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.
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Here’s what we were reading while getting ready for a beer on the Terrace [2].
Education
Madison Area Technical College’s board approved a plan to lease its downtown campus in order to expand on in South Madison [3]. Members of the Madison Common Council are split over Madison Area Technical College’s decision to lease its downtown campus and expand in South Madison [4]. Madison Metropolitan School District began hiring staff for its community schools program [5]. The Boys and Girls Club of Dane County introduces kids to dental care as a health habit and a career option [6]. A longtime guidance counselor in Madison school is retiring [7]. The school district offers scholarships for drivers education [8]. West High School needs a new athletic director [9]. Madison schools also adjusted athletic eligibility requirements, saying sports keep at-risk students engaged [10]. Women In Focus awarded scholarships [11] to outstanding Madison-area students.
Government
Chris Rickert isn’t sure an investigation into potential violations of open meetings laws by Common Council is really about government transparency [12]. The Common Council’s rejection of a symbolic resolution illustrates the breakdown in relations between Mayor Paul Soglin and the Common Council [13], says Dave Zwifel. City employees of color say they encounter a hostile work environment [14]. Madison’s new urban forestry charge is hurting some neighborhood associations [15]. The city will support expanded outdoor programming downtown [16]. Soglin named 23-year-old alder Zach Wood to the finance committee [17]. Should emergency responders respect city borders or focus on proximity [18]? Wesley Sparkman will be the director of Dane County’s [19] Tamara Grigsby Office for Equity and Inclusion.
Community
An exhibit of photos of community reaction after the death of unarmed teenager Tony Robinson by a Madison police officer last March opened [20]. A UW student arrested for graffiti related to the racial climate on campus will not face criminal charges [21]. Dane County Airport’s traffic is either up or down, depending on who you ask [22]. MGE saw its profits fall after a warm winter [23]. Community Pharmacy on State Street needs business if it is going to survive [24]. The city won nearly $28M in federal money to support affordable housing developments [25]. The Children’s Theater of Madison is presenting “To Kill a Mockingbird.” [26] Fresh Madison Market will no longer be selling [27] tobacco products. Vote Riders will take you to the DMV to get a state ID [28] so you can vote. The Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission will unveil [29] the 2016 Art Poster on May 16th.Most of Madison’s major roads are in “mediocre to poor” shape [30], according to a highway lobbyist group. Madison’s Just Bakery works to help recently incarcerated individuals prepare for culinary jobs [31].
