Madison Media Digest: Education, Government and Community

Here’s what we were reading while still feeling stiff from sleeping on the floor of the Capitol. 

Education

Madison’s East High opened a food pantry that will provide for the school’s homeless students and their families. The State Journal does not think the school district’s budget situation is particularly dire, even if it will lead to between 70-80 layoffs due to declining enrollment. Nichelle Nichols of MMSD summed up what she has heard at a series of listening sessions around the city. A mental health initiative piloted in Madison schools will be tried in three other Dane County districts. Madison Central High School closed 50 years ago. A group of Madisonians are extending the study of black history beyond February. 

Government

Madison will consider two choices for the Judge Doyle Square development, months after an initial plan fell through. A nonprofit has created a public shower for people without homes. A state legislative effort would remake landlord-tenant relations, pre-empting Madison laws on these questions. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin blasted erosions of local control as bills to preempt city ordinances make their way through the legislature. Brenda Konkel says Madison hands over discussion of public health issues in the city to polluters, leaving residents uninformed. Plans for a contra-flow bike lane around Capitol Square were shot down by a state committee. Underage tobacco purchases held mostly steady in Dane County.

Amidst opposition from fellow Alders, Marsha Rummel rescinded her plan to declare Mar. 6 “Tony Terrell Robinson Day,” named after a Madison teenager who was killed by a police officer. Dave Blaska thought the idea was disrespectful to police. There are committed public servants in the criminal justice system, writes Neil Heinen. 

Community

The Madison Times highlights the area’s Black History Month events. Sabrina Madison’s Conversation Mixtape brings together the city of Madison’s black residents for a discussion about the disconnect between UW–Madison’s black students and the city’s black residents. Three local writers discussed love and the black experience. Madison Metro’s proposed fare hike was shaped by its equity policy. Madison nonprofit lender Forward Community Investments is trying to bring people of color to its board of directors. It’s time to think differently about entrepreneurship writes Brennan Nardi. Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County celebrates intrepid “Latin@preneurs” at a gala at the Edgewater Hotel.

Far East side Alder Amanda Hall shared thoughts about the murder of Caroline Nosal in the parking lot of a supermarket. This summer, the north side will get a new grocery store. Whatdoes the replacement of Pierce’s grocery with a third Willy Street Co-op on the North Side say about food sovereignty in Madison? East siders are organizing to move military jet exercises out of Madison. A group of landowners near a proposed oil pipeline that would run through Dane County are suing Enbridge Oil Company to force it to carry insurance against spills, taking up an effort the County Board dropped.