New Year's Dissonance...and This Week's Updates

Hi Everyone,

I trust your holidays were full of joy and that this new year brings health and good fortune to us all. 

True to form, however, the year has already been rocked with unsettling dissonance. While this is not a blog focusing on foreign affairs, I am reminded that the one fact that supersedes all others is this: Venezuala is the richest oil country in the world. Yes, it is also a failed state dominated by criminal enterprises, but the fact that Venezuala holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, exceeding those of Saudi Arabia and the United States, is the tell in this story. 

True, the Venezualan people have suffered terribly under Chavismo, and few will mourn Maduro's departure. Still, our nation's history in Latin America is extremely checkered and the newly stated Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, now dubbed the Donroe Doctrine, will very likely not bring healing to this troubled nation. 

Now on to local concerns.

Updates and Notices 

John Nolen Drive Project: Get current information about road closures and construction updates for John Nolen Drive. 

Boards, Commissions, and Committee Meetings 

Note: This is not a complete list of meetings for this upcoming week. All meetings and their details can be found at the Meeting Schedule page. 

• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee meeting will take place on Monday, January 5, at 4:30 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing the Madison Police Department to accept training grants on an ongoing basis without requiring separate resolutions to accept individual grants. 

• Meeting Details 

• Meeting Agenda 

• Register for Public Comment 

• Watch Online 

• Transportation Commission: The Transportation Commission meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 7, at 5:00 p.m. in virtual format. Agenda items include authorizing the application and acceptance of a Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant, which would fund planned safety improvements and identify additional needs at at-grade railroad crossings that support the proposed extension of the Amtrak Hiawatha service to Madison. 

• Meeting Details 

• Meeting Agenda 

• Register for Public Comment 

• Watch Online 

If you would like more information about becoming a member of a City board, commission, or committee, please visit the page linked here. 

Public Information Meetings (PIMs) 

• Playground Workshop, Tuesday, January 6: Madison Parks identified six playgrounds to be replaced in 2026. Neighbors are invited to attend a virtual playground workshop to learn more and share input. 

Announcements and News Releases 

• Happy New Year from Mayor Rhodes-Conway: "As 2025 draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the dedicated employees of the City, and to our whole community...." [posted December 31, 2025]