Here’s what we were reading while planning a bike route from one end of the state to the other [1]:
Law and Order
Tony Robinson’s family says they have left their home after harassment [2] following the publication of their home address on Channel 3000 (a partner of Madison Commons). The Isthmus cover story looked at the Young, Gifted and Black Coalition [3], whose tactics have been described by some as controversial. One of the protesters at East High on April 14 said blacks were singled out for arrest [4]. Police Chief Mike Koval rejected calls to revisit police policies about the use of force [5]. Former city poet-laureate Fabu says she has seen glimpses of hope [6] in the response to the killing of Tony Robinson by Madison police in March. David Blaska says Baltimore has lessons for Madison [7]. Tensions between the City and ride-sharing service Uber increased after the company failed to cooperate [8] in an investigation into allegations of harassment by a driver. A Dane County Board committee delayed a study into jail safety after concerns were raised about a no-bid contract [9]. A West High basketball coach has been charged with sexual assault [10].
Homelessness
The city is cracking down on homeless people sleeping outside the City County Building. Officials are moving belongings from the City County Building [11]. Homeless Madisonians and advocates rallied to call attention to a lack of services [12], which explains why there are more people sleeping on the streets. Chris Rickert says Mayor Paul Soglin is evoking Scott Walker [13] in his post-election moves against the homeless. David Blaska cheered on [14] Soglin’s efforts. Brenda Konkel says the mayor’s actions contradict other rhetoric aimed at helping those at risk of homelessness [15].
Community
West High School’s Rocket Club is competing in a national competition [16]. Madison Schools are looking for a more diverse workforce [17]. Chad Wiese is leaving LaFollette High School to work at the MMSD office [18]. Unions at Madison Area Technical College voted to recertify [19]. MATC will convert a Columbus race track into a training facility for emergency services [20], frustrating some racers.
New Urban League President Ruben Anthony talks about the challenges of his new position [21]. The Madison Public Library and Madison Children’s Museum are sponsoring the second annual Day in a Kid’s Life [22]. The city began discussions on the proposed public market’s business plan [23]. Developer Terrence Wall has refocused his efforts on Madison [24], after experiencing troubles during the Great Recession. Lothlorien Co-Op will be renovated after a September 2013 fire [25], and could reopen in August. We wrote about efforts by Madison Community Cooperatives to sell the house [26] last year. Black entrepreneurs face unique challenges trying to get established in Madison [27]. FEED Kitchens on the North Side have played an active role in supporting food carts [28]. Dane County Airport is the most expensive [29] to fly out of in the country. Three public employee councils are merging [30] due to diminished membership following Act 10. Virtually no bird flu has been found in flocks of less than 100 [31].
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/wsj/news/local/major-new-cycling-event-to-span-state-from-mississippi-river/article_29d573d6-3e66-55a0-a7ef-3cba8b9877c6.html
[2] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/bryna-godar/tony-robinson-family-no-longer-staying-at-home-after-wisc/article_f4bcd58e-5d01-5cd0-aa4f-8d50614a9a11.html
[3] http://www.isthmus.com/news/cover-story/young-gifted-black/
[4] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/sasha-w-i-should-have-been-arrested-but-i-m/article_597f6409-a4c2-5782-ac93-6683c7e4bf29.html
[5] http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/madison-police-chief-policies-for-deadly-force-are-not-negotiable/article_bf6d65ff-f4c2-5ab7-8dbc-5277dda0baa2.html
[6] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/fabu/fabu-no-end-to-killings-of-black-men-but-glimpses/article_5785afa3-2f7d-5f9d-acbb-89071af0825f.html
[7] http://www.ibmadison.com/Blogger/Bring-It/April-2015/Madison-can-smell-Baltimores-smoke/
[8] http://www.wkow.com/story/28924255/2015/04/28/madison-officials-frustrated-with-ubers-response-after-sexual-allegations-against-drivers
[9] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/bryna-godar/dane-county-committee-again-delays-decision-on-jail-reform-resolution/article_51c59b72-f564-5fa5-b1b8-74c82fc2b82d.html
[10] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/police-west-high-school-coach-booked-into-jail-on-sexual/article_570e0dda-792b-57a3-8607-14a6e1952915.html
[11] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/officials-will-make-new-attempt-to-move-belongings-of-homeless/article_89c4d7ec-5979-5b8b-aa98-b44fb97e1ef4.html
[12] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/homeless-advocates-rally-downtown-for-improved-services/article_ca796729-4a5e-58dd-882d-775577aa1ec7.html
[13] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/columnists/chris-rickert/chris-rickert-with-election-over-paul-soglin-feels-free-to/article_a0966aed-8fc0-596f-909e-b7d5f7f4c30a.html
[14] http://www.ibmadison.com/Blogger/Bring-It/April-2015/Three-cheers-for-Paul-Soglin--Enough-is-enough-is-right/
[15] http://www.forwardlookout.com/2015/04/well-this-is-awkward/23380
[16] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/school-spotlight-west-high-rocket-club-practicing-for-national-contest/article_f57091e1-9118-556e-ad64-43d314ccf846.html
[17] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/paul_fanlund/paul-fanlund-madison-schools-act-to-diversify-teaching-workforce/article_ce7cd3a7-35de-5dba-acd8-3320a2c6b76e.html
[18] http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/pat_schneider/madison-la-follette-high-school-principal-chad-wiese-moving-on/article_a0786716-66e5-5fb3-a711-029d4a026420.html
[19] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/on_campus/on-campus-matc-employees-recertify-unions-post-act/article_787458e1-275d-5926-be23-864bcb494bcb.html
[20] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/matc-about-to-take-over-columbus-racetrack-amid-family-dispute/article_f634261b-daf7-5d11-b2cd-93c258a679d8.html
[21] http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/bryna-godar/q-a-ruben-anthony-steps-in-as-urban-league-ceo/article_dff06af9-1c50-5634-8964-844d60782b2c.html
[22] http://host.madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/madison-children-asked-to-share-a-day-on-social-media/article_b8cc5142-ac46-5699-98ab-7f5f1d47b635.html
[23] http://host.madison.com/daily-cardinal/discussion-looks-critically-at-components-of-public-market-plan/article_53168818-efb1-11e4-adb2-db897cb072e6.html
[24] http://host.madison.com/ct/business/comeback-kid-developer-terrence-wall-refocuses-on-madison/article_c347bef6-2d2b-5516-9023-09fb3c0eabf4.html
[25] https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.isthmus.com/news/news/mcc-will-renovate-lothlorien-co-op/
[26] http://madisoncommons.org/?q=content/lothloriens-co-ops-future-is-put-to-a-vote
[27] http://www.ibmadison.com/Blogger/Minority-Biz-Report/April-2015/To-be-young-black-and-ambitious-in-Madison/
[28] http://northsidemadison.org/carts-come-calling
[29] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/madison-s-airfares-highest-among-top-us-airports/article_c11c6179-b3d7-53e0-bde3-683658304529.html
[30] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/with-dues-depleted-wisconsin-s-three-afscme-councils-merge/article_136e2e6e-c63a-503b-8aa5-ad4586ba9e1d.html
[31] http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/common-sense-keeps-backyard-chicken-flocks-safe-from-bird-flu/article_a4c7cffa-2db4-5395-9564-032e10aacf93.html