Madison Media Digest: Government, Homelessness, Policing and Education

Here’s what we were reading while saying good-bye to Octopus Car Wash.

Government

Mayor Paul Soglin unveiled his 2016 budget, which calls for delays in many projects in response to concerns about debt levels. Soglin said that city borrowing is reaching unsustainable levels. The proposed public market on the East Side will be delayed until 2021. Police Chief Mike Koval objected to the delay of the Midtown District police station in the budget. A vote on the $201M Judge Doyle Square project (including more than $40M of public money), which would bring Exact Sciences Corporation’s headquarters downtown, has been put off until Sept. 15. The Caffeinated Politics blog believes the city should support the Judge Doyle Square proposal. The Tenant Resource Center faces a $95,000 cut from Dane County, which will likely impact “regular old tenants with regular old tenant issues” and translation services.

Dane County officials released a report focused on racial disparities in the county that the authors view as a call to action. The Madison Times also covered the release of the plan. The report is meant to be a blueprint for improving future practices. Soglin and the City Council’s conflict over a beer license for Madison Frites restaurant has become entwined with a debate about the future and character of downtown.

Homelessness

A City-County committee approved a ban on homeless people sleeping outside the government building. Brenda Konkel chronicles the Community Development Block Grant Committee decision to vote against an ordinance that would limit the time homeless people could spend on benched. The Caffeinated Politics blog says Brenda Konkel’s advocacy for the homeless is alienating potential allies. Linda Ketcham points out that fining homeless individuals in front of the City County Building will increase the incarcerated population on Madison365.

Policing

A committee rejected a plan to outfit Madison police with body cameras. The State Journal disagrees. So does Chris Rickert. David Blaska wants city government to back the police rather than engage with activists’ claims. Numerous residents suspect landlord Mark Levy of retaliatory practices and racial profiling. Nathan Maurer writes about #HandsOffBrandi on Forward Lookout. A Dane County Restorative court program is diverting all 12-16 year olds cited for minor violations into a system that leaves no permanent record.

Education

Madison schools will have more AmeriCorps volunteers this year, but they will be concentrated fewer schools. The standardized testing opt-out movement is an act of civil disobedience, writes Edgewood Dean of Education Tim Slekar. A Madison middle schooler has started a charity seeking to provide others kids money for educational travel. Michael Hernandez has taken over as principal at Madison East High School; Madison Commons profiled him in January. Madison’s Literacy Network kicks off a campaign to recruit 1,200 tutors in 12 weeks.