Madison Media Digest: Disparities, Women in Government, Farmer's Market

Racial disparity in Dane County

This week saw multiple calls to action on the community’s racial disparities. Dane County Board member Shelia Stubbs told the Capital Times that the time for talk was over and that more action - especially focusing on establishing permanent residences - should be a priority. “If a person doesn’t have a place to stay, nothing else matters. If you can stabilize them in housing, all the other services can be interconnected,” Stubbs said.

Blogger Sasha Debevec-McKinney says that is important for us to act by acknowledging racism when we see it, not letting it pass. The Isthmus also caught up with urban theorist Naomi Davis, who sought bring “green” principles to African American neighborhoods. She will be speaking at Monona Terrace on Saturday.

Women in Government

For the first time, the new Dane County board will have women holding the top two positions, both the Isthmus and the Daily Cardinal noted Sharon Corrigan (Middleton) was elected chair and Carousel Bayrd (Madison West Side) was reelected to her position as vice chair. Corrigan said her top priorities include cleaning up Dane County’s lakes and addressing the county’s harsh racial disparities.

The Capital Times, meanwhile, focused on another prominent female politician, Mary Burke. Jack Craver’s piece focuses on what Burke’s friends and business associates had to say about the Trek Bikes executive and Madison School Board member. (Full disclosure: Burke has funded Madison Commons’ education coverage. 

Meanwhile, former Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson will be in town to serve as keynote speaker at the Wisconsin Women in Government Scholarship and Recognition Gala.

Farmers Market

This weekend also saw the start of the outdoor Dane County Farmers’ Market. The Badger Herald has interview with new manager Bill Lubing, where he discusses plans to improve the overall experience at the market. The Cap times has a photo gallery of the opening day of the outdoor market.

Also this week

The Badger Herald makes the case for legalizing pot

Real Estate values are up in Madison

Conservatives make a comeback in Verona