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Community Advocacy, Bashford Church Public Meeting, and Weekly Updates for the Week of July 28th 2026

posted 

Gratitude For Your Outreach, Concerns, and Advocacy

Thank you to everyone who has emailed me in the past week to share your thoughts and expectations regarding the needed city response to an MPD officer shooting and killing Corey Ruiz last Wednesday afternoon. I intend to respond to each and every one of you who reached out directly within the next day. 

We have also gotten several hundred All Alder emails as well and I am trying my best to flag everyone from District 12 who has reached out to All Alders. If you shared your address when sending that email, I will be able to respond to that message as well. If you only sent an email to All Alders and didn't share your address and would like a direct response, I would appreciate you forwarding the email to District12@cityofmadison.com. Because there are so many emails we have received in the All Alders inbox, I may not be able to directly respond to those until closer to the end of the week. 

Updates and Notices

  • Wednesday 07/29/2026, 5:30pm - Bashford Church (329 North Street) Redevelopment Public Meeting
    • Register for Zoom - You can join the virtual meeting using your computer, smartphone or tablet, or you can can participate via telephone. If you are having trouble registering with the URL shared on the postcard, make sure you are not including the period at the end (if you are entering by hand, it is www.cityofmadison.com/MeetingJuly29Bashford).
    • Revive Community Development Corporation, a ministry of the United Methodist Church proposes to redevelop the property at 329 North Street, formerly Bashford United Methodist Church. The existing structure would be demolished and a new, four-story, multi-use building would be constructed. The new building would contain a total of 80 mixed-income affordable apartments comprised of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Parking plans include 93 surface stalls for cars and additional parking for bicycles.
    • The intention for this project is to include significant space for the community to be able to use (including the return of a polling place to Eken Park, hosting neighborhood meetings, and general community space).
    • Following major flooding and roof damage last year, the initial intention of the folks who own Bashford Church was to make repairs and keep it as is. When flooding issues continued even after roof repairs, this project proposal came next. I'm sure this background will be better covered at the meeting tomorrow night, but wanted to be sure I mention it here as well. I know the absence of this community space has been felt by folks throughout the neighborhood.
  • August Moving Days Fast Approaching: If you or someone you know is taking part in the annual August moving days on the isthmus, make sure they are aware of the rules, opportunities, and responsibilities during that time. We have a  round-up of August moving days information on our website.

Public Information Meetings (PIMs)

  • Transportation Commission Meeting (Virtual), Wednesday, July 29: On Wednesday, July 29, Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. to review and discuss proposed new and updated service standards, processes for making service changes, and processes and standards related to placements of bus stops, shelter, benches, and other amenities.

  • Milwaukee Street Reconstruction, Thursday, July 30: The City is planning to reconstruct Milwaukee Street (Starweather Creek to W Corporate Drive). A public information meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., July 30, 2026, via Zoom. Registration prior is required. 
  • Public Information Meeting - Warner Park, Thursday, July 30: As part of the Warner Park Southeast Recreation Area Development Plan, we identified the need to reconfigure the athletic fields located in the southeast corner of Warner Park. 

Announcements and News Releases

  • Williamson Street Closure Remains in Place Until Further Notice: To ensure community safety, the closure of Williamson Street and South Baldwin Street will remain in place due to the ongoing public gathering within the intersection. The closure will remain in effect until further notice. Please see the attached… [posted July 24, 2026]
  • Sanitary Sewer Work to Begin on Section of W Johnson Street: Starting on Tuesday, July 28, and continuing until approximately Friday, August 21, RG Huston will be conducting sanitary sewer installation for the private development project at 306 N Brooks St. The work will occur in lane on W Johnson Street… [posted July 24, 2026]
  • Announcing Mooveapalooza!: A Donation & Mattress Recycling Event: The City of Madison Streets Division and the Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables is happy to announce the first ever Mooveapalooza! This is a one-day event at Alliant Energy Center where anyone can donate usable items like… [posted July 23, 2026]
  • Mayor Rhodes-Conway's Response to Officer-Involved Shooting: I am angered and saddened by what happened today. My heart breaks for those who have lost a loved one, those who witnessed the shooting, and everyone impacted. [posted July 22, 2026]
  • Community Invited to Celebrate Outgoing Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence: The Madison Arts Commission and the Bubbler at Madison Public Library are inviting the community to an event marking the end of Jennifer Bastian's term as the artist-in-residence at Thurber Park. [posted July 22, 2026]
  • Metro Transit Public Hearing Scheduled: On Wednesday, July 29, Metro Transit and the City of Madison Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. to review and discuss proposed new and updated service standards, processes for making service changes, and processes and standards related to placements of bus stops, shelter, benches, and other amenities. [posted July 22, 2026]
  • New Men's Shelter Scheduled to Open September 1: The new shelter not only brings improved physical space, but its opening will also fundamentally alter how the shelter functions. [posted July 21, 2026]
  • Opening Date Set for Imagination Center at Reindahl Park: Save the date for the opening of the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park hosted by Madison Public Library, City of Madison Engineering, Madison Parks and Madison Public Library Foundation. [posted July 21, 2026]
  • Secure Drop Boxes Are Now Open: Madison's secure ballot drop boxes are now open for the August 11, 2026, election. [posted July 21, 2026]
  • Applications Being Accepted to Fill Alder District 1 Vacancy: District 1 residents are invited to apply to fill this vacancy for the remainder of the current alder term. [posted July 20, 2026]

Please visit the City news webpage to find additional news and announcements and to subscribe to receive notification of news releases as they are posted.

Events

Additional upcoming events can also be found on the City events calendar.

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Portrait of Alder Julia Matthews

Alder Julia Matthews

District 12
Contact Alder Matthews