Here’s what we were reading while enjoying the nice weather in a Terrace chair [1]:
Elections
Mayor Paul Soglin won re-election convincingly [2]. Soglin had campaigned on fiscal responsibility and equity [3]. Madison elected its first African-American alderwomen [4], Sheri Carter and Barbara McKinney. The new Madison City Council will have four black members [5]. Madison voters also approved a $41M school referendum [6], which will see upgrades to 16 schools in the district. Communities around the state are using referenda to make up for decreasing state funding for education [7]. Some are asking questions about the appearance of Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney in Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s campaign materials [8]; Bradley was returned to office on Tuesday.
Tony Robinson
The Madison Times published an interview with Andrea Irwin, Tony Robinson’s mother [9]. Robinson was killed by Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny on March 6. Robinson’s family said they don’t trust the investigation and want charges brought against Kenny [10]. The decision on charges rests with Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, who is reviewing a state investigation into the shooting. Wisconsin law erects a high bar for charges against a police officer [11]. The executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association hopes there won’t be a rush to judgment [12]. Heidi Pascual says the shooting is a reminder that people still judge others based on their appearance [13]. Chris Rickert says that Madison’s establishment has embraced the arguments of groups like Young, Gifted and Black without demanding any realism [14].
Community
Dr. Ruben Anthony, Jr. will take over at head of the President/CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison [15]. Madison’s family homeless shelter is turning people away [16] now that Spring has arrived and utilities are allowed to shut off services. Madison is retesting two wells on the west side after finding high levels of radium [17]. The president of Madison College wants to sell its downtown location, close its west side location, and expand its campus in south Madison [18]. City property values are rising [19]. A site that had been considered for Madison Prep, a charter school rejected by district, will instead become a police station [20]. A new Monroe Street restaurant has cancelled plans for outdoor seating, in response to neighborhood concerns [21].
Welcome to the Madison Commons, a website designed to provide news and information about all of Madison's neighborhoods and a crossroads for the discussion of community issues. The name comes from the idea of a village commons, a place for news, talk, debate, and some entertainment, too, that's open to everyone.
All rights reserved. Read more about the Madison Commons and its partners.
Links:
[1] http://host.madison.com/daily-cardinal/terrace-chairs-make-a-complete-comeback/article_8ee65e70-df9b-11e4-b5cc-e7a716524491.html
[2] http://www.isthmus.com/news/news/mayor-soglin-wins-reelection-council-sees-new-faces/
[3] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/madison-re-elects-mayor-paul-soglin-in-a-landslide/article_11abe592-fd1d-5429-97cb-a2f2b41e0136.html.
[4] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-common-council-sees-shakeups-first-african-american-alderwomen/article_34887f80-dda7-11e4-9bd3-631e6c35e71f.html
[5] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/blacks-gain-historic-presence-on-madison-city-council/article_656f9a89-bd5e-58c0-b572-a3967d4742d6.html
[6] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/voters-say-yes-to-million-referendum-for-madison-schools/article_be636d39-e4e3-56cc-b93d-85b232475653.html
[7] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/more-wisconsin-voters-welcome-increased-property-taxes-to-operate-schools/article_fa7eac5a-9e5d-59e0-b181-909990d77c3a.html
[8] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/columnists/chris-rickert/chris-rickert-county-s-finest-puts-on-finest-for-finest/article_bcfa635d-9f6a-5722-a55b-7353b440db03.html
[9] http://themadisontimes.themadent.com/article/depth-interview-mothers-grief-tony-robinson-remembered-full-life
[10] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/pat_schneider/tony-robinson-s-family-says-they-lost-faith-in-shooting/article_c592e5b6-c6a9-5f4e-b68b-a3e5caffe8ac.html
[11] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/experts-high-bar-must-be-met-to-charge-officers-involved/article_3df8120f-fca2-5994-bfac-ff6244d42aa3.html
[12] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/guest/jim-palmer-don-t-rush-to-judge-madison-shooting/article_6b41e2ce-c2bc-54af-8ee5-97dc506a3276.html
[13] http://www.capitalcityhues.com/040215AsianWisconzine.html
[14] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/columnists/chris-rickert/chris-rickert-young-gifted-and-black-and-the-limits-of/article_f353be32-2a83-5499-9ff6-cc5fd3522684.html
[15] http://www.capitalcityhues.com/040215ReubenAnthonyULGM.html
[16] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/with-demand-spiking-homeless-families-often-denied-space-at-shelters/article_0600a993-a730-500a-a155-2a8c2e1e79bf.html
[17] http://host.madison.com/news/local/radium-levels-exceed-federal-limits-in-west-side-madison-water/article_b0c52145-9d2f-5be5-bebc-3859baf1c6f2.html
[18] http://www.isthmus.com/news/news/madison-college-president-urges-selling-downtown-campus/
[19] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-property-values-rise-again/article_bc3034ae-f7f1-5383-9767-e1e6f9edb8b2.html
[20] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/columnists/chris-rickert/chris-rickert-cops-and-guns-not-books-and-teachers-at/article_21149c26-8744-5348-840e-0b4ea6a35eab.html
[21] http://host.madison.com/entertainment/dining/freiburg-german-gastropub-hits-minor-snag-over-parking-on-monroe/article_f3d70046-b8b8-5392-a021-f7c2d6e948b3.html