VOTE Tuesday, Family Definition Revision moving through, Events and Announcements

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

If you haven’t already voted absentee, I sincerely hope you will make you way to the polls on Tuesday, February 21 for this important primary election. Check your polling place, review the supreme court and mayoral candidates’ answers (mayoral videos too), and get out there! There will be no primary for school board, as there are only two candidates running for one seat, and the other seat has an unopposed candidate. And, mark your calendars for the April 4 final spring election!

“Family definition” revision

The Plan Commission voted unanimously to refer the ordinance revision as written to the Common Council on February 28. The Housing Strategy Committee will also be reviewing the item on Thursday, February 23 at 5pm. You may provide comments to that committee and to the Common Council in writing, and by registering to speak.

Events

• UW-Madison West Campus District Plan open houses will be held:
  • Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Health Sciences Learning Center Atrium – 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Health Sciences Learning Center Atrium – 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 23 – Gordon Dining & Event Center, Overture Room – 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Please help the planning team gather feedback about the current layout of the west campus and future improvements planned for this area. Attendees will have an opportunity to view initial design concepts from the project team and share their reactions in an open house-style setting.

• Saturday, February 25, 10-11:30am: Bird & Nature Adventures - 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.

Announcements

• Fueling Philanthropy, led by students in the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, has released a request for proposals for Wisconsin-based nonprofits seeking to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by empowering underserved communities. Deadline: February 27.
• Are you a parent? Are you a caregiver for a school-aged child(ren)? Please take this survey to provide feedback about out-of-school time programming for children and youth (i.e. afterschool and summer activities). The survey is designed to take 5-10 minutes. Deadline: March 3.
• The City of Madison is thrilled to announce that the Streets Division has stopped charging recycling fees for televisions, computers, laptops, and monitors. You must bring the items to a drop off location – these items may not be left at the curb.
• The City of Madison has launched a Bilingual Community Connector Program for increased language access and equity: Enoch Melgarejo and Holly Chen have joined the Department of Civil Rights as Bilingual Community Connectors in the City of Madison’s new Community Connector Program, one of the few government programs of this kind in the country.
• Data show a significant decline in traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Madison for two consecutive years since initiation of the Vision Zero Program.
• Isthmus Safety Initiative aims to keep downtown Madison safe: Public Health Madison & Dane County is leading a new, collaborative approach to preventing crime in downtown Madison.
• Wisconsin Help for Homeowners is available to help with overdue bills like mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, and more. The program is open to individuals and families who live in Wisconsin with overdue housing-related bills, both with and without a mortgage, who meet income and other eligibility requirements, and have experienced a qualified economic hardship since January 21, 2020.
• Save the Dates! Madison Night Market returns this summer: The 2023 Dates are 5/11, 6/8, 8/10, 9/14, and 10/19.  

Be well,

Regina Vidaver