Redistricting, budget, food news, streets, libraries

Hello neighbors,

There are two big things on the City's docket these days: the budget, and redistricting. I wrote about both of these last week, but want to reinforce that these will take up my, other Alders' and the Mayor's office's time over the next couple of months. Please note that you may engage on these items in the following ways:

Redistricting:

• Join us for one of our virtual City of Madison Redistricting Informational Meetings on Wednesday, September 22nd, 12-1pm or 6-7pm, in-person opportunities where concept maps will be available for feedback at a City of Madison library near you from September 20-26th, or Redistricting Committee meetings. Community members can also provide feedback on concepts through the online public comment map.  
• Visit cityofmadison.com/Redistricting for more information and subscribe to updates. 

Budget:

• The Capital Budget will be introduced at the September 21 Common Council meeting. This will be a public hearing.
• The public is encouraged to participate in the process over the next two months. The Capital Budget will be voted on the week of November 9.
• The Operating Budget will be introduced at the October 19 Common Council meeting.
• For those of you in Dane County District 11, Supervisor Andrae will be holding a virtual town hall on Wednesday, September 22 to discuss the Dane County budgeting process.

Rental assistance:

• The Tenant Resource Center has funds available through September 30 to assist with security deposits.

Anyone who knows me knows I love food. Here is some food-related news you can use:

• Pasture and Plenty is organizing the Bakers Against Racism bake sale to benefit Nehemiah. (As a side note, if you haven't yet had the opportunity to join Nehemiah's Black History for a New Day course, I highly recommend it!)
• It's Madison Restaurant Week this week!
• This Saturday, September 25 is the Monroe Street Festival, where there will be – you guessed it – lots of food! There will also be the unveiling of an anti-racist mural from 1-3:30pm.

Streets:

• Yard waste collection schedules for this fall are now available.
• The annual Rain Reserve Barrel diverter and compost bin sale will be happening again this year at Garver Feed Mill. (Rain barrels not available due to materials shortage.)
• Brush collection is wrapping up for 2021, so check the brush schedule before setting out your brush.
• And as always, be sure you are recycling the right stuff the right way. And never place batteries in your recycling cart.

Libraries:

• Madison BCycle is proud to launch its Community Pass Program to bring equitable access to its bike share system. The program, in partnership with the Madison Public Library Foundation, will enable riders to use their Madison Public Library card to access one of over 300 electric bikes. 
• In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15, Madison Public Library will highlight the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans and celebrate Hispanic and Latino American culture through book lists and events.
• Library Takeover is a program created to support communities to make their idea happen at the library! Teams of 3-4 people can pitch their idea; if accepted, you could receive a $2,000 event budget, free space at the library, a $400 stipend for each member of the team, a 4-workshop event-planning course, and help from an influential local mentor!
• The Wisconsin Book Festival is preparing for the fall kickoff to its 2021–22 programming season with a hybrid approach for author events -- some virtual and others in person. In-person events will mostly take place on Saturday, October 23, during the annual fall celebration weekend at Central Library, with select in-person events in partnership with the Wisconsin Science Festival at the Discovery Building on the UW-Madison campus.
• September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month and Madison Public Library is celebrating with a number of activities throughout the month.
  • During Library Card Sign-Up Month, large library cards will be available at each library location, as well as the Dream Bus, for new and first-time card holders to take photos with. Celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month and share your photos online using the hashtag #WeReadMadison and tagging @MadisonPublicLibrary on Instagram and Facebook or @MadisonLibrary on Twitter! 

Be well,

Regina Vidaver