Defeated: Proposed Williamson Street Business Stabilization Program

It's the day after the Common Council meeting and I'm still ruminating on the outcome. My resolution to get a modest $100,000 in assistance to Willy Street businesses was defeated 13-7 (15 votes are needed to pass a budget amendment). I'd already taken the Finance Committee's recommendation to avoid dipping into the Contingency Reserve, cutting my original proposal from $300,000 down to just $100,000 in funds that were already budgeted but unspent. Even so, seven alders voted no.

The argument that stuck with me most was the comparison to how the city handles businesses inconvenienced by planned road construction. The reasoning was that if we don't offer assistance there, why offer it here? 

But those two situations are not comparable. Businesses facing disruption from road construction get months of advance notice to prepare, restaff and adjust inventory. Our Willy Street businesses got zero notice before a City of Madison Police Officer killed a man in broad daylight, steps from their doors.

We can debate precedent all day, but when there's a clear path to doing real public good, I think we should take it. I also disagree with the notion that helping a community experiencing sustained harm, harm it might not fully recover from, is somehow unprecedented. The whole purpose of city government is to invest in our neighbors and community, particularly when they're hurting and in need. Madison's 2026 operating budget is roughly $452.7 million. It's disappointing that investing just 0.02% of that in readily available funds was seen as too much to ask.

I'm grateful to all of my colleagues who voted yes tonight, especially Alder Barbara Harrington-McKinney, who spoke and made a case even stronger than mine for why this program mattered. 

Thank you to all of the alders who voted in support of Willy Street businesses and workers: Evers, Glenn, Guequierre, Harrington-McKinney, Lankella, Lieberman, Martinez-Rutherford, Matthews, (Mayer), Nzegwu, Verveer, Vidaver, Zhang.

Below is the speech I gave last night in support of my resolution:

This resolution seeks to establish a program to help businesses impacted by the extended protest in the wake of the police killing of Corey Ruiz.

The 29 businesses that would benefit are vital parts of the neighborhood. They are places people buy food, share meals with friends and family, gather to commune with neighbors, listen to live music, shop for clothes and sundry items and more. They are places that have given back to our community in countless ways, holding fundraisers, supporting our festivals and sponsoring amateur sports teams.

During that time in July and August, some businesses were completely closed, others open but with drastically diminished foot traffic.

And it's about more than just the businesses and business owners. We estimate the 29 businesses that would be eligible for this program employee 300-400 workers. These are retail workers, servers, stockers and cashiers. They are also rent-payers, property taxpayers and again, neighbors.

During that time, some were laid-off, others had hours cut. A few were fortunate to be paid by these businesses when they couldn't work.

Recovery in the neighborhood after the tragic police violence of July 22nd has taken and will continue to take many forms. This program addresses one of those recovery efforts, by ensuring that these vital and cherished employers remain in our neighborhood.

Partnering with the Division of Planning, Community and Economic Development, we initially requested $300,000 -- $100,000 from budgeted but unspent funds in the Economic Development Division and other agencies and $200,000 from the Contingent Reserve. Finance chose to approve an alternate that would strike the portion from the Contingent Reserve. While I fully understand their risk-aversion to drawing down the reserve and carefully consider any request to do so, I do feel that this situation is just the sort of contingency the reserve ought to be used for.

However, counting the votes and needing to get to 15, I decided that the best way forward would be to fully pursue the remaining $100k in line with the Finance Committee's recomendation. That amount can still do a lot of good. A lot of good.

To address the concern of setting a precedent of aiding businesses, we already support businesses financially in many, many ways. We have building facade improvement grants. Graffiti removal programs. We support the BID, a public-private partnership that supports businesses on State Street and around the Capitol. Our hotel room tax goes to promote tourism.

Perhaps most significantly, we have a robust Tax Incremental Financing program that helps all manner of construction projects get done. We invest millions in these projects because we know that successful housing starts and growing businesses generate economic activity that will allow the city to recoup that investment many times over.

Now here's a chance to help keep businesses open struggling due to no failing of their own. It's a chance to keep workers employed and to keep Willy Street the vibrant place that it is.

Lastly, you heard from the co-president of the Williamson Marquette Business Alliance that they have raised $50,000. Other fundraisers aimed at worker relief have been successful. Destination Madison is stepping in to help promote these businesses as well. And just last Sunday, I attended a benefit for the workers of Crystal Corner, graciously held by Mickey's Tavern, because this is a tight-knit neighborhood that supports each other in tragedy and supports each other in recovery and healing.

All these things, along with $100,000 already budgeted but unspent, will go a long way. I urge you to join me in voting yes.