Madison Media Digest: Homelessness, Community and Business

Here’s what we were reading while pondering the relative decline of Wisconsin’s beer industry.

Homelessness

Mayor Paul Soglin proposed time limits on city benches and other rules as part of his effort to remove homeless people from downtown. Brenda Konkel excoriated the mayor’s plans, while Caffeinated Politics argues that we need more “blunt talk about those who are homeless and not inclined to help themselves.” Redevelopment for Union Corners will see another group of homeless Madisonians lose a place to stay, and plans for a new homeless services system could see the men’s shelter at Grace Episcopal Church relocated and expanded.

Community

The head of the South Madison farmer’s market is teaching individuals who have been incarcerated how to farm. UW Health is offering free physicals for uninsured high school athletes. A youth soccer tournament is one of the ways Madison Police are attempting to build connections in the Latino community. A reading program has opened at a community center in Darbo Worthington. The Exceptional Kids Yoga Project gives children with developmental disabilities–and their families–a chance to get active and find calm. Thursday night, a Tony Robinson protest shut down East Washington.  

New book details the history of Madison’s food scene. A West Side resident and professor at Madison Area Technical College creates “Woodland fantasy art.” The Urban Community Arts Network is supporting the hip-hop scene in Madison. At Dance Life Studio on the west side, women find liberation through belly dancing.

New website keeps updated information on the conditions of Madison’s lakes. Madison is looking to be greener in order to win a $5M prize from Georgetown University. Eighty acres of invasive trees in the Dorn Creek Wildlife Area will be cleared using a win-win partnership.  

Business

More financial details are available on the redevelopment of Judge Doyle Square just off Capitol Square. Sub-Zero Group will spend $62M to expand a factory and build appliances in Fitchburg. Epic lost a major government contract.

Those who have left electronic medical records giant Epic comprise a growing portion of Madison’s business community. Madison Magazine looked at the city’s start-up business culture. Despite competition from RedBox, Netflix and every single other streaming service, Four Star video has defied the odds and survived their first year as a co-op. The East Side becomes home to a workspace that promotes community, creativity and collaboration.

The group who owns the Madison Mallards wants to take over operation of Breese Stevens Field. Two years ago, we wrote about the history of stadium. The state’s apple growers are adding a new variety and hoping the weather cooperates. A couple in Madison is trying to make it easier to cook Indian food at home. Madison is looking at fixing its zoning rules to become more bee friendly in employment zones. 

--The Digest will take August 10 off.