For immediate release For more information: Vicky Selkowe, 772-6046

June 28, 2005 Satya Rhodes-Conway, 320-0254

Economic development, the environment, transportation, human services, health care and neighborhood support headline Progressive Dane’s agenda for the year ahead.

Promoting local business and economic development, protecting farmland and human services, and backing a sane transportation system are the issues headlining Progressive Dane’s policy agenda for Madison and Dane County in the coming year.

“We wanted a unified set of issues that the entire organization will prioritize in the next 12 months,” said Progressive Dane Policy Committee member Satya Rhodes-Conway. “Volunteer energy, when focused and fully utilized is a powerful thing, especially in a place like Madison and Dane County.”

“These are the issues that are on the minds of folks throughout our community. But there remains a disconnect between local government and the people it is supposed to serve,” said Progressive Dane co-chair John McNamara. “Progressive Dane has long sought to bridge that gap and I think these priorities will help people see how their involvement on the issues that matter to them can make a real difference.”

The top priorities for Progressive Dane at the county level are:

· Protect water quality in county lakes and protect farmland by putting in place a facility to deal with manure from county farms. Also set a land use plan showing where quarries can be sited and where they cannot.

· Further protect green space and farmland and prevent urban sprawl through the County Comprehensive Plan and an increase in the County Conservation Fund.

· Fight for sufficient funding for the thousands of people who rely on human services in Dane County just to get through their days.

The top priorities for Progressive Dane at the city level are:

· Promote local business and economic development through a variety of items including TIF reform, establishing a health care purchasing pool for businesses in Madison, and focusing economic development initiatives on low-income neighborhoods.

· Establish a sane transportation policy by prioritizing pedestrian safety, ensuring safe routes to schools, allowing for skinnier streets, reducing the need for parking, fighting bus fare increases and controlling the need for more and bigger roads.

· Bring clean elections to the city level with campaign finance reform, including publicly funded elections.

· Enhance neighborhood planning and support by working to create a Westside planning council, a city-supported Office of Neighborhood Support and continuing work on Madison’s Comprehensive Plan.

“Progressive Dane has long recognized the community and economic value of supporting local business,” said Vicky Selkowe, co-chair of Progressive Dane’s Economic Issues Task Force, who also noted that every dollar spent here actually pumps seven dollars into the local economy. “We look forward to working with the Small Business Council and others as to help support small, locally-owned business that give Madison a special feel.”

Lisa Subeck, who ran for city council on the west side last spring and is a leader among a new generation of women active in local politics, notes “Progressive Dane, at its core, is neighborhood focused and is successful because it connects with people at a personal level about their concerns and hopes. It’s an excellent organization for people who want to make a difference in their community.”

“Progressive Dane’s agenda stresses the importance of community participation in regional planning to limit sprawl, preserve green space, and protect water quality from manure run-off,” said County Board Supervisor Beth Gross. “Sustainable economic and environmental practices are essential to protect our quality of life for future generations, along with a commitment to funding human services for people with the greatest need in our county right now.”

“These priorities bring together Progressive Dane volunteers, elected officials, numerous other organizations that work on particular issues and, most importantly, the public, to keep Madison and Dane County a place where all people have an equal chance to succeed and have a say in how we grow,” said Michael Jacob, Elections Chair for Progressive Dane.

Progressive Dane members initially considered a list of 70 issues to specifically address in the coming year. A strategic planning session last month narrowed the list to 14, and the seven above were overwhelmingly supported.

Other issues that received significant support included:

· Addressing on-going racial justice issues in the city and county

· Increasing public input and access to local government

· Expanding voting rights

“While this policy agenda focuses the bulk of our energy, communications and activism on this prioritized set of issues, we’ll certainly continue to work on these other critical issues, especially those that address racism and people’s ability to access their local decision-makers” said Progressive Dane co-chair and City Council member Brenda Konkel.

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