Madison Media Digest: Homelessness, Community, Judge Doyle Square and Business

Here’s what we were reading while trying to figure out what apostilles are.

Homelessness

City and county officials are changing their approach to homelessness near the City County Building and are now seeking to connect people with social services. Brenda Konkel provides a list of places the homeless can’t go to as well as a list of potential solutions for homelessness. Chris Rickert thinks solutions to homelessness will be slow, while David Blaska thinks the solution to homelessness downtown is to start arresting people.

Community

Young Gifted and Black are part of a group rallying in support of Cierra Finkley, a Madison woman who was charged in the stabbing death of her estranged boyfriend, saying she was acting in self-defense after multiple attacks by Terrence Woods, who died from his wounds.  The group argues that police inaction to multiple calls forced Finkley to act; prosecutors cast Finkley as the attacker.

The Madison Water Utility will hold a Sept. 2 public hearing on a proposed rate hike. Central Park hosted the second annual YumYum Fest. The Sherman Neighborhood created an art tour. Olbrich Gardens will debut an evening lights exhibit in an attempt to keep attendance up during the fall. Farm Technology Days helps shine a spotlight on the country’s agriculture sector. Madison has the highest concentration of Little Free Libraries in the country. Madison is home to a think tank focused on business ethics. A student at West High School won a $100,000 college scholarship from the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. A new report says fewer kids are dying in bike accidents, but more adult men are. Baby orangutan Keju’s mother got overwhelmed with first-time motherhood; Vilas zookeepers are helping baby and mother adapt. United Way of Dane County hopes to raise $19.3M this year.  

Judge Doyle Square & Business

A proposed funding package for a development in Judge Doyle Square relies on major departures from city policy, a report says. More details about the plans for parking, transportation and hiring practices have been released. Brenda Konkel is “blown away” by a lack of disclosure on the Common Council around the project. Fitchburg is readying a plan to lure the main tenant in the project, Exact Sciences Corporation, should the downtown site fall through.

A Social Good Summit kicked off the sixth-annual Forward Fest, an entrepreneur focused event. The annual Forward Fest aims to attract “parentpreneurs,” as well as get new entrepreneurs to consider Madison for their home base. An Atlanta-based developer plans a mixed-use development along East Washington near the Marquette Neighborhood. Oscar Mayer, which will cut 165 corporate jobs in Madison, is hiring for its production line.