Meetings This Week & Upcoming Events This Month

Greetings friends and neighbors,

I write this entry with a heaviness that has been difficult to express in words and share in its full vulnerability. Once again, our nation has experienced gun violence by way of a mass shooting – this time in far closer proximity & threat to Dane County – in Highland Park, IL. As we have also frighteningly discovered, our community was spared from this act of violence by sheer grace. And while Dane County's attention has understandably been on the could-have-been tragedy at home, the community of Summit County (OH) has been focused on demanding justice for Jayland Walker.

Once again, I've found myself extending heartfelt condolences towards grief stricken family, friends and communities of people who should be here...grieving over situations that could have been prevented. 7 parade attendees should be here, today. Jayland should be here, today.

Personally, being in these situations far too often has caused deep seeded sadness, occasional hopelessness and paves an easy route to becoming numb and/or desensitized by tragedy. I consider my heart and mind to be two of my greatest gifts but still very much find resonance within the saying, "it is both a blessing and curse to feel everything so very deeply." I share all of this to say – feel what you feel but take good care! Yes, we should be on alert. Fear of gun violence and crime is normal. However, we can't let these dynamics paralyze us or push us to give up hope. I appreciated an article published by Channel 3000 News about managing our lives and fear in wake of mass shootings. If you don't have time to read, here are a couple tips I found helpful and hope you do too!

• If attending a large gathering, create a safety plan. Talk with the people you're with and decide where you'd meet in the event of an emergency or separation.
• Talk through your feelings. Avoiding them altogether tends to make one feel more panicked and afraid.
• Keep things in perspective and find ways to bring joy into your life and that make you feel safe. This also means recognizing when there's an issue & developing healthy way(s) to cope.

We are no doubt living in trying, scary and confusing times. Do what makes you feel most safe and be around people/places/things that offer you personal and/or community safety.

Wishing you all the best this weekend and upcoming week,

Jael

Meetings

City County Homeless Issues Committee Meeting – Monday 7/11 5:30pm (virtual)

The CCHIC will be receiving updates regarding men's (homeless) shelter and COVID-19 responses (ie: hotel sheltering for those experiencing literal homelessness). Watch online

Plan Commission Meeting – Monday 7/11 5:30pm (virtual)

The PC will be considering approval granting permission to demolish an in-district single family residence and adjoining agricultural accessory buildings (ie: barn structures, silos, and storage sheds ) located at 7317 Cottage Grove Rd. The premises were vacated in 2018 and have not been occupied since that time. Since the tenants vacated the premises in 2018, the on-site well was abandoned and the Madison Police Department has utilized the vacant residence and property for police and SWAT training exercises at various times, most recently in March and April 2020. Staff have recommend that the site be considered to allow the Madison Fire Department to conduct training sequences prior to demolition. Upon removal, the site will be returned vacant agricultural land consistent with the majority of the approximately 200 acre property, which has areas currently being farmed for grass and hay. No redevelopment or improvement of the site is proposed at this time. Planning Division staff is recommending this item to be approved and placed on the meeting's consent agenda. Watch online

Common Council Meeting – Tuesday July 12, 6:30pm (hybrid)

Beginning Tuesday, Common Council meetings will be held in-person and on the City's Zoom meeting platform. This change is intended to help further equity, accessibility and participation/engagement goals. Members of the public may choose to view and/or provide comment in person or virtually. Council meetings will still be viewable live and on-demand via the Madison City Channel and the City's YouTube Channel. To attend or give public comment in person, enter through the main doors at the City County Building (210 Martin Luther King Blvd) and proceed to the 2nd floor. To give public comment virtually, register online and you will be sent an email with information on how to join the virtual meeting. Whether you plan to attend meetings in-person or virtually, the City will continue taking all public comment registration online. Masks are recommended but not required as Dane County's community COVID-19 level is currently medium. The Council is and will continue to follow guidelines from Public Health Madison Dane County.

Public Safety Review Committee Meeting – Wednesday 7/13, 5pm (virtual)

The PSRC will discuss a proposed ordinance that would prohibit Madison Police Department and Law Enforcement responding under mutual aid (emergency response and/or incident mitigation assistance) from using tear gas, mace, projectile devices and/or chemical agent for the purposes of crowd control. Watch online

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 7/12 – Virtual Session on Gun Safety, 12-1pm

Join Public Health Madison Dane County, Dane County's Violence Prevention Unit and Be SMART from Moms Demand Action for a conversation on gun safety. The event is free but registration is required; register here. More information about the event can be found by visiting Public Health's Violence Prevention webpage

Saturday 7/16 – Annual Urban League Unity Picnic (details in image below)

Wednesday 7/13 – Badger Rock Community Market, 5-8pm @ the Badger Rock Neighborhood Center (501 E. Badger Rd) Join the Badger Rock Neighborhood and UJAMAA Business Network for one of their weekly Wednesday markets where space is offered to share resources, enjoy entertainment/performances and opportunities to shop with & support local businesses!

July 13th through August 7th – Blooming Butterflies, 10-4pm @ Olbrich Botannical Gardens (3330 Atwood Ave) After a 3 year hiatus, the butterflies are back! Experience the magnificence of free-flying butterflies of up to 19 different species. For more info visit: olbrich.org/events/butterflies/cfm

Friday 7/15 – Mad Lit, 8-11pm @ the top (100 block) of State Street. Mad Lit is a free concert series featuring live music & highlighting local artists and businesses of color that will take place every other Friday thru 10/7/22. July 15th performers include La Combi, Grupo Candela and DJ Chamo. Visit www.ourgmmc.org/madlit for more info about Mad Lit,

Sunday 7/17 – Sunday Community Ride, 1-3pm @ Worthington Park (3102 Worthington Ave)

Join BikEquity Inc. for a family-oriented and easy paced Sunday ride for all ages and abilities. The ride will start and end at Worthington Park. Meet up begins at 1pm, followed by a group ride and photograph, plus food and refreshments beginning at 2:30pm.

Saturday 7/23 – Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center 25th Anniversary Celebration 6:30-9:45pm @ The Monona Terrace (1 John Nolan Dr) This free community celebration will feature local and regional bands, dance performances and conclude with a spectacular drone show over Lake Monona. Additional event information can be found here.