Wow, I will never use the word “Baby” to refer to a “Round Up” again . . . but I did get several offers from proud mom’s and dad’s to use their photos . . . sigh . . .
REGIONAL 311
The idea of a 3-1-1 number people could call to get information from the City is an intriguing idea, but the people answering those phones would have a big challenge to make sure they are giving good information. If they’re going to expand that to a county-wide system, its going to be even harder. I think if they tried to do it too broadly, it could make the system a whole lot less helpful. I think I’d rather have City employees answering questions about the City.
DANE COUNTY’S ECONOMY
On the rebound? Based on the number of previously unemployed friends that now have jobs, I think so. Our unemployment rate is at 5.4% compared to nationwide 9.7%. Their other measurements and the rest of the story don’t match up well, but I think the news is good. Tho I’d think that they’d want to measure restaurant/bar and retail sales instead of the number of people flying out of the airport to measure local economy.
MORE BAD WORDS FOR THE MEN’S HOMELESS SHELTER
The excuses given by Porchlight do not make me feel much better. Especially since any time there is any additional money available for homeless services it seems to go to Porchlight.
THE WEEK AHEAD
City
County
Schools – and yes, thank you TJ for correcting me, there is a an Edgewater meeting this week, but its not a city meeting, its a school board meeting. With the $30M budget hole, every dollar matters to the school district. The meeting is at 6:00 at the Doyle Administration Building.
Also, don’t forget about the Google meeting on Thursday at 7:00 at Olbrich Gardens. It didn’t make it on the City’s official list of meetings, but its important!
SOLOMON ON THE EDGEWATER
Brian sums it up well. What he fails to point out is what the solution is, and I think part of it is that rookie alders need more training in how to do neighborhood meetings and shepherd projects through the system. For alders who come from a neighborhood background, especially those who deal more regularly with development, it is much easier. However, even being a former neighborhood president did not prevent me from screwing up the first project or two. For those who were not involved with their neighborhood associations and other development projects are at a distinct disadvantage.
WTF?
Who needs a house this big?
15,768 square feet of finished space (including 7,154 square feet in the basement). Built on two lots that were combined, the house has seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, two half-bathrooms, three fireplaces, a gymnasium, a hot-tub room, a theater room, a play room, a rec room, a golf room and garage space for nine cars. There’s also a 6,000-square-foot patio and a pool.
It makes the next biggest house look small in comparison
It has 10,492 square feet of finished space, with an assessed value (house and land combined) of $3.1 million
FORGIVE ME FOR BEING SKEPTICAL
Leaving it up to the lobbyists hasn’t gotten us very much so far. Remember the “Video Competition Act”? Is this more of the same? Channel 3 has an editorial this morning asking people to support this, I’d say, think twice before jumping on the bandwagon.
NEW METERS STALLED
I think its funny everyone is saying how great the new meters downtown are, when they are still bagged and not in use. I understand why the Isthmus might have been caught off guard as they go to print before the project stalled, but I don’t understand the Wisconsin State Journal’s timing? Do these folks come downtown? Or read press releases? It sucks for people coming downtown expecting to find these already in place.
CORONER OR MEDICAL EXAMINER?
There’s something you don’t think about every day. But I gotta say, I never understood why it would be an elected position.
NO SURPRISES HERE
This was just another placeholder in the budget. But it is unfortunate that everything is being held up. Here’s another project that is probably more important than the Edgewater that is on hold while we all fall over ourselves cramming it down people’s throats or trying to prevent that.
HILLDALE’S UNPAID TAXES AND FORECLOSURE
Not much more to say here except . . . sigh . . .
FURLOUGH’S GONE WRONG
I can’t tell if this is bad planning, staff activism or a bureaucratic snafu. Any which way, it shouldn’t happen again.
UW MASTER PLAN AND TRANSPORTATION
UW-Madison’s Master Plan presented by Rob Kennedy, UW’s transit planner 7-9 p.m., Wednesday March 10. As you know, UW-Madison is a leader in promoting a diversity of transportation modes. The talk will take place in an accessible room in UW’s Memorial Union but you must check which room in TITU because room assignments are not made until the night before. The meeting is co-sponsored by UW’s Student Bus Advocates and Student Planners Association. The Student Bus Advocates has a website http://studentbusadvocates.rso.wisc.edu/.
More tomorrow . . .
