Madison Media Digest: Judge Doyle Square and Public Money, Race and Homelessness

Here what we were reading while cooling off from the hottest summer since the Roosevelt administration.

Judge Doyle Square and Public Money

At 3:15 on Thursday morning, the City Council approved a $200M development (including $67M in direct and indirect public subsidy) just off the Capitol that will bring Exact Sciences Corporation’s headquarters downtown. In doing so, the city is tying its future to the company’s fortunes. Mayor Paul Soglin closed the deal with a skeptical city council. Alder Rebecca Kemble explained her decision to vote against the project. Council President Denise DeMarb blogged about the reasons she supported the deal. Former Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said unanswered questions still remain. Gregory Humphries thinks this is the type of investment the city should be making in order to have a vibrant downtown. Mitch Henck said the project is going to be disaster. The Capital Times is excited by Exact Sciences diverse workplace. Mike Martez Johnson called the project corporate welfare dressed up in progressive rhetoric

The city council’s budget committee restored funding to the Midtown District Police Station and the reconstruction of Monroe Street, which had been delayed in Soglin’s proposed budget. It also proposed a smaller fee on restaurant outdoor seating than Soglin was seeking. Dane County will provide raises to county employees as part of its 2016 budget. The budget also includes funding for an office of equity and inclusion and the creation of mental health crisis teams. Madison schools, the last district in the state still governed by a pre-Act 10 union contract, approved a new employee handbook that will replace the negotiated policies on July 1, 2016.

Race

The national media looked at relations between the police and communities of color in Madison this week. Fusion laid out statistics showing huge disparities in arrests between blacks and whites.  Madison Police Chief Mike Koval was featured on The Daily Show talking about race in Madison. Fabu says Madison police should wear body cameras.  Madison’s communities of color may take the lead on sustainability. Justified Anger plans to focus its initial efforts on the Meadowood Neighborhood. The new mural behind the Social Justice Center channels community pain. Young Gifted and Black leader Brandi Grayson explained the group’s evolution at last week’s YWCA Racial Justice Summit. A survey found that nearly 95 of supervisory positions in Madison businesses are held by whites. Madison Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham testified before state legislative panel about the needs of urban school districts.

Homelessness

Madison and Dane County’s ban on people sleeping outside the City County Building went into effect on Thursday. A group of county supervisors want the rules rescinded. Homeless individuals are wondering where to go now. Madison’s first shelter for homeless teens opened this week. Brenda Konkel supports the county’s plan to open a long-sought Homeless Day Center on East Washington, but says the process has been flawed.