10/2 - 10/8 Updates

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 three sections to this week's update:

1. 10/3 Council Meeting
2. Operating Budget
3. State Legislature Attack on Trans People

TW: This blog includes mentions of DV and Transphobia

10/3 Council Meeting 

• Agenda Item 1: Recognizing October as Domestive Violence Awareness Month

This month Virginia of UNIDOS will receive the recognition. UNIDOS has been working to end the abuse cycle since 1996. They support Latine and other marginalized organizations so they can overcome the challenges of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Their services include a trained helpline (800)510-9195, advocacy, and conseling. 

If you or someone you know are experiencing abuse or violence, please reach out to an organization like UNIDOS for help. 

• Agenda Item 2: Affirming and Celebrating Monday, October 9, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Agenda Item 4: 2024 Executive Capital Busget
• Agenda Item 6: Transfer of Red Shed Liquor License
  • Unfortunately, approval for the transfer of Red Shed's license will be referred to the next October Alcohol License and Review Committee (ALRC) meeting
• Agenda Item 13: New Alcohol License for Double Tape Madison LLC (347 State St)
• Agenda Item 15: New Alcohol License for Roxxy (331 W Gorham) 
• Agenda Item 26: 21+ Entertainment License Roxxy (331 W Gorham)
• Agenda Item 44: Repealing Secion 23.07(6) of the Madison General Ordinances and amending Section 23.07(13) and 1.08(3) of the Madison General Ordinances to remove associated references.

Many people have contacted all alders in opposition of this item to make trespassing ordinance. Alder Figueroa Cole did a great job of summarizing the reasoning behind the change in her blog. Essentially, this is a part of a broader effort to put our city in alignment with our stated priorities. How can we be a city that declares homelessness is protected class while simultaneously supporting ordinances that criminalize homelessness?

To respond to some of what we have seen in comments here is a quick myth v. fact so that we are all on the same page.

MYTH: This ordinance change legalizes trespassing. 
FACT: Trespassing is STILL illegal without the ordinance

"The Wisconsin Court of Appeals held that "a police officer may serve as an agent of an owner or occupant to give notice of a trespass.",State v. Horn, 377 N.W.2d 176, 182 (Wis. Ct. App. 1985).

• Thus, pursuant to State v. Horn, even if it is the case that trespassers must receive notice that they cannot trespass, police officers may deliver that notice to enforce trespassing ordinances.

Therefore, Section 2 of the Trespassing Ordinance covers any trespassing regardless of whether the person is sleeping, signing, or standing!

"It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or remain on any property of another or to enter or remain in any building of another after having been notified by the owner or occupant not to enter or remain on such premises." 

- Re. Ald. Figueroa Cole's blog

MYTH: MPD will not be able to respond or do anything about tresspassing should this ordinance pass. 
FACT: MPD will still be able to respond, facilitate the moving of someone, and respond in the same amount of time that they are currently

MPD regularly responds to trespassing requests for service. MPD will continue to do so in the same manner they have for years. The main difference with this ordinance change is that we will no longer have an outdated ordinance on record.

Over the past five years MPD has issued only 6 citations for trespassing under this ordinance. Now tell me how the ordinance is effective at detering trespassing. 

MYTH: This ordinance change will cause a boon in illegal trespassing and conversely this ordinance deters trespassing.
FACT: The ordinance change will efficate very little to no change in trespassing. 

If you are homeless, you are not thinking about the homeowner shooing you off your property. You are thinking about where you are gonna sleep and where you are going to eat. It is entirely survival. 

***

I understand that the thought of a stranger sleeping on your property without permission can be scary. I can see how this idea led many people to emailing in. I encourage those that are worried about this ordinance change to rest assured that there are still many safeguards to protect your and your property.

I also encourage folx to show a little compassion. For a "progressive" city where every other home has a yard sign that proclaims, "IN THIS HOUSE, WE BELIEVE...KINDNeSS IS EVERYTHING", it is disappointing to see that these virtue signals only extend as far as the issue does not directly impact oneself. 

Be grateful you have shelter. Be kind to those that don't.
 

• Agenda Item 48: Supporting limitation  on city purchases from nuclear weapons producers.
• Agenda Item 7: Creating a Housing Taskforce addressing Madison's affordable housing shortage and other related housing issues. 

The recommendation is to adopt the alternate that I wrote. Please refer to my previous blog. Essentially the alternate send the issue to the Housing Strategy Committee and focuses on delivering specific results to help issue recommendations on creating more affordable renter, owner, and student hosuing options. 

Operating Budget

Today, the Mayor release her executive operating budget. If you are interested, please review the mayor's press release and the operating budget. Stay tunedd in the upcoming weeks on updates!

State Legislature Attack on Trans People

Tomorrow, Oct. 4th, the State Legislature will introduce a series of anti-trans legislation. The legislation would essentially bar trans people from participating in K-12 and collegiate sports, even co-ed sports. It would also ban gender affirming care for anyone under the age of 18. Please support trans folx be taking action. 

Outreach LGBTQ+ Community Center put together an amazing community resource to learn more about the legislation, action steps, and events. You can find it at http://bit.ly/supporttransfolkswi