P.O. Box 1222, Madison, WI 53701 | www.prodane.org | office@prodane.org | (608) 257-4985
The Troops Home Now campaign needs help this Saturday afternoon 02/25 assembling 900 yard signs. The work will be done in Cottage Grove, so you'll need transportation. If you can help, contact Dennis Coyier:
2866 Alydar Way
Cottage Grove, WI 53527
Home 839-5452 Cell 839-3733
dcoy(at)execpc(dot)com
If you want a yard sign, please contact Progressive Dane, and include your name, address, phone ane email address. The signs are free but a small donation would be welcome and will be contributed to the campaign. You'll be responsible for putting the sign up and taking it down after the election.
The signs will probably be distributed next weekend, March 4. If you can help distribute the signs, please contact PD.
Posted by prodane at 03:13 AM
Madison's inclusionary zoning (IZ) ordinance, which requires developers to include units affordable to people at 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) in any development they build, has been the topic of much discussion lately. Passed in spring of 2004, IZ is designed to create long term, affordable housing throughout the city, instead of allowing it to concentrate in certain neighborhoods or not be built at all. Such dispersion has been linked with increased school performance and decreased crime. Dispersion counteracts suburban style "flight," gated communities and the ghettoization of poor neighborhoods.
The evidence so far shows that Madison's IZ ordinance is working. According to a city report, in the 18 months the ordinance has been in effect 360 affordable units were approved. In addition, projects including IZ units are dispersed around the City, projects with IZ have progressed at the same rate as non-IZ projects, and there is no sign that developers have "fled" the City or that development outside of Madison is impacted by the ordinance.
Despite its success, IZ has faced continual opposition, most notably from developers, realtors, and a handful of alders who are calling for its repeal. While the idea of repeal is controversial, there is general agreement that the existing ordinance is not perfect, and that certain parts of it need improving. Regularly discussed changes include: 1) the incentives for developers, 2) the equity model, and 3) how and when the units are marketed.
The ordinance is designed for the public to pay for the affordable units through the provision of incentives which provide considerable value to developers. Developers, however, complain that the ordinance is not "cost neutral" and that they bear the cost of the affordable units because the incentives do not offer them real value. In response to these concerns, amendments have been introduced to add new incentives, including the ability to have "IZ-free" zones – such as penthouse floors, and the ability to have limited duplex IZ units intermixed with market-rate single family homes.
There are concerns about the division of equity gained in IZ units. In return for being able to buy an IZ unit, homebuyers agree that the amount of equity they are able to earn is limited. This keeps the unit affordable for the long term. The chief problem with the current equity model, which resulted from political compromise, is its complexity - the percentage of equity the homeowner receives upon sale of the unit changes each year, creating perverse incentives to sell in some years and not in others, and causing great confusion among all stakeholders.
There are also concerns that the units are not being adequately marketed. The ordinance requires developers to keep an IZ unit available for 240 days at an IZ price; however that time period may start before they have even broken ground. After 240 days, the developer can make the unit available to buyers with higher percentage of the AMI, and eventually the unit can be made available to the general public at market rate. This creates several problems with marketing: First and foremost, it gives developers a strong incentive not to market their IZ units, but rather to wait until they can sell them at market rate. Second, it means that buyers interested in IZ units may not be able to actually look at them when they are available for sale – a problem for most first time homebuyers.
At the moment, the IZ ordinance is still in force in Madison. Ald. Jed Sanborn's move to repeal was tabled, meaning that the City Council can reconsider it in the future. The Housing Committee, Economic Development Commission and Plan Commission have all rejected repeal. A package of amendments addressing the issues outlined above has been considered and approved at Housing Committee and Economic Development Commission, and was scheduled to be considered at Plan Commission, but as of this printing has not yet been discussed in full there.
There is now word that a new committee, convened by the Mayor, that will reopen the entire IZ debate, with everything on the table except repeal. At this point, it is unclear when or how any of these things will move forward, or how the public can be involved in them. What is clear, however, is that if you care about having affordable housing in Madison, you should contact your alder and tell them so. You can email all alders at council@cityofmadison.com. Other helpful actions and opportunities to get involved include writing a Letter to the Editor in support of IZ to the Capital Times, Wisconsin State Journal, Daily Cardinal, Badger Herald or Madison Times.
This debate isn't going away, and our progressive voices need to be heard.
This article was written by Satya Rhodes-Conway and appears in the February 2005 edition of the PD newsletter. To recieve the print version of this newsletter monthly, please join PD. You can also request 3 free issues by clicking here.
Posted by prodane at 05:53 PM
Arlene Silviera - School Board
Arlene Silviera's campaign for the Madison Metro School Board was unanimously endorsed by Progressive Dane. Arlene is the parent of an 8th grader in the Madison Public Schools. She in the president of the Cherokee Middle School PTO and the past president of the Leopold Elementary School PTO. She is an active member of the Cherokee committee working with the Madison Foundation for Public Schools and currently serves on the MMSD West/Memorial Demographics Task Force. She is also a steering team member of Madison CARES, the community-based pro-referenda support group.
She believes, that amongst other things, the School Board must address differences in proficiency levels and graduation rates between racial and ethnic groups. In addition to continuing efforts such as Schools of Hope, small class sizes and cultural competence training opportunities for teaching and support staff, she believes the Board must develop partnerships with community groups and provide a variety of venues for parents to come together to help the district find ways to allow all children to succeed.
As a trained scientist who works for the Promega Corporation she will use her scientific analysis skills to analyze the current budget and trends to evaluate possible options and efficiencies in spending.
She has an established campaign team.
Ashok Kumar - District 5
Progressive Dane has endorsed Ashok Kumar for election in County District 5, which encompasses most of the UW Madison Campus, stretching along Lake Mendota from State and Gorham to Eagle Heights. This is the seat currently occupied by Sup. Echnaton Vedder, who has announced his intention to step down. Ashok is running as a first time candidate and is opposed by Sean Cornelius, Adam Korn, and David Lapidus.
Ashok, an activist on campus, is a member of SLAC, and has been working on labor issues, combating sexual assault, ending military recruitment on campus, making UW sweat free, fighting tuition hikes, and getting a living wage for all campus workers. If elected, he hopes to work with the PD policy committee to promote progressive policies such as alternatives to incarceration, accountability for the sheriff's department, Section eight housing equity, combating sprawl, air and water quality, and refunding the Women's Transit Authority.
Volunteer Coordinator: Ilana Feingold - (608) 774-1917
Contributions
Progressive Dane approved a motion at the January 6th general membership meeting to set aside up to $500 from the elections fund after all fundraising expenses are covered to distribute to the campaigns. The proceeds will be split 50/50 between the Silveira and Kumar campaigns. Additional funds could be allocated with another vote at the Feb GMM.
Posted by prodane at 01:38 AM
Winter is always a time when local food pantries are serving greater numbers of those in need, and this winter is no different. Recent reports from the food pantry at Wil-Mar indicate a constant drain on many food items, often getting depleted as soon as they are stocked. In order to help the Wil-Mar Center meet the high demand associated with this time of year, several Williamson Street businesses & cooperatives have organized a Mid-Winter Food Drive, which will take place during the entire month of FEBRUARY 2006.
Starting February 1, canned goods and non-perishable food items can be donated at collection barrels at various local businesses including Lakeside Press, Mother Fools, Nature's Bakery and Bongo Video.
PD will be tabling at the Wil-Mar Benefit Community Dance Party on Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 pm at the HIGH NOON SALOON, with live Reggae music by Aswah Greggori & the Enforcers, roots & urban soul folk by Adem Tesfaye; and Madison's best Reggae DJs selecting crucial dance numbers, in a Celebration of Bob Marley's Birthday! Caribbean cuisine by Jolly Bob's will be available. Join us for the festivities and SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FOOD PANTRY! Collection barrels will be on hand with the hope of filling them to the rim!
Reduced admission with food donation... Only $5 with non-perishable food item. ( $7 without ). All donations support the Wil-Mar Food Pantry.
For more information (Food Drive & Community Dance ),
Contact :
Ralph Shively 608-770-0160 www.lakesidepress.org
For info on the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, contact: Gary Kallas 608-257-4576 www.wil-mar.org
Posted by prodane at 04:42 AM
At this month's membership meeting, PD endorsed Action Wisconsin's campaign against a proposed Wisconsin constitutional amendment banning marriage and civil unions between same sex couples.
In order to be enacted, the amendment would need to be approved by the Wisconsin Legislature twice, and then approved by a statewide referendum. The Legislature has approved the amendment once, in March 2004. It is expected to vote again this spring. If approved, the amendment will go before voters this fall.
Action Wisconsin is already working hard across the state to defeat this discriminatory and damaging amendment and to keep hate out of our state constitution. PD will join their efforts here in Dane County by helping to educate our membership and the public; turning out volunteers for phone banks, canvasses, and events; and helping get out the no vote in November. To get involved, contact Satya Vadia through this link. For more information, visit http://www.actionwisconsin.org/amendment/.
Posted by prodane at 03:11 AM