Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Concealed Carry

Get used to seeing a new sign as you enter any city building in Madison.  The signs will indicate that you are not allowed  to carry a firearm into any City of Madison building. The new State Concealed Carry law goes into effect on November 1^st.  In preparation for this day, city staff have been working to put guidelines into place to announce the restriction regarding firearms in city buildings, on city property and on Madison Metro buses.

It is no secret that this law is bad public policy.  Citizens do not need to carry guns. However, the legislature and this Governor disagree, so we need to make sure that city employees and residents can feel safe and comfortable in city buildings.  The same restrictions apply to bus shelters, transfer stations and park shelters.

As Madison residents, you too are able to post a sign at your home.  Apartment and condo residents need to post for their individual units, but a building owner can post that weapons are prohibited in the common areas.  Business owners are also able to post signs.

You can purchase a sign from the City Clerk's Office, or download it from the city website at www.cityofmadison.com/police/concealedcarry.cfm .  You can also find additional information on the website including Frequently Asked Questions about the new law and how Madison is affected.

 

Federal Funds to Help Madison Metro

It’s not every day that you learn the federal government is going to help purchase new buses, replace fare boxes and add 25 new bus stop shelters, but that was the case this week in Madison.

While in Washington D.C. this week I was very happy to learn that Madison is receiving $5 million as part of $920 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reports that the funding will repair, rebuild and modernize the nation’s transit infrastructure.  In Madison, that means 14 new diesel buses.  All of the fare boxes on the city fleet will also be replaced, a much-needed upgrade.  Additionally the city will be able to provide 25 new transit shelters so our riders can get some relief from the elements while waiting for a bus.

This funding is especially exciting because ridership is increasing on Madison Metro, actually approaching all time records, and state funding for the service is declining.

Keeping lines of communication open between Madison and the federal government has been a priority for me and I actually learned about this competitive grant award while on my second trip to our nation’s capital to meet with lawmakers and U.S. Department of Transportation officials.  I hope these trips made a difference but credit also goes to Madison Metro for the great service provided.  Our bus service is something that is often taken for granted, but it truly improves the quality of life in Madison.

 

Overture Center for the Arts: Do You Really Want More Money?

The  spending increase from 2011 to 2012 in the proposed city of Madison budget  is $1,000,000, or less than 1%. This was accomplished by significant sacrifices made by many people and agencies.

While the city budget increase is .93%, some are expressing concern that the Overture Center for the Arts is not getting the expected increase in city funding of 66% from $1.265 million to $2 million. The 2012 executive budget recommends $1,325,000.

The proposed 2012 budget works because:

• 448 city police officers and 337 firefighters voluntarily agreed to compensation cuts of $2,485,300 to avoid layoffs among their own ranks and the rest of the city workforce.
• Represented city employees, members of Locals 60 and 236, agreed to reduce their own scheduled salary increases by $767,664.
• The funds for the city fleet, mainly heavy equipment, was cut by $3 million.
• The City of Madison and Dane County are laying off five public heath employees who administer the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
• The State of Wisconsin Voter ID Law is an unfunded mandate that increases next year's budget by $325,000.
• The approximately 50 community service agencies that help the poor  are getting the exact same level of funding they received last year - during a period when the agencies need increased funding as demand for their services goes up.
• The city is not making payments into its salary continuation and life insurance funds this year, saving over $1.9 million.  This is possible due to the high levels in these funds.

All this was done as we face state reductions in aids to Madison of $4.2 million.

 The Madison City Council did make a promise to make a payment to Overture of $2 million for 2012.  That was however, before Governor Walker devastated our revenues, broke sixty years of commitment to city employees, and drove up our operating costs for the administration of elections.

Lots of contracts have been broken or re-written as a result of the Walker Administration changes we are facing. The Overture Center is one of the few agencies getting more money than last year. How much more should we take from the others and the taxpayers?

My administration and previous city councils have done an outstanding job funding the arts, including the performing arts. We created the Madison Civic Center, we fund local performers, we have concert programs, and we have other long term commitments.

The Overture Center can find private sources of funding. The City of Madison however, cannot find private sources to fund the Police, Fire, and Health Departments or to keep the streets plowed.

 

 

 

Credit Goes To Bud Selig

Sunday I took Natasha and Alex to the Brewers game. This is America. Dad, two of his daughters and a fun baseball team.

As we took our seats in the last row of our section, there in the skybox next to us was University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

Before I could walk over to say hello, Bud Selig had gone inside to greet some friends so Barry and I chatted about Saturday's convincing win over Nebraska. I mumbled something to the Athletic Director about character and the fact that this Wisconsin team was more than athletic - they are bright, perseverant, patient and thoughtful. As though Alvarez didn't already know that.

The game was great. It was close at first. Ryan Braun continued to prove that he has character and as a Brewers fan, it was fun to watch the Diamondback's wheels come off.

It was an incredibly well played game. The Brewers have a healthy attitude and they have matured into players who know how to have fun without embarrassing themselves.

From the fourth inning on, with each pitch and each at bat I thought about Selig, wondering how he was feeling. I have not been generous with Selig both as owner and commissioner. I took exception to inter- league play, to halting the 2002 All-Star game when it was tied in extra innings, as well as to the flashing lights and artificial noise at Miller Park.

As the Brewers batted around in the sixth inning, I was thinking that a large part of this is Selig's team. Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, Cory Hart, and Yovani Gallardo are all a credit to the team Selig built.

When Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt struck out swinging to end the game and we all filed out, Selig stood alone surveying the field. I reached out, shook Bud's hand and simply said, "Congratulations."