of these sessions is to bring South Madison residents, businesses, and stakeholders together to develop a shared vision for the South Madison area. The focus will be on economic development, land use, housing, transportation, sustainability, food access, cultural resources, and other aspects of our community that affect well-being.
The planning area is bounded by Wingra Creek on the north, John Nolen Dr. on the east, W Beltline Hwy on the south, and Fish Hatchery Rd. on the west. All meetings are open to the public.
Session 2: “Visioning & Guiding Principles” Thursday, Oct 24 at the Urban league of Greater Madison, 2222 S Park.
Session 3: “Key Issues, Strategies & Solutions” Thursday, Nov 21 at The Villager Mall (Atrium), 2300 S Park St.
Additional sessions will take place in 2020.
Art and Placemaking Walk
Karin Wolf, Madison Arts Coordinator, will explore ideas of how art can inspire to story with meaning. You’ll visit three locations and share your ideas. This interactive session on Tuesday, September 24, and a follow-up session on October 22, will lead to a new, resident-inspired artform. Connected with the update to the South Madison Plan, this is a way to express what your neighborhood means to you. Tuesday, Sept 24 and Oct 22, 6:00 – 7:45pm
• Register for October 22nd
UNHEARD OF SHOW
This was written on Tuesday night, so the show is Wednesday night – tonight!
PUBLIC MEETING ON F-35s – THURSDAY – INVITE FROM REP. CHRIS TAYLOR
On Thursday, October 17th, join us at the Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building from 6:30 to 8 PM to voice your concerns about the proposal to base new F-35 fighter jets at the Truax Air National Guard base at the Dane County Regional Airport.
We will have fact sheets and information about this proposal available, as well as comment cards for people to send their comments to the Air Force.
Online comments can be submitted here. Comments can also be directed to Ramon Ortiz by email, by mail at NGB/A4AM, 3501 Fetchet Avenue, Joint Base Andrews, MD 20762-5157 or by phone at 240-612-7042. This phone number was not working before, but it has since been fixed. Please contact my office if you need any more information. Thanks,
Rep. Chris Taylor 76th Assembly District |
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MIDWWEST ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION (MEJO) LETTER TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS
| Subject: | Burn pit PFAS contamination letter, need for public engagement |
|---|---|
| Date: | Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:17:44 -0500 |
| From: | Maria Powell (MEJO) <mariapowell@mejo.us> |
| To: | Paul Rusk <rusk@countyofdane.com>, Wegleitner, Heidi <wegleitner.heidi@ |
| CC: | jimpowell@mejo.us, touyengxiong@mejo.us <touyengxiong@mejo.us>, idajammeh@mejo.us<idajammeh@mejo.us> |
Hello public officials
(1) EVALUATION OF NEED FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND NOTIFICATION. In order to promote effective and meaningful public participation and notification, responsible parties shall conduct all necessary public participation and notification activities, unless otherwise directed by the department.Responsible parties shall evaluate the need for and the level of public participation and notification, based on the following criteria: (a) Threats. Known or potential threats to public health, safety, or welfare or the environment that may be reduced by providing information to the public. (b) Public concern. Level of public concern about a specific site, facility, or discharge or the number or status of sites, facilities, or discharges which require a response action within a particular geographic area. (c) Additional information needed. The need to contact the public in order to gather information about the response action, including immediate or interim actions.
Encourage at least 10 friends, neighbors, acquaintances, family members to respond to the EIS. I am calling it the 10 Person Challenge!
Three Air Force EIS Related Items:
- Deadline for all Air Force EIS responses is Friday, November 1. Letters and postcards must be postmarked by November 1.
- Directly below are some discussions I had with friends that I thought others might find interesting.
- The EIS responses (and letters to our elected officials) do not need to be perfect, but they do need to be sent.
- I have talked with friends in Monona and Middleton who were unsure if they should send EIS responses and letters to their elected officials because they are not in Madison. Yes! Let’s show them statewide we believe that this is a horrible idea!
- My friend has two boys that are ages 10 and 12 years. She is going to have them write responses to the EIS and letters to their elected officials. She has been discussing the issue with them and they have concerns about being able to play outside. I have asked and been told that there are no age restrictions for responses.
- Make sure to complete your own EIS response!
Air Force EIS Response Specifics:
- To find information on ways to respond (mail, email, etc) and suggestions on what to include in your response, go to the Safe Skies Clean Water website: Click Here.
- Retired Colonel Roseanne Greco (battling F35s in Burlington Vermont) shared that volume of comments is important. Each person can submit multiple comments online as well as sending a letter or postcard. If you have submitted a comment, but have more to ask and say submit another comment! Interesting talking points are included on the Safe Skies website, but anything you address – even “I don’t want this!” is part of that volume. It is my understanding that if you submit 11 different postcards with comments it is only considered 1 person. It is important for each of us to respond and to share, share, share and get others to respond to the EIS.
- It is great to ask questions in your EIS response. You do not need to be an expert. The Air Force is required to respond. We are not allowed to bring up new issues or questions later in the process. Ask all your questions about pollution/noise/safety/nuclear/etc.
- An example: My friend received a document that all F-35A’s will get the Block 4 (nuclear capable) software, but not all jets will get the hardware to make them able to drop nuclear bombs. They have to be fitted with hardware for a nuclear mission. Colonel Greco suggested that my friend asks the following questions: What is the hardware? How long will it take to install? Can they guarantee that Madison will never be given a nuclear mission? Will the public be notified of this?
- It is my understanding that the number of different people who respond are counted and also there will be a tally of the different comments. The Air Force has to address questions and tally comments in the final EIS.
- Following are some interesting categories of comments and examples of questions that I am going to paste into my response. But again, you can just tell them about what most concerns you.
Categories of Comments and Examples of Questions for EIS Response
Outreach
Why was outreach not conducted in the 65 decibel DNL in the languages of the people who live there. Not just English – Hmong, Spanish, at the very least.
Why were no public meetings held except far away from the affected area and difficult to reach from the east and north sides on public transportation?
Retired Colonel Greco (fighting F35s in Burlington, VT) shared the following issues that our EIS does not address or adequately address:
Noise
It’s not a mere nuisance- it has cumulative human health effects – especially but not only on children. What are these impacts as documented by the World Health Organization and why are they not in our EIS?
The noise affects people whether they “like” it or not. What are the effects of noise at this level on human organs including the heart? How much of the time does that effect reverse when exposure stops?
What will the actual decibel levels of the F35s taking off in afterburner be? Given the length of our runway, how is it realistic that afterburners would only be used to lift these heavy planes 5% of the time?
Considering children – what is the peak decibel level in afterburner and just military power for ALL schools in the flight path regardless of whether they are inside the noise contour?
Mitigation
How can noise be mitigated when people are outside?
What is the realistic timeline for applying for and receiving funds for home improvements such as insulation? How long would it take for homes in the 65 dB DNL to receive these improvements? What does the timeline look like?
Nuclear Mission
When would F35s based at Truax get the Block 4 upgrade that all F 35A planes will have to bring them to nuclear capacity?
Has the mission of the 115th Fighter Wing ever changed in the past? Could it change to have a nuclear mission in the future? Would you tell the public if it does?
The F35 is offensive, first strike. How does basing F35s here make Madison a target of US enemies?
How is the risk of us being targeted increase compared to when we just have a defensive force?
What would be the area of impact for a retaliatory strike on Truax? If nuclear? If with conventional weapons?
Climate Change
Madison is trying to practice sustainability and achieve carbon net zero. What measures will the city have to take to offset the impact of the F 35s?
Economic issues
Who will do F35A maintenance? If it will be done by Lockheed Martin contractors, not ANG, how many jobs will be lost? How many jobs will be lost because of F35s having only one pilot?
Where is the assessment of the economic impact to the city and on services of lost property tax revenue, as property values decline in the 65+ decibel areas? How would property taxes in other parts of the city be affected to make up the loss? And provide services at the same level?
What is the economic impact on the school district with the schools in the flight path but not qualifying for mitigation?
Toxic contamination
When will the military clean up the PFAS compounds that forced the closure of Well 15? Clean up Starkweather Creek? The burn pits?
How can construction proceed to house the F35s when it would require digging up and spreading all this contaminated soil?
What are the most toxic compounds in the composite material in the stealth coating? What precautions are necessary for people working with it? What precautions are necessary for storing it? How is it stored? What kind of accidents are possible with it and what would be the impact of an accident on the environment and on human health?
Safety
Crashes are most likely on take off and landing. Identify the homes and businesses most likely to be impacted by a crash and by toxic fumes/smoke from a resulting fire.
Contact me (Jodi) with any question, big or small! (wortsmanjodi@gmail.com)
We can keep F35s out of Madison!
FROM THE MADISON ACTIVIST CALENDAR
To post events or announcements for future listings, please contact: jepeck@wisc.edu
For an online version of this calendar, please visit: https://madinfoshop.wordpress.
This calendar is brought to you by the friendly volunteer collective of the Madison Infoshop, 1202 Williamson St., Madison, WI 53703 https://madinfoshop.wordpress.
We are a non-hierarchical freespace and activist clearinghouse that needs your support to survive and flourish. Check out our free lending library (videos, books, periodicals, zines), our other community resources (art supplies, theater props, graphix and stencils, megaphones, and button maker). We also host meetings and help organize events.
Wed. Oct. 16th 4:00 pm UW-Madison, Rm. 6102 Social Science. Social Movements in the U.S. Today: Between American Style Fascism & the Resistance talk with Frances Fox Piven, distinguished professor emerita of Political Science and Sociology at CUNY. Her books include: Regulating the Poor; Poor People’s Movement: Why They Succeed, How They Fail; Why Americans Still Don’t Vote and Politicians Like It That Way; and Challenging Authority: How Ordinary People Change America. Hosted by the Havens Center for Social Justice.. Info? www.havenswrightcenter.wisc.
Wed. Oct. 16th 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm Social Justice Center (102 Williamson St.) Canteen Cuisine Book Release Party! Wisconsin Books to Prisoners is delighted to announce the publication of ‘Canteen Cuisine’, a cookbook and nutritional resource collectively written by WBTP volunteers and men and women in WI prisoners! The savory dishes, snacks, cakes, pies and candy recipes in the book are made from the limited ingredients prisoners purchase from prison canteens and which are cooked solely in microwave ovens, and, in many cases, ingeniously improvised cooking gear. Men and women formerly incarcerated will be on hand to present “eye-witness” accounts of the food served in WI prisons as well as to express their concerns about prison conditions in WI. There will also be samples of food based on the recipes contributed by prisoners, plus a full-scale model of a solitary confinement cell to experience. More info? Visit the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/
Wed. Oct. 16th 7:00 pm UW-Madison, Union South – Marquee Theater (1308 W. Dayton St.) Right to Harm – an exclusive screening of the new exposé on the public health impact of factory farming across the U.S.! This hard-hitting documentary chronicles the failures of state agencies to regulate industrial animal agriculture. Known formally as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations – or CAFOs – these facilities produce millions of gallons of untreated waste that destroys the quality of life for nearby neighbors. Right to Harm tracks the tribulations and triumphs of rural residents across America who are victims of the past 50 years of agricultural consolidation and the consequential laws that now govern the land. Fed up with the lack of regulation, these disenfranchised citizens band together to demand justice from their legislators. Cast members and local advocates will be on hand afterwards for a public discussion. More info? Visit the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/
Fri. Oct. 18th 5:00 – 9:00 pm Monona Terrace (One John Nolen Dr.) OutReach’s 27th Annual Awards Banquet! Keynote speakers include: City of Madison Mayor, Satya Rhodes-Conway and U.S. Rep., Mark Pocan.. Willma Flynn-Stone, Tempest Heat-Stratton, and Terry Watters will provide entertainment. Emcee is Michael Bruno. Reception/cash bar at 5:00, dinner at 6:00, and program at 7:00 pm. This year’s award winners include: Ally of the Year – Governor Tony Evers; Organization of the Year – Pediatric and Adolescent Transgender Health (PATH) Clinic; Harry Straetz OutReach Volunteer of the Year – Karen Kane; LGBTQ Advocate of the Year – Dr. Sami Schalk; Courage Award – T. S. Banks; and OutReach Board of Directors Special Recognition – Community Pride Coalition. Regular tickets $70; limited income $30, scholarships also available.. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.
Fri. Oct. 18th 6:00 pm Madison Central Library, Rm. 302 (201 W. Mifflin) Fentanyl Inc: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic – author book event with Ben Westhoff, award winning investigative reporter. Part of the WI Book Festival. More Info? https://www.
Fri. Oct. 18th 7:30 pm Madison Central Library, Rm. 302 (201 W. Mifflin) Crisis of Conscience: Whistle Blowing in an Age of Fraud – author book event with Tom Mueller, New York Times bestselling journalist and former Goldman Sachs insider. Part of the WI Book Festival. . More Info? https://www.
Sat. Oct. 19th 1:30 pm Madison Central Library, Rm. 302 (201 W. Mifflin) Shadow Network – Media, Money and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right – author book event with Anne Nelson, award winning writer and media analyst. Part of the WI Book Festival. . More Info? https://www.
Fri. Oct. 19th 4:30 pm pm Madison Central Library, Rm. 302 (201 W. Mifflin) The Ideas That Made America – A Brief History – author book event with Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen, Professor of History at UW-Madison. Part of the WI Book Festival. . More Info? https://www.
Sun. Oct. 20th 2:00 – 6:00 pm Thurber Park (3325 Thurber Ave. off of Fair Oaks & Milwaukee St.) Good Noise Neighbors’ Festival! Come dance together in Blooming Grove and support the Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition! We will have information about the proposed F- 35s fighter jet expansion for Truax and ways you can share your opinion. Plus, there will be special guests, food, beverages, and more fun! Live music includes: 2:00 pm Forward! Marching Band 3:00 pm Jimmy Sugarcane People
4:00 pm Tony Castaneda’s Latin Jazz Thing and 5:00 pm VO5 More info? Visit the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/
