Relevant local news I can find, plus state and “not in the news” news . . .
GENERAL
DON’T LET ANYONE STOP YOU FROM VOTING TODAY
Cap Times likes Selkowe, Taylor, Heidt and Arnold. And has advice about changes due to the Voter ID bill.
HOTEL RED FINALLY OPENING?
In time for football this fall.
DANE COUNTY FORECLOSURES UP AGAIN
I’m not always sure how these monthly statistics are relevant, but they are what they are.
CITY
$11M BUDGET GAP, LAYOFFS AND FURLOUGHS?
Well, they cut the gap in half since May, which is good. Mayor asking for 5% cuts in department budgets, including police and fire.
ARTS STUDY NEEDS MORE . . .
Study? I find the council hilarious as they struggle to oppose Soglin when they really agree with him and benefit from him taking a look at things they “already decided”. I watched the end of this discussion and seriously, this mayor is trying to work with the council and they just don’t know what to do!
PLAN COMMISSION SAYS NO!!!!!
When’s the last time that happened????????? Church plans denied. Too bad they didn’t send a reporter to cover this, or at least watch it on tv or the internet. Instead, Chris Schmidt tells them the vote. Great reporting!
COUNTY
chirp. chirp. They don’t do anything, do they?
SCHOOLS AND UW
WISCONSIN A MODEL?
I said the same thing yesterday, this article says it. Republicans and Democrats together, will we end up with another “model” program like W-2? What are Walker’s motivations here? After all he’s done to this state, no one could possibly believe he suddenly cares.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND A DINNER
Hmmmm, all the council ever gets is a poetry reading or forensics presentation.
5.5% RAISE IN TUITION
Wow. Stagnant economy, furloughs and lay offs and cut backs in employment, but costs continue to go up pushing college further out of reach for many. 5th year in a row. I think tuition has tripled since I went to college 20 years ago. Have wages tripled?
UW NOT SO DIVERSE
Not surprised, are you?
STATE
RALLY AT NOON TO TELL PROSSER TO STEP DOWN
Over 10,000 signatures collected asking him to step down while he is investigated for being attacked by Bradley’s neck.
LET A COMPUTER DO REDISTRICTING
Craver might be on to something, kinda.
ATTORNEYS GETTING RICH AGAIN, WALKER URGED TO REJECT REDISTRICTING MAPS
Wisconsin’s many losses means more attorney’s fees . . . so far, $300,000, and lawsuits haven’t even been filed yet.
SHIFT IN UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TOUGH TALK
Extension of benefits flies through the committees despite concerns that people are just being lazy and not looking for jobs. Wasn’t that essentially what Walker said? Being laid off/furloughed myself next week, and making about 40% of what I would working by applying for unemployment I”m pretty sure this is not a “choice” people make. At $363 per week, I could barely make my mortgage, and nothing else.
ELECTION NIGHT PARTIES
6 parties tonight, one Democratic winner in the 48th. Don’t forget to vote today! It does matter. I’d suggest Andy Heidt, the person I believe will fight the hardest for people of the district instead of just going along to get along and has truly new ideas.
WE’RE STILL HERE
Submit your video.
BEWARE THE FAKE DEMOCRATS
Republicans running in the Democratic primary. Beware.
EVEN STATE JOURNAL THINKS MEETINGS SHOULD BE OPEN
It’s a no-brainer.
NOT IN THE NEWS
AFRICAN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PICNIC
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011
1:00 PM to 8:00 PMELVER PARK
1301 S. Gammon Road, Madison , Wisconsin
Madison Metro Buses 50 & 58 from West Transfer PointPlease bring a dish, a beverage, a game and your good cheer, to share!!
More info: (608) 258-0261 info@africanassociation.org
NEW HOMEBUYER CLASSES
What: FREE Home Buyer Education Classes
Where: Project Home’s Training Center, 1922 S. Stoughton Road Madison WIWhen: Tuesday July 12, 2011 AND July 19th 6:00 pm to 9:30 p.m. Homebuyers must attend both sessions in full and a 1 hour counseling session to be scheduled individually
Reservations: Space is limited. Please call Project Home @ 608-246-3737 for more information or to register.
Cost: FREE
The First Time Home Buyer Education classes offered by Project Home and GreenPath, Inc. allow first time home buyers to learn about homeownership in an environment that encourages questions and protects the potential home buyer from being solicited. They learn about the pros and cons of home ownership, money management skills, credit issues, how to choose a realtor and lender, down payment assistance programs, shopping of a home and obtaining financing.
We began this partnership in April 2011 and in the first 3 months of classes we have had 67 individual participants in 50 households. We are reaching the populations targeted – 96% are first time homebuyers and approximately 74% are at or below 80% of County Median Income and therefore may be eligible for most down payment assistance programs.
To receive funds for most down payment assistance programs, potential homeowners must complete education and/or counseling. This program is designed to meet the National Industry Standards for Home Ownership Education and Counseling created by the National Advisory Council of NeighborWorks® America. Our course is 7 hours of face-to-face group education and 1 hour of 1-on-1 counseling.
The Housing Center is a joint venture between Project Home and GreenPath Debt Solutions to expand and sustain affordable home-ownership in Dane County.
Project Home is a local non-profit organization offering help to Dane & Green County residents for the last 40 years. Project Home’s mission has been to improve the quality and affordability of housing for low-to-moderate income residents. With the rising cost of housing, utilities, and building materials, it is difficult and expensive to tackle the repairs that all homes need. Project Home provides services that will improve homeowners’ comfort, safety, and reduce energy bills.
GreenPath Debt Solutions is a nationwide, non-profit financial organization that assists consumers with credit card debt, housing debt, and bankruptcy concerns. Our customized services and attainable solutions have been helping people achieve their financial goals for 50 years. The Madison office has been serving local customers for 12 years. Ellen Bernards has been a housing counselor and housing educator for the last 7 years and was the 2010 recipient of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s Individual Counselor of the Year award.
WARD 32 COMMUNITY FORUM
Time: Saturday, July 16 · 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: East High School 1st floor ForumAs most of us know Wisconsin is going under some huge changes right now. Many of us are still left wondering where do we go from here? Some are focusing their time and energy on the Recalls, but for the rest of us who know just how important it is that we continue to come together as communities, strengthen and build on our new networks now more than ever. Many of you already have, GREAT but for those that haven’t this is a great place to do so!!!
There will be discussion about how communities becoming more sustainable. With many Wisconsinites losing health care, food share benefits, housing, childcare, and so much more. We need to discuss how are we going to be there for one another? Many of us garden and at times it is more than enough food to feed a family of 4. Is there any way we can come together and have fresh free food drives? Much like FH King does on a weekly basis at Library Mall. Free to low cost health clinics to ensure we all stay healthy with a holistic approach. Child care programs and free breakfast, the list goes on and on.
We could not think of anyone better to lead this discussion than George Martin. For those of you who are not familiar with him here is a brief personal history: At 16 years of age George was just a short 10 feet away from Martin Luther King at his “I have a dream” speech. He has worked on community building for over 30 years and with over 100 non-profits. Recipient of “Lifetime Peacemaker Award” in 2006. It is through George’s experience and guidance that we will learn how to hold our own forums and make sure every voice is heard and ideas and actions flow!
We urge those that can attend please do, even if it is just for an hour. This will be an eye opening discussion on ways we can better ourselves as a community. A discussion that more people need to start having, thinking beyond the dependence of a broken electoral system, and knowing that the Recalls with not strength our communities: we will!
For more information please contact Nicole at ncollsan09@gmail.com
GEESE MEMORIAL
A coalition of concerned citizens will be holding a memorial for the hundreds of geese that the city of Madison paid to have killed last month.
Join this group on Wednesday, July 13 at 11:30 a.m. in front of the State Capitol on Martin Luther King,Jr. Drive. From there they will march to the City-County Building and stand together as a tribute to the wild Canada geese and goslings that were rounded up and slaughtered. (Note: there is a farmers’ market going on in front of City-County bldg. at this time)
Although Mayor Soglin received postcards, phone calls, and e-mails urging him to stop the kill, he did nothing. The city could not be bothered with spending time or energy on long-term alternatives to control the population.
A sign-making/organizational meeting will be held at Lakeview Branch of the Madison Public Library on Tuesday evening, July 12 at 4:30 p.m. Please join in.
For more information please contact Kathie Free at 608-819-8191.
RECAP
Memorial: July 13, 11:30 a.m.
Meet in front of Capitol bldg on MLK, Jr. Drive
March to City-County bldg for memorial.Sign-making/organizational Meeting: July 12, 4:30 p.m.
Lakeview Branch of Madison Public Library
HELP IMPROVE WIRTH COURT PARK
After you read below, If you are interested in being part of the Design Day, or on the Steering Committee please contact Tanya Martinez Knauer at tanyamk@goodmancenter.org or 241-1574 ext. 231. PLEASE GET BCK TO HER ASAP. We need 15-30 people who have expressed interest by next Friday 7/15 to show Kaboom! that the community is interested in this project. Expressing your interest in being involved is not a commitment to be on a committee- yet. You can choose later when you know more about it.
What’s this all about:
The Goodman Community Center is partnering with the City of Madison Parks Department and KaBoom! to bring a greatly improved, community designed, playground to Wirth Court park next door to the Center. Wirth Court has some of the oldest equipment in the city of Madison and we have a wonderful opportunity to upgrade the equipment to be one of the best community parks in the city.Kaboom! (www.kaboom.org) works with corporate sponsors and community partners to build beautiful playgrounds in areas with no equipment, or old, deficient equipment. They use Play World Systems (www.playworldsytems.com) Goodman CC has submitted the application and has worked with the parks dept., and we are in the final stages of selection.
If we are selected we will need our community to engage in the process. In a variety of ways
1) Design Day- we need 30-50 kids and 30-50 adults to come to a design day, led by Kaboom! staff. At the design day the community gets to dream about what they would want in their new playground, not just the equipment, but the whole site- benches, mosaics, kiosks, tables, etc.
If we are selected, Design Day will be about a 2 hour evening process sometime in mid-August.
2) Be on a committee. We will need 15-30 parents or interested community members to volunteer to be on a steering committee that will communicate with neighbors, help raise funds- there is a small matching requirement, get food donations, recruit volunteers, organize the logistics of the build day itself.
3) Build day itself will be in the week of October 3- exact days to be determined. There are 2 days of preparations and then the entire playground is built in 1 day. This means that the community has up to 100 volunteers who show up and join volunteers from our corporate sponsor and builds the new park together.
If you would like to know more about the project, have questions or concerns, please contact Becky at 241-1574 ext 225 or becky@goodmancenter.org
GATES OF HEAVEN PARTY!
You know, the little synagogue in James Madison Park . . .
40 years in James Madison Park
July 17 from 2-4p.m.
Join us as we celebrate the 40 year anniversary of Gates of Heaven in James Madison Park on the exact date the building was moved and saved from demolition. Share your stories of this building while celebrating its rich history.
Gates of Heaven, Madison Parks 302 E. Gorham StreetMusic by Yid Vicious, refreshments,
Everyone is welcome
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY GARDENS MEETING
Tonight, 7:00 – We will meet at Ambrosia Coop, 225 E. Lakelawn Place (off Langdon). We will continue our discussion of next steps, also recruiting efforts and updating our materials (PowerPoint, brochure, petition, etc.). Join us if you can. If you have trouble finding us, please call Sue on her cell phone (332-0565) for directions. Hope to see you there.
