F35s, New Pinney Tour, Africa Fest - D15 Update 8/11/19

This week I had the pleasure of attending a presentation from youth at the East Madison Community Center (EMCC) to hear their ideas for improving their community. After identifying several areas for improvement, they collectively chose "transportation" as the most important theme. The team of youth led by Wanda Fullmore interns A.J. Wright & Omar Dahaba presented their photovoice project results including recommendations related to biking, pedestrian safety, and bus improvements.

I was truly impressed by the quality of the ideas presented and I look forward to helping these students bring about the positive change they have imagined.

F-35s

Adjacent to the neighborhood where many of these young people live is Truax Field, home to the 115th Fighter Wing. In February of last year, the United States Air Force published its notice of intent to site squadrons of F-35A aircraft at two of five possible locations across the country. Madison was among the five locations under consideration and after review was identified as one of the two preferred locations. One requirement of this process is the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for each location. The Draft EIS was published last week and available for review here.

The most significant environmental impact noted in the report for Madison is the increase in noise pollution. The report states that 'Under the Proposed Action, a total of 1,318 households and 2,766 people would be within the 65dB DNL, an increase of 1,019 households and 2,215 people from the affected environment. This would be considered a significant impact to those persons affected.' The additional 1,320 acres of land around the airport with levels above 65dB are considered 'incompatible for residential use' and the report cites no proposed remedy or mitigation strategy.

The greatest increase in the areas deemed 'incompatible for residential use' are to the south of the airport in the Carpenter-Ridgeway, Hawthorne, and Worthington Park neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are home to high proportions of low-income residents, people of color, and children and will receive a disproportionate negative impact from the proposal. Residents living outside of the 65dB contour would also experience in increase to both the frequency and volume of noise associated with the fighter wing activities. While a boon to our local economy has often been cited as one of the most compelling reasons to support this proposal, the EIS states that "The increases in employment and income would be beneficial but negligible."

I share the concerns expressed by other elected officials and will be working to make sure these concerns are well understood and considered before a final decision is made. The Madison-area public meeting for this draft EIS is scheduled for September 12, 2019 at the Alliant Energy Center from 5-8 p.m. (Open House - 5 to 6:30 p.m. Formal Presentation - 6:30 to 8 p.m.) Please consider attending the meeting to voice your opinions or submit them online here. 

In the news:

• Olbrich Gardens Expansion Project Status Update
• Buckeye Road Construction Update
• Average aquifer levels highest in a generation
• Mental Health and Emergency Response
• Report: More than 1,000 Madison homes would be 'incompatible for residential use' with F-35 jets
• Man who died in high speed hit-and-run on Near East Side identified
• Madison College, REAP partnership benefits local farmers, schools

This week's highlights:

Monday, August 12, 2019

12:00 pm - President's Work Group on Council Communication Tools/Processes: I will be chairing this new work group that will be working to improve communication tools and processes for the Common Council. Improving communication between city government and its residents is a top priority for me and this work group should be a good opportunity to identify and implement improvements.

4:30 pm - Finance Committee: The development of Blocks 88 & 105 (often referred to as Judge Doyle Square) continues to present challenges. The latest issue comes following the selection of Gebhardt Development to build 197 units (119 market-rate & 78 affordable) and 22,600 sq. ft. of commercial space on top of the city's new parking garage and podium. The two issues that will be considered at Monday's Finance Committee meeting are 1) the increased cost and/or reduced affordable housing from their original proposal and 2) the increased cost of the modifications to the podium needed to accommodate the mass of the building. You can read a summary of these issues in the Block 88 Development Agreement Negotiation Status Report. Note: this item may be taken into Closed Session. 

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

7:00 pm - Opera in the Gardens: Fresco Opera Theatre is back this summer with their unique performances of opera from a modern perspective! Stroll through the gardens and take in roaming performances of several operatic scenes in different garden areas. You won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind experience!

7:00 pm - Eastmorland Community Association Meeting: Monthly neighborhood association meeting at the Lakeview Moravian Community Church.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

12:00 pm - Tour Literacy Network at Literacy Network 101: Get an inside look at how you can change lives through literacy by touring Literacy Network's learning center this month!

7:00 pm - Lake Edge Neighborhood Association Meeting: Monthly LENA meeting will be in the Lake Edge Lutheran Church library, which is through the front door (from the parking lot), up the stairs and to the left.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

5:00 pm - The Dobet Gnahore Select Session: The final Session at McPike Park will be a memorable one. Dobet Gnahore is a sensational performer from The Ivory Coast who is multi-talented ... a singer with incredible range; an athletic dancer; and a fine percussionist.

5:00 pm - East Wild Rumpus: An Anji Play experience: Enjoy child-led play in the park each week, based on the educational approach of Anji Play. Kids can create a Play Story based on their activities of the day and grownups will have opportunities to help their kids reflect on their play.

Friday, August 16, 2019

12:30 pm - Rise Up & Celebrate: Advocacy to Activism: Join us to celebrate the hard work of the 2019 Advocacy to Activism students! Learn more about their creative and innovative campaigns!

3:30 pm - New Pinney Library Tour: Madison Public Library Foundation staff will be conducting monthly tours of the new Pinney Library for donors and potential donors.

4:00 pm - Schenks Corners Block Party 2019: Madison's favorite little block party is back (through Saturday).

5:30 pm - Dane Dances: Grupo Candela & The Voices: Dane Dances! is a family friendly event on the stunning Monona Terrace rooftop every Friday evening in August.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

12:00 pm - Africa Fest 2019: Africa Fest is an annual celebration which educates and promotes diversity by showcasing African cultural heritages to residents in the Greater Madison area via Stage Performances, Arts & Crafts, Taste of Africa and Strides For Africa.

1:00 pm - East Side History Club meeting: Join us as we welcome Cindy Clark, McFarland Historical Society Board member. Cindy will lead a discussion focused on Gold Star Mothers, a phrase used to reference mothers with sons and daughters who died serving in the military, as well as wives, whose spouses were killed.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

1:00 pm - OutReach's Magic Festival: A PRIDE Celebration: OutReach Magic Festival pride event for 2019 will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall and the 30th Anniversary of Madison's first pride parade. There'll be activities for all ages, entertainment, food and merchant vendors, information booths, and more!

2:15 pm - Historic Dean House Tour: Tours offered at 2:15p and 3:15p.

Click on 'details' in the events below for links to additional details and meeting agendas. You can find a full list of city meetings here.

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