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Madison Launches BRT, Wisconsin State Journal Endorses Referendum, and this Week's Updates

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Hi Everyone,

The Wisconsin State Journal marked the historic launch yesterday of Bus Rapid Transit with two front page articles - Long Journey to BRT and BRT starts today. Here's How to Use It – and a strong editorial backing the direction the City is going in: OUR VIEW: Booming city of Madison is worth $19 more a month.

I’m also hearing from many of you that you support the hard work of this Council and this Mayor to create the infrastructure our rapidly growing city needs.

Yes, it’s true not everyone feels that way. There have been several letters to the editor opposing BRT and the referendum. Posts on NextDoor and a certain former Mayor’s Facebook page are rallying opposition. The publisher of the Capital Times, Paul Fanlund is tying his opposition to the referendum to the City’s efforts to address our housing shortage, something he believes to be overstated.

Fanlund only cites those who already agree with him, namely former Mayor Paul Soglin. However, Soglin is not the only former Mayor to express opinions about these topics. Former Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has written in support of BRT, more housing, and the referendum, but Fanlund only gives his megaphone to Soglin.

It’s not apparent Fanlund believes Madison has a serious housing shortage. In his editorials, Fanlund’s uses scare quotes around “housing crisis.” He seems to be unmoved by projections that Madison’s population is projected to increase by 100,000 by 2050, labeling such arguments as merely “theoretical.”

One would hope the publisher of Madison’s progressive paper would read Dane County’s 2024 report, “A Road Map to Solving Dane County’s Housing Crisis.” One would also hope that Fanlund would see value in interviewing local housing experts like UW Urban Planning professor Kurt Paulsen, rather than simply taking potshots at the current Mayor and Council for working diligently to plan for the future growth of our City.

All of which underscores the famous quote by philosopher Herbert Spence, which I cited last week: “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a [person] in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

I encourage you to keep an open mind about these matters. Consider the fact that Madison is not alone in going forward with a referendum. As noted in a recent article in the Wisconsin State Journal, several cities in Dane County are faced with the same dilemma.

As always, I remain open to your questions about BRT, our housing policy, and the referendum.

Here are this week's updates:

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page.

  • Common Council: The Common Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 24, at 6:30 p.m. in hybrid format. Agenda items include applying for a zero-interest loan for the purpose of assisting in the remediation of contaminated soil at the Huxley Yards property, as well as honoring resolutions for Week Without Driving and Hispanic Heritage Month.
  • Plan Commission: The Plan Commission meeting will take place on Monday, September 23, at 5:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing the Planning Division to lead the preparation of the Southeast Area Plan and the Southwest Area Plan and adopting a Public Participation Plan for each.

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here.

Public Information Meeting

Announcements and News Releases

  • Secure Ballot Drop Boxes Now Open: The City of Madison’s secure ballot drop boxes are now open for the November 5 General Election. The boxes provide a secure way for City of Madison absentee voters to return their ballots to the City Clerk’s Office.If you requested an absentee… [posted September 20, 2024]
  • Dane County Mayors Urge State to Fund Local Governments: Dane County’s seven Mayors met this week in Sun Prairie to discuss how to work together on a host of local issues – including reforms to state laws that artificially restrict local governments’ ability to meet the needs of their residents. [posted September 20, 2024]
  • Bus Rapid Transit Launched on Sunday, September 22: Metro Transit is getting ready to launch its first ever bus rapid transit route on Sunday, September 22.Metro’s Rapid Route A will offer 15-minute service Monday through Friday until 8:00 pm and until 7:00 pm on Saturdays. Thirty-minute service will… [posted September 19, 2024]
  • Absentee Ballots are in the Mail: Absentee ballots for the November 5 General Election have been sent to 25,655 City of Madison absentee voters with requests on file. [posted September 19, 2024]
  • How to Vote Absentee by Mail: The City Clerk’s Office is beginning to mail out absentee ballots. If you’d like to vote by mail, here’s the easiest way to request your ballot… [posted September 18, 2024]
  • Greater Madison MPO Seeks Community Input on Draft Coordinated Plan: The Greater Madison MPO released its draft 2024-2028 Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan, the Greater Madison area's transportation plan for older adults, people with disabilities and people with low incomes. [posted September 17, 2024]
  • City of Madison celebrates groundbreaking for Theresa Terrace townhomes: The City of Madison is taking steps to address the shortage of “Missing Middle” housing, starting with one of its own properties. [posted September 17, 2024]
  • Library Takeover Team Hosting Day of Indian Mindfulness Activities at Central Library: Mindfulness the Indian Way is a full-day, immersive experience planned for Saturday, September 28 at Central Library, where attendees will learn how the rich traditions of Indian culture can help them feel more present and aware in their daily lives. [posted September 17, 2024]
  • General Election Media Kit Now Available: The Madison City Clerk's Office is releasing its media kit for the November 5 General Election. The media kit includes election statistics, key dates, and a brief overview of the election process. [posted September 17, 2024]
  • Name Our Electric Collection Trucks: We are calling on you to help us choose names for our two new electric vehicles. The names should be, well, electrifying. [posted September 17, 2024]
  • Madison Adds Electric Collection Trucks to its Fleet: The City of Madison Streets Division will be the first community in Wisconsin with an all-electric trash collection truck… [posted September 17, 2024]
  • Warner Park Community Recreation Center Expansion Moves Forward: The construction process for the City’s Warner Park Recreation Center Expansion project is moving forward with awarding the construction contract to Vogel Bros. Building Company, as the lowest responsible bidder. The expansion project will… [posted September 16, 2024]

Events

  • Health Resource Fair, Tuesday, September 24: This annual event coincides with National Senior Center Month and reinforces the 2024 theme of "Powering Connections." Over 30 agencies will be on-hand to share information and resources. The event will wrap-up with lunch and a presentation on Genetic Counseling: Why it is Important for Older Adults. Registration is required to receive lunch.
  • Capitol View Farmers' Market, Wednesday, September 25: The Capitol View Farmers' Market is held weekly on Wednesdays (3:00-7:00pm) from late May through mid-October. Join us each week for great local vendors, live music, food carts, and special activities from week to week. Visit our website and follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and schedules!
  • Cherokee Marsh Phragmites Workday, Thursday, September 2 (This event occurs on multiple dates): Assist in keeping the high-quality wetlands in Cherokee Marsh free from invasive phragmites. Volunteers are needed to use twine to tie stalks in bundles. We will then cut the stalks above the twine and treat the cut ends.
  • Live at The Glen: Storytelling with Tom Martinelli, Friday, September 27: Join us on the patio as we learn about the history of Glenway & Westmorland golf courses with Tom Martinelli, a local historian and neighbor of The Glen. Martinelli will share his passion for the Westmorland neighborhood from prehistoric through the present. If you love history and enjoy storytelling, this event is perfect for you!

Metro Transit - Fast Fare Pick Up! Pick up a Fast Fare card and get help from City of Madison staff. To learn more about Fast Fares, please visit the Fast Fares webpage.

For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the City events calendar. 

That's all for now. I've been fortunate to spend the last few days in Northern Michigan, regaled by the autumn colors and the vast beauty of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. I trust you are also able to get outdoors and enjoy this fall season.

Take care and stay safe,

Tag

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