6.19.2023 - 6.25.2023 SPECIAL JUNETEENTH UPDATE

City meetings continue to be mostly virtual with details listed in City Meetings of Interest below. Common Council meetings are hybrid so the public can attend in person or via Zoom. Stay in touch with your neighbors through either Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc.  or Campus Area Neighborhood Assoc .

***There are five sections to this week's update:

1. Celebrating Juneteenth Day
2. Pride Month Updates
3. City Meetings of Interest
4. Downtown Updates
5. City Updates

Celebrating Juneteenth Day

Juneteenth Day was yesterday, 6/19. Juneteenth is a day of celebration for Black people (learn more here). A day to celebrate our true freedom of slavery. I invite all my Black brothers and sisters to treat everyday like Juneteenth Day. Let us release ourselves from the shackles of enslavement, discrimination, and perpetual racism that is inflicted upon us. Let us love each other and uplift one another and prosper in Black joy, Black healing, Black love. Let us celebrate our Blackness. 

Celebrating Blackness can be difficult in Madison. There are few places for us to listen to our music, to gather together without fear of over surveillance, to just be Black. Black people in Madison experience hurdles to education, employment, ownership, everything. I get it. And to my Black people out there, I feel you, I hear you. Please reach out if you need anything fr. I encourage you all to seek out assistance and community to Black-led organizations such as Freedom Inc., the Progress Center for Black Women, Urban Triage, the Urban League, etc. 

To allies, I say that Juneteenth is Everyday. Juneteenth is not just a holiday to recognize and tokenize because it’s a cute way to show that you aren’t racist. Just as recognizing Juneteenth Day is important, it is equally if not more important to support Black people in experiencing true freedom from the constraints of institutional racism. 
Guidebook of how to celebrate Juneteenth for Allies

Support Black-owned businesses in Madison.
Donate to Black-led organizations such as the ones above.  
Juneteenth Reading List

Most of all, please seek out Black people for leadership positions. On the city council, I have noticed that we have a problem in Madison, where well-meaning allies take the stage, attempting to speak for Black people instead of allowing Black people for themselves. Black people are best equipped with leading our own liberation. 

Please seek out Black people to lead efforts of diversification, inclusion, and growth. (***This does not mean tokenizing Black people. You should not cherry-pick which Black people you decide to listen to just because their message aligns with yours.)

Pride Month Updates

Pride Month continues gay as ever. I have a running joke with myself that Madison politics is so gay. We have a gay mayor, a gay Congressman, a gay Senator…half the Madison Common Council is gay or wants to be gay. We are in a historic time of queer leadership and liberation in Madison. 

Nonetheless, last week we were reminded of the homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry that still exists in our area. I was stunned last week with the outpour of hate during last Dane County Board’s meeting, where supervisors declared the county as a trans sanctuary. Tonight, 6/20 the Common Council will debate the same resolution to declare Madison as a sanctuary city. I encourage you all to join the meeting and support trans lives. 

Check out: Pride Month Events Madison

City Meetings of Interest

Madison Common Council 6/20, 6:30p

Meeting Details
Agenda
Watch online
Register to speak
 

Items of Interest:

Agenda Item 1: Presenting 2023 Reverend James C. Wright Human Rights Award to Emanuel Scarbrough

Agenda Item 3: Declaring June 2023 as Pride MonthFrankly, this is the best honoring resolutions I have seen as an alder. Oftentimes, honoring resolutions are performative, but this…sends a message.

Agenda Item 4: Recognizing June 24, 2023, as The Capital City Hues Day

Agenda Item 5: Recognizing and commemorating the life and legacy of Juan Jose Lopez

Agenda Item 9: Change zoning for Johnson-Bassett St. redevelopment

Agenda Item 16: Declaring the city of Madison to be a sanctuary for trans and nonbinary individuals

Agenda Item 69: Supporting and Approving the City of Madison’s application to the US Department of Transportation by the Vision Zero team for Safe Streets and Roads for All Implementation grant.
 

Items for Introduction

Agenda Item 76 Approving Project Plan for TID 53

Agenda Item 81: Amendment to Development Agreement for the Lake St Campus GarageAgenda Item 84: Authorizing the Implementation of the Body-Worn Camera Pilot Program

Agenda Item 85: Authorizing the City of Madison to Execute a Lease, Operating Agreement, and Responsibility Matrix with the Madison Public Market Foundation Inc. 
 

Transportation Commission, 6/21 5p

Meeting Details
Agenda
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Agenda Item 5: Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a First Amendment to Development Agreement with Mortenson Inc for the reconstruction of the Lake St portion of the State St Campus Garage, approving Memorandum of Understanding between Mortenson Development Ince and UW-Madison for reduced-cost housing for students.
Agenda Item 7: Transit Network Redesign

Joint Campus Area Committee

Meeting Details
Agenda
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Agenda Item 2: Updating membership of the committee to add the District 2 Alder and a member of the Campus Area Neighborhood Association as members

Agenda Item 3: Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a First Amendment to Development Agreement with Mortenson Inc for the reconstruction of the Lake St portion of the State St Campus Garage, approving Memorandum of Understanding between Mortenson Development Ince and UW-Madison for reduced-cost housing for students.

Downtown Updates

???Pedestrian Mall Pilot?

I am currently working on a resolution to authorize city staff to execute a pilot of a pedestrian mall concept on the 400-600 Blocks of State St. After meeting with residents, business owners, and staff, I can see that the concept is worthy of exploration. I want to make it clear that I can’t promise all of our hopes and dreams with a pilot. I can, however, commit to listening, learning, and examining ways to achieve our goals of economic mobility, diversification, and inclusivity downtown. 

Maxwell Street Days July 13th-16th

2023 DMI Annual Celebration Sept. 21st, 4:30p-7:30p

City Updates

Make Music Madison June 21

Dane County Farmers' Market - Wednesday Market, Wednesday, June 21, 2023 : The Wednesday Dane County Farmers’ Market is located on the 200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in between the Madison Municipal Building and the City County Building. While more intimate than the Saturday Market, you will still find many of your favorite Dane County Farmers’ Market members, as well as a full array of fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, bakery items, cut flowers, plants, and many specialty items.

The Capitol View Farmers’ Market, Wednesday, June 21, 2023: The Capitol View Farmers Market is returning to the North Star Neighborhood! Join us each Wednesday (May 31-October 11, 2023) from 3:00-7:00pm to support local farmers and vendors, enjoy live music and food carts, and make the most of summer in Madison!

Learn to Fish with WI DNR, Wednesday, June 21, 2023: Learn to Fish with Madison Parks and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources!  There is no cost to attend (advanced registration is required), however, anglers ages 16 and older will need a Wisconsin fishing license, which can be purchased online at Go Wild . For first-time license buyers, the cost is just $5 for an annual permit. See license options . Wisconsin DNR's Fishmobile will be onsite with all the fishing equipment needed to participate. This event is open to adults and children and is ideal for persons aged 7 years and older. Children must be supervised by a parent or adult guardian. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver for themselves and their children, upon arrival.

Concerts on the Rooftop: The Jimmys, Thursday, June 22, 2023: The Jimmys are a powerhouse, seven-piece band influenced by raw Chicago Blues to second line New Orleans funk. Touring throughout the U.S. and Europe, The Jimmys have amassed international acclaim. Members of this band have garnered Wisconsin’s top honors in Blues to Grammy recognition to platinum records!

URT Electronics Recycling Event, Saturday, June 24, 2023: Universal Recycling Technologies (URT) aims to encourage responsible and safe disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) while providing a free responsible recycling solution for the underserved communities.

Madison Log Rolling Championship, Saturday, June 24, 2023: Lumberjacks and Lumberjills from all over the US will gather to log roll in the first outdoor event of the season. Youth and amateur athletes compete in the earlier hours of the day, followed by the elite log rollers. All proceeds from the Midwest Log Rolling Championships benefit the Huntington’s Disease Society of American AND the Madison Log Rolling School.

Bird & Nature Adventures | Edna Taylor, Saturday, June 24, 2023: Baby Bird Bonanza ~ Join a naturalist for an easy family-friendly walk from Aldo Leopold Nature Center into beautiful Edna Taylor Conservation Park and enjoy a bit of nature education along the way. Walks through the Edna Taylor Conservation Park are held on the 4th Saturday, 10-11:30am of each month and begin at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive. Meet outside at the Children's Shack. Co-sponsored by Madison Parks, Madison Audubon Society , and Aldo Leopold Nature Center . No registration is required. No pets are allowed.

Madison Symphony Orchestra Community Concert, Saturday, June 24, 2023: Madison Symphony Orchestra presents a free concert for the community.

Movies with Madison Parks - Everything Everywhere All at Once, Saturday, June 24, 2023: Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy this FREE movie night in Lisa Link Peace Park! Madison’s Central Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Madison Parks, proudly presents a free movie in the heart of Downtown Madison! Announcements

2023 Reverend Wright Human Rights Award Recipient: The Annual Reverend Wright Human Rights Award goes this year to Emanuel Scarbrough. The award will be presented at the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

Support Local Businesses in the Heat of Construction Season: The City of Madison Engineering Division encourages the community to support local businesses specifically impacted by major projects underway during the heat of this construction season.

Madison Public Library Seeks Presenters for the Annual Teejop & Beyond Program: MADISON, WI -- Madison Public Library is accepting applications for Teejop & Beyond from June 15 - July 30, 2023.

Street Closure--University Bay Drive (Bridge Install): University Bay Drive will be closed at the intersection of University Avenue overnight from 7:00 p.m. Friday June 16, 2023 to 7:00 a.m.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Statement on Shared Revenue Vote in Senate: The shared revenue bill is being called “historic” because it is the first time in over 20 years that the Legislature has begun to address its responsibilities in sharing state income and sales taxes to ensure core services can be provided by local communities throughout Wisconsin. However, no one should think that this represents a fair compromise or solves the long-term problem for local governments across the state.

Help Guide Growth and Change in Madison: The City of Madison is currently working on an Interim Update of its 2018 Imagine Madison Comprehensive Plan, which is a long-term vision for the future of Madison to help guide the growth and change Madison is experiencing. The Interim Update is focused on the Generalized Future Land Use (GFLU) map within the Comprehensive Plan. The GFLU map guides how and where Madison grows. The City is updating the GFLU map to reflect land use recommendations from neighborhood, area, and neighborhood development plans adopted between summer 2018 and summer 2023. In addition to these administrative updates, the public has an opportunity to propose amendments to the GFLU map.