Politics

Madison Mayor Speaks Out Against Redistricting Plan

Submitted by Adam Malecek on Monday, July 18th, 9:18 pm

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin is speaking out against the Republican-written plans for redrawing political boundaries.

A state Senate committee voted 3-2 on Friday to pass both a map redrawing all 132 state legislative districts as well as one redoing the eight congressional districts. The full Senate plans to vote on passing the maps Tuesday with the Assembly to follow on Wednesday.

Soglin said the way Republicans have drawn district lines will break up Madison neighborhoods and add costs for the city during elections.

Soglin said the proposed maps are a lot different than those right now.

"The current districts have integrity to them. They are solid. They are compact. They don't roam," Soglin said.

Three Madison aldermen also condemned the Legislature's maps at a news conference Monday.

Soglin said the city "won't go quietly" about challenging the plans, but he didn't say whether that challenge could come in court.

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Madison Mayor Asks Agencies For Budget Cuts

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Monday, July 11th, 2011, 11:16am

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin announced Monday that he was asking city agencies to submit budget requests that are 5 percent lower than this year's levels.

During a news conference on Monday morning, Soglin said that an "unacceptable" amount of the city's revenue is going to pay off debt. He said that cuts could mean possible layoffs and furloughs for employees and subsequent service cuts for the public.

He said that the cuts include both police and fire departments to balance an "extraordinary" $11 million budget shortfall.

"I would be very pleasantly surprised if we're able to adopt next year's budget without some form of layoff or furlough. I think that's going to be very hard to escape," Soglin said. "We are going to have a responsible budget. This is not going to be easy."

The mayor said no one would be spared from the cuts.

"This is going to apply to everyone. If any agency avoids being part of this, it only means doubling up the problem somewhere else," Soglin said.

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Madison Mayor Wants Opt-In Ordinance For Concealed Carry

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011, 5:35pm

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said he intends to propose an ordinance to restrict concealed weapons before the state bill is even law.

Under the bill that passed the Assembly on Tuesday, individuals and businesses can restrict concealed weapons in their homes and businesses by posting signs giving notice that concealed weapons aren't allowed.

Soglin said he wants an ordinance requiring signs to opt-in for allowing concealed weapons.

The mayor said he will soon propose an ordinance that would make it illegal to carry a concealed weapon into any structure within the city unless there is expressed permission, through signs, that the home or business owner allows it.

"No one can come in your property carrying a weapon, concealed or otherwise, without asking you for permission," Soglin said. "I think it's very simple. Folks come into our homes all the time; they ask if they can smoke. They're polite; they're guests. I don't think this is unreasonable."

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Rep. Pocan Takes Video Blog To People

Submitted by Scott Beedy, Channel 3000 Community Editor

Saturday, June 11th, 2011, 1:36pm

State Representative Mark Pocan, D-Madison, has announced the launching of his own YouTube channel, which will initially post daily video about the state’s biennial budget. Pocan’s videos will be embedded in his blog at http://markpocanwi.blogspot.com/.

“I have decided to add a video component to my blog because I believe that it’s important to show Wisconsin and the world what’s going on in Madison, no matter how ugly it gets," Pocan said in a statement.

The budget debate will be heating up this week at the Capitol.

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City Officials OK Permit For 'Walkerville' Camp Near Capitol

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Friday, June 3rd, 2011, 7:54pm

Madison city officials approved a permit on Friday to allow protesters to set up a camp near the state Capitol.

During a meeting on Friday morning, local group We Are Wisconsin was given permission to put up tents and hold an ongoing protest until June 20. However, the group will need a separate camping permit to sleep overnight in the tents, officials said.

The protest area, which some have sought to call "Walkerville," will be located at the top of State Street and the city's Street Use Staff Committee will determine where tents can be set up. Organizers said that the name of Walkerville reminiscent of the infamous "Hoovervilles," or tent cities, that popped up during the Great Depression.

The effort is what protesters are calling their latest effort to show their opposition to the governor's budget proposal being advanced by Gov. Scott Walker and his Republican allies in both houses of the state Legislature.

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Sen. Dale Schultz To Speak At Madison College Commencement

Submitted by Scott Beedy, Channel 3000 Community Editor

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011, 5:52pm

Sen. Dale Schultz To Speak At Madison College Commencement

When the controversial collective bargaining bill recently came up for a vote, Sen. Dale Schultz was the only Republican to vote against it.

The Richland Center lawmaker called it a vote of conscience.

Schultz will talk about the importance of following your conscience when he addresses Madison Area Technical College graduates at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center.

A total of 2,355 students are graduating from Madison College this spring. About 900 are expected to attend Saturday’s commencement.

Despite an uncertain economy, a recent Madison College Employment Report shows 87 percent of graduates are employed within six months of graduation and 96 percent are working in Wisconsin -- 81 percent in the Madison area.

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Soglin Sworn In As New Mayor

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011, 9:36pm

Paul Soglin took over as Madison mayor Tuesday, and he's already making some changes.

Soglin was sworn in on Tuesday afternoon at the City-County Building in downtown Madison.

Soglin has promised to make changes from the things outgoing Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was concentrating on, and he was already taking action before the oath Tuesday.

Soglin has already served 14 years in office during two previous terms.

It was a day of tearful endings as Cieslewicz stepped down from his post of eight years.

"To Dianne and everyone on our staff, we will always be a family," said Cieslewicz, holding back tears.

But it was also a day of new, yet renewed, beginnings in the city, as new Mayor Paul Soglin took the oath of office. Soglin takes the reigns of the city for the third time with a council where only three members have worked with anyone else than his predecessor.

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