Madison Media Digest: Oscar Mayer leaving Madison, Exact Sciences backs out of downtown deal

Here’s what we were reading while hoping for a bat-free Stoughton Opera House.

Oscar Mayer leaving Madison

On Wednesday, Oscar Mayer announced it was leaving Madison after nearly a century on the North Side, eliminating around 1,000 jobs. Mayor Paul Soglin estimated that the closure would remove “hundreds of millions” from the region’s economy. The company has been an active part of the community, funding initiatives ranging from East High’s Theater program to the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. Connections with Oscar Mayer was important for a club at East High School that mentored African American students in business.  The loss of Oscar Mayer is an urgent issue for the Eken Park Neighborhood.

The city and county should act quickly to support the workers who have lost their jobs and address the ways a loss of manufacturing jobs exacerbates disparities already hurting the city, writes Alan Talaga. The head of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce said the good news for laid off workers is that jobs are available. The loss of the factory raises questions about the future of the North Side businesses. Political officials discussed what losing Oscar Mayer means for the city. The loss of the company has led to finger pointing at state government from local officials, although state officials began to point back. The loss of the plant is a decent illustration of what is often derided as “crony capitalism,” says David Blaska. The Capital Times says this is an example of a multinational corporation showing little regard for people. The closing may not be a surprise to those involved with the company but is a sad moment. This may be the biggest blow in the exodus of food manufacturing jobs from the county. Phil Hands offered his take in cartoon form. 

Exact Sciences backs out of downtown deal

On Monday, Exact Sciences walked away from the recently approved $200M Judge Doyle Square redevelopment project after its stock dropped precipitously following a federal panel classifying its test for colon cancer as a less-preferred option than other tests. The company will instead expand on the West Side in the University Research Park where it is based currently. The city is now looking at new options for the site just off Capitol Square, extending the contract of its negotiator for the project. That decision was not unanimous as some alders pointed to end of the deal as a sign the process of selecting Exact Sciences was flawed. WISC praised Exact Sciences for acknowledging it was not in a position to go through with the deal. The Wisconsin State Journal still thinks the site has potential. Former Mayor Dave Cieslewicz thinks the abandonment of this deal is no big loss for the city. Jobs for people of color had been a selling point of the JDS project, but Exact Sciences remains committed to providing those employment opportunities.

Community

Quibbles over process in the placement of a long-planned homeless day center in the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood have grown tiresome, writes Chris Rickert. A model of a solitary confinement cell is on display at the Central Branch of the Madison Library until Thursday. Dane County removed funds from the budgetfor a contract with a company that would further process output for manure digesters. Protecting the lakes is a job for government. The County Board approved funding to develop a plan for reaching zero carbon emissions by 2050. The County is moving toward non-partisan redistricting, although that’s a low-risk proposition for current office holders. The budget also boasts a number of initiatives aimed at chipping away at disparities in Madison. One City Early Learning Center has opened with plans for expansion. Why does Madison not have an inter-city bus station? Salvador Carranza puts MMSD’s new plan for English Language Learners into context. A community theater production aims to dramatize the intersections of racism, poverty and incarceration. UW-Madison police are now wearing body cameras. The field for the full Madison Marathon on Sunday was smaller than last year, mirroring national trends.