Economic Development Commission: No Action Required.

What does the Economic Development Commission do?

Given all the attention given to Economic Development, you'd think the City's Economic Development Commission would have their hands full coming up with recommendations on what the City should be doing and that they would be busy in their meetings trying to solve the problems that are percieved to exist. But no, look at this agenda . . . are they merely a platform to discuss things, or are they going to do something?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION
Madison Municipal Bldg., Parks Conf. Room 120 Wednesday, August 2, 2006 5:00 PM

1 CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

2 MINUTES OF JUNE 7, 2006, MEETING
Action: Accept

3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any member of the public wishing to speak to items on the EDC agenda or other related matters shall do so at this time. Speakers are required to pre-register and are limited to five-minute presentations. Commissioners may ask questions of speakers after all registrants have spoken.

4 TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX STUDY
30-minute presentation via video by Bill Geist of Zeitgeist Consulting. Representatives from Madison Innkeepers will also be present.
No action required

5 UPDATE ON INCLUSIONARY ZONING
Hickory Hurie, CDBG Staff
No action required

6 UPDATE ON LOCAL PURCHASING POLICY STUDY
Dean Brasser, City Comptroller
No action required

7 UPDATE ON REORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING &
DEVELOPMENT
No action required

8 UPDATE ON ED IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY PLAN
No action required

9 COMMON COUNCIL UPDATE
Alder Zach Brandon

10 ADJOURNMENT

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WSJ: Opinion vs. Fact

Warnining: Konkel Rant ahead!

WSJ editorials drive me nuts. For so many reasons . . . a friend of mine summed it up really well in an email today that said:

The Wisconsin State Journal's ed board is getting really boring. They roll out the same damn template for every social and economic justice proposal that we offer. Fill in the blanks: [sick leave/Section 8 equality/IZ/minimum wage] won't really help the people it's intended to help. What we really need is [a much more costly solution that would never in a million years be politically feasible and that we, the WSJ, would never actually support and would in fact vehemently opppose] and besides, this program is a mandate and government shouldn't "force" [landlords/employers/developers/realtors] to do anything.

She's right . . . that's annoying, Even more annoying to me, is that they will say anything, regardless of fact and without consequence . . .

Today's editorial on Section 8 has a few examples:

Dane County should not force landlords to participate in the cumbersome and risky rent-assistance program known as Section 8.

Instead, the federal government should stabilize and streamline the program so its funding is predictable and its red tape reduced.

Ok - "cumbersome" and "risky". I'd love to hear how they came to that conclusion. They spread these myths about the program without any facts. What "red tape" needs to be reduced? Why isn't the funding "predictable"? Are they talking about the federal government funding the Housing Authorities? Or are they talking about landlords getting their rent checks? How would that "red tape" be reduced? And why is the Section 8 program "risky"? Are they aware that the Apartment Association and the Housing Authorities have been working together to dispel these myths and get more landlords to participate . . . and they've been successful in doing so?

Historically, the main problem with the program in Dane County has not been a lack of acceptance of Section 8 vouchers. Instead, the trouble has been a lack of federal funding to pay for all the tenants who qualify for help but sit on waiting lists.

Really? Perhaps both problems co-exist side by side? Yes, we need more money for the program. But once someone gets a voucher, if they can't use it, isn't that a problem? What good is a program that doesn't work?

A misguided proposal in front of Dane County supervisors fails to address the real problem. Instead, it tars landlords as the bad guys and seeks retribution.

"Tars landlords" and "seeks retribution"? WTF? Retribution? How? Why? How did they come to this conclusion? How is this retribution? Where do they come up with language like this? Is this the "retribution"?

The proposal would prohibit landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants who plan to use Section 8 vouchers. It would add "Section 8 recipient" to a long list of things - race, gender, religion, etc. - that cannot be used to discriminate against tenants.

That's retribution? That's what "tars landlords as the bad guys"? Why is this about the landlords and not about the working poor families and disabled and elderly tenants who have vouchers?

But Section 8 is not race, gender or religion. It's a complicated government assistance program with plenty of paperwork and requirements. To claim a landlord who declines to participate in Section 8 is guilty of discrimination is to distort the meaning of discrimination into nonsense.

Wow. Again, ignoring the facts. The State of Wisconsin has a protection against discrimination based on "source of income". It's a State law that prohibits this discrimination, just like race, gender and religion. Section 8 was determined by the courts not to be a "source of income" since the tenant does not receive the check and does not have discretion to spend the money on anything other than rent. The checks go directly to the landlord. This proposal is merely extending the definition of "income" that the State already determined to be discrimination when a landlords refuses to rent to people because their income comes from social security or W-2.

The reason many landlords don't want to participate is because of the headaches and risks involved.

These kinds of statements are really counterproductive. Again, the Apartment Association and the Housing Authorities have been working for years to dispel these myths and they have been successful. More landlords than ever are willing to participate in the program . . . it's just that too many of them continue to not be willing to do so.

But like a bad rerun, the proposal is back again for another round of predictable grandstanding and tired drama. The Section 8 show should end the same way it did back in 1999. Supervisors should reject the proposal.

Oh, and the smoking ban repeal and IZ repeal weren't predictable grandstanding and tired drama?

Yup - screw the working poor families, elderly and disabled; condemn the folks trying to make their lives easier; spread lies and myths regardless of facts; and sit smugly in your comfy WSJ office and ignore the real problems we have in Madison. Oh, and while you're at it, continue to whine about how we're giving out enough corporate welfare even though your own 4 part series failed to reveal any facts to support the perception of a problem that you created.

/rant


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City Council: Over Budget

We got the following email from the Council Office Staff today . . . how embarrassing . . .

The 2006 Common Council budget contains $565 for cab delivery of aldermanic mail.

As of 7/24/06 we are have spent $750 on cab delivery from January - June 2006. $150 over our budget for delivery service.

We will no longer be able to provide cab delivery of aldermanic mail starting this Friday, July 28. Please let Debbie know if you plan on:

1. Picking up your mail in the office
2. Request that your mail be mailed via USPS

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.

Yup, that issue, again.

Who are the spendthrifts on the council you might ask . . . Info we were recently given (tho already out of date) at the July CCOC meeting indicated that the following folks had spent as follows:

Sanborn $-
Konkel $-
Cnare $48.89
Verveer $-
Webber $8.25
Olson $-
Brandon $-
King $-
Skidmore $78.43
Golden $8.15
Gruber $-
Benford $-
Knox $-
Bruer $188.43
Palm $-
Compton $48.89
Rosas $98.39
Van Rooy $22.75
Radomski $-
Thomas $59.28

In their defense . . . we all get a "$600 Account" for expenses . . . but somehow, it hardly seems fair that if you spend the money first, you get to spend it where you'd like, but once the council as a whole goes over, you can't spend the money. In other words, if you cab only one thing, but do it in September, you'll be prevented from doing it since others have already spent the money. There's gotta be a better way to do this . . .
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Planning for Porn

Just when I think I've seen everything . . . someone tries something new . . . .

Check out this memo from Alder Bruer and the tactics used in it:

TO: Plan Commission Members

FROM: Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14

SUBJECT: Agenda Item No. 21 - Legislative File No. 03842 - Amending Sec. 28.10(4)(c)56.d., of the zoning code of the Madison General Ordinances to provide that the 1,000 foot buffer between adult entertainment establishments and certain other uses shall not be measured to cross state or federal highways with more than four lanes and a posted speed limit of 45 mph or more, except where legal pedestrian access exists.

After discussions with the City Attorney, some of the members of the Plan Commission and Common Council members I would like to request referral of the above ordinance.

I would further appreciate consideration by the Commission to establish a Plan Commission work group to review the issues and concerns associated with the siting of adult entertainment establishments and revising current ordinances associated with gift stores selling adult entertainment items.

CREATE A PROBLEM ("UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES")

Several years ago the Plan Commission approved an initiative by the City Attorney’s office and myself to recognize the First Amendment right of adult entertainment establishments to exist. Inadvertently a rezoning text amendment provision removed highways as a buffer resulting in minimizing the number of legitimate available parcels.

After a recent Planning and Zoning staff review and evaluation, the number of parcels today available for the siting of adult entertainment establishments has been minimized to a few possible marketable sites. This is due to development over time, covenant restrictions disallowing adult entertainment establishments and the construction of churches and other housing tracts that prevent siting. These factors have resulted in literally nowhere within the M1 districts for these uses to legitimately exist.

Also as a direct result of not having sites available within M1 districts, there has been and will continue to be a deliberate manipulation of the zoning ordinances to disguise adult entertainment establishments as gift stores. Often these adult gift stores locate immediately adjacent to residential neighborhoods and business districts. Unfortunately while the adult entertainment establishments have indicated their desire to locate outside of neighborhoods, the lack of locations has clearly been cited for their reasons for their choices of locating their adult entertainment gift stores.

PROPOSE AN UNWORKABLE SOLUTION

It was our hope that making this text amendment before you would correct the inadvertent omission regarding highway buffers and provide for a reasonable number of sites for these establishments to exist. However after staff review which identified only a handful of locations and the geographical limitations one could conclude that a more in-depth study needs to be completed to determine other options or policy considerations.

GET SOMEONE ELSE TO CLEAN UP YOUR MESS

Therefore I would appreciate the Plan Commission forming a working group to look at the broader public policy and legal issues and develop a siting strategy for adult entertainment establishments. This is particularly important since we also have an increasing number of adult entertainment establishments opening as gift stores and siting in residential neighborhoods and neighborhood business districts. As part of the Plan Commission working group’s review it would also be appreciated if they provide greater consideration and criteria for gift stores selling adult entertainment gift items.

As a result of the Plan Commission working group hopefully will result in a comprehensive policy and protect the city against First Amendment legal court challenges.

Thank you for your consideration of my requests.

cc: Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
Common Council Members
Michael May, City Attorney

Advice to Plan Commissioners: Without the real stakeholders willing to serve on the committee, you are wasting your time.

The committee should have been a workgroup of interested Alders appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council.
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City of Madison Children: Left Behind (Part I)

In 2006 the City of Madison is funding childcare and early childhood education programs to the tune of $692,715. These programs provide for early childcare, after school programming, summer programming, as well as data and training for various programs. This year, we recieved applications to the tune of $857,036.

The Early Childhood Care and Education Board made original decisions based on priorities passed by the council and depending upon a 3.6% COLA increase for agencies. That number is the Consumer Price Index last February. (If you ask me, that's the wrong index and given that agencies have health care costs that are at a pace much higher than that and employees still need raises, the number is likely low. ) However, even at this low cost of living increase, there were many agencies that did not get what they needed to serve the kids in their neighborhoods. Worse yet, there was essentially no new programming or expansions for the ever growing City of Madison.

Given that the Community Services Board and the Early Childhood Education and Childcare Board long ago decided that across the board cuts were hurting all the agencies, they made a list of priorities and give the COLA increases to the agencies every year, leaving some programs unfunded, but trying to support the programs that are funded at a meaningful, if not adequate level.

In the first round of funding we recommended funding for the following assuming funding staying at last year's funding level:

Atwood Community Center
$44,543 Children and Youth (Summer)
$37,717 Community Preschool
$35,911 Lowell Afterschool Child Care

Bayview Foundation
$12,567 After School Program
$7,566 Summer Recreation Program

4C's (Community Coordinated Child Care)
$38,100 Child Care Data
$8,955 Latino Child Care Project (Partially UNFUNDED - Requested $35,980)

Dane County Parent Council
$238,789 Satellite Family Care Child Care
$34,191 Wexford Infant/Toddler Program
$37,981 Preschool Enrichment Program (PEP)
$7,310 Wee Start Program
$1,804 Latino/Hispanic Program (Partially UNFUNDED - Requested $7,216)

East Madison Community Center
$22,035 Children Development Services (See UNFUNDED portion below - A)
$15,929 Summer Youth Program (See UNFUNDED portion below - B)

Kennedy Heights Neighborhood Center
$36,700 Early Childhood Program
$11,807 Children's Program (See UNFUNDED portion below - C)

Neighborhood House
$15,245 Summer Children's Program (See UNFUNDED portion below - D)

The Rainbow Project
$20,733 PRIDE Project

Vera Court Neighborhood Center
$17,879 Children's Program (See UNFUNDED portion below - E)

Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center
$32,398 Elementary After School & Summer Camp (See UNFUNDED portion below - F)

YWCA of Madison
$11,142 Children's Programs

Based on the Mayor's budget instructions:
UNFUNDED -- When we heard the news that the Mayor was looking for a 3% cut, we had to cut from the programs above an additional $19,760 from the Dane County Parent Council Satellite Family Childcare Program and $6,164 from Kennedy Heights Early Childhood Program.

We also had to tell those who we recommended for funding if the Mayor gave us the minimal 3.6% COLA increase that we could not fund them, cutting the following programs as follows:

UNFUNDED -- Kennedy Heights Neighborhood Center
$6,635 Children's Programs (C)

UNFUNDED -- Vera Court Neighborhood Center
$12,096 Life as a Boy

In our original decisions we were not able to fund the following programs or program expansions:

UNFUNDED -- 4C's (Community Coordinated Child Care)
$32,555 Training and Professional Development

UNFUNDED -- Bridge/lake Point/Waunona Neighborhood Center
$13,500 Children's Programs

UNFUNDED -- Wisconsin Youth Company
$58,806 After School Programs

UNFUNDED -- Neighborhood House
$6,309 Summer Children's Programs (D)

UNFUNDED -- East Madison Community Center
$3,709 Children Development Services (A)

UNFUNDED -- Vera Court Neighborhood Center
$5,000 Children's Programs (E)

UNFUNDED -- East Madison Community Center
$1,022 Summer Youth Program (B)

UNFUNDED -- Wexford Ridge
$8,055 Elementary After School and Summer (F)

UNFUNDED -- Simpson Street Free Press
$16,000 Elementary School Summer Writing

Given that we keep approving all this sprawl to improve our taxbase, the fact that we don't have money to expand these much needed programs, something seems amiss.

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Picks of the Week - City Meetings 7/17/06

More questions than info this week . . . .

Monday, July 17
1. With the big controversy over Halloween coming up, why doesn't the Public Safety Review Board have that on their agenda for tonight?
2. It says the Parks Commission is meeting tonight at 6:30 at Warner Park, but why is there no agenda?

Tuesday, July 18
City Council Meeting - There's something in there for everyone. Midvale Heights is likely to be the big event of the evening.
Board of Water Commissioners

Wednesday, July 19
Early Child Care and Education Board - This one is going to be ugly. We counted on a 3.6% COLA increase for funding and ran out of money to fund all the necessary programs for the community . . . and here the Mayor is looking for a 3% decrease.
ALRC - Appears to be meeting at 10am, but there's no agenda.
Board of Review is meeting at 1:00 or 1:30, appears to have no agenda, but if you hunt you can find it.
Board of Education - Common Council Liaison Committee is actually meeting - that's a rare event!
Alcohol License Review Committee also meets at 5:30 - Interesting items at end of agenda about Liquor License densities and the Nightclub ordinance (and possible revisions)

Thursday, July 20
Landlord-Tenant Subcommittee - Check-in/out sheets and Repair and Deduct are on the agenda
Board of Health
Downtown Coordinating Committee gets an update on TIF. Hmmm . . . how do they get one when the council doesn't?

The full caledars are available but you have to check here . . . and here . . . or if you don't care about links to the agenda, you can check here.
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Another Blog . . . District 2 News

I've beens struggling with how to get information out to people in the 2nd District. If I send information to just neighborhood association people, I leave alot of people without the information. If I create my own listserves, some neighborhood association folks don't want to be on the listserves cuz they don't like the extra email. I tried to start an info only District 2 listserve, and not many people signed up because they are already on several other lists . . . so . . . now, I have a new blog for District 2. I'm not sure this is going to work either, and maybe I need to just keep sending the info to all the different outlets, but I'm willing to try this for a while.

Meanwhile, maybe the City can get figure out how to make Alder websites easier for us to use. However, I'm not going to wait . . . hope this info is helpful. All comments welcome.
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Budgeting . . . and Republicans.

Today I had the opportunity to hear various state elected Democrats talk a bit about their political struggles in the legislature. I was particularly interested in something that sounded really familiar as I was listening to some of these Democrats talk about Republicans.
It was widely agreed by these Democrats that the main goal of Republicans was to dismantle government and privatize everything. (A popular local refrain: Business knows better! If you disagree, you’re probably anti-business.)

Anyways . . . as the elected officials from the Democratic Party were talking about how the Republicans have no pro-active vision for what our children’s world will look like, the Democrats started talking about their major concerns when it comes to budgeting. I was completely struck by something. The Democrats were talking about how the Republican value was in the cut to the budget with the end goal of dismantling government. There was no regard from these Republicans for what the cut did for (or to) the state. The important thing was the cut. The values that most Democrats have regarding political and civil rights and social and economic justice are completely missing from the Republican tax cutting frenzy.

Sound familiar?
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What's Next for Affordable Housing?

I am one of the founding members of the Affordable Housing Action Alliance that formed in 1997. This group formed because housing issues had been ignored in this City for so long. We had an entire agenda that we wanted to accomplish 7 years ago.

We started with issues like minimum income standards and Section 8 (which was the beginning of my problems with the Wisconsin State Journal). This caused the city to have a silly housing summit (with useless report) and the City and County to form a Housing Committee, neither of which created one affordable housing unit and affordable housing continued to be a problem. Section 8 failed both at the City and County by one vote. (Mayor Buaman eventually changed her mind.) So we continued to push our proposals forward much to the dismay of others. And Landlords started dumping tons of money into elections. When Mayor Bauman was running after just 2 years in office (she took office mid-term) we continued to push to make affordable housing an issue and asked her to take a leadership role. And she eventually produced her own agenda. Unfortunately, it depended upon federal money and didn't work.

Some sought out data. We organized in the community. Some attacked me and tried to kick supporters off committees. We continued to work with other groups. They accused us of being polarizing. Lots of groups formed. Mayor (Bauman) had a roundtable discussion. Developers started talking about affordable housing, but didn't follow through. They held conferences. We protested at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Meetings were held with HUD. Big money was thrown into mayoral races. Some "chump change" was given for affordable housing. Mayor's changed, as did the council.

Through all of this ancient history and some of the more recent debate with some hard work and persistence, we've accomplished nearly half of the items we set out to do . . . and we've hardly made a dent in the affordable housing crisis. We worked on issues like TIF for affordable housing (supported by the CDA), pushed the CDA to respond better to clients, proposed to prevent discrimination against Section 8 holders at the city (more than once) and county levels and eventually passed a compromise ordinance, passed a minimum income ordiance, started talking about inclusionary zoning in 2001 (and the developers supported it then?), Todd Jarrell and Tom Powell pushed us to push for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and it passed, but we've had trouble funding it ever since. Others have pushed things like a living wage, a local minimum wage and paid sick leave that impact affordable housing as well and we supported those initiatives. I'm sure I've neglected to list everything that we have worked on, and while some of our proposals have passed and are working, some have not passed or need more work.

Seems like we've tried so much at this point . . . and while we've kept the debate alive and made progress, there is so much more to do. Hopefully, Inclusionary Zoning will help some members of the community. The BIG question is, will all the rhetoric by the Realtors and council members about creating different housing programs, truly doing something for affordable housing for the lowest income people mean that we're ready to get serious about affordable housing for those most in need? And will the Mayor include money in the upcoming budget to address these important issues? Or is affordable housing only for teachers, firefighters and nurses?
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Thank you.

Thank you!
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Spinderella?

Too bad some people are too busy spinning and trying to score political points, instead of trying to be constructive and help create affordable housing for our community. It's not even worth responding to, I don't want to be dragged into the mud. I'd rather stay focused on bettering our community and doing my job as an alder . . . and wake up tomorrow morning with a clear conscience and pride in my integrity . . . but it's a constant struggle with the constant mud being slung at you and people twisting the facts for their own political gain.

Latest IZ changes here.
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WSJ: Unprincipled Editorials

The Wisconsin State Journal's latest editorial on Inclusionary Zoning points out how comical the Wisconsin State Journal's editorials are. I'll respond directly to the editorial on my other blog devoted to IZ.

Here's the email I sent to them last Friday:

>From: brenda konkel [mailto:brendakonkel@yahoo.com]
>Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 10:39 AM
>To: Scott Milfred
>Subject: iz editorial?
>
>i presume there is one coming . . . interested in talking BEFORE you
>write it, instead of AFTER?
>b

His (partial) response:

B,
>
>One of my writers already wrote our IZ editorial a day or two ago. And
>I think you know what our position is. We think this is unnecesary and
>not working. WE have said so repeatedly in the past. And I believe you
>and I did have coffee to discuss this issue, which was fun. But we
>don't agree on the merits of IZ.

I cut out the part where he gives Progressive Dane advice then asks me if I'm running for mayor.

Now, here are my two questions.

1. They wrote the editorial about the changes to Inclusionary Zoning before they even knew what the changes were. The draft came out Thursday at 5:00 and the plan commission made changes after that and the new draft isn't out. And there are still changes to be made. Given that, how can they claim "no amount of repair will fix it."?

2. How can the editorial page write a fair editorial if they are basing it partially on "coffee" on December 14, 2005 at 2:30? Apparently, once they make up thier mind, there is no changing it.

Finally, I will respond more fully, but I just can't resist pointing out that the repairs to the ordinance are mostly necessary due to compromises the last time around. Zach Brandon insisted on the crazy equity model and the point system (check out what he's trying to sell now!). Those were his two contributions to the current broken ordinance and the two major changes that need to be made . . . well, that, and the marketing loophole for those few who acted in bad faith (Hawk's Meadows, Blackhawk Lofts, Hilldale Row, Pine Hill Farms, and don't get me started on Monroe Commons!).
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Wisconsin's Economic Ruin

There are a few things I like about Paul Soglin, today's post is one of them. Somehow, its ok when he says it.
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Inclusionary Zoning Countdown . . .

In one week the council will be voting on something regarding Inclusionary Zoning. As you know, I've moved my Inclusionary Zoning postings to a separate blog called In Search of Inclusionary Zoning. I wanted to draw your attention to my recent summary of where we are and the recent antics of the REALTORS. For further updates on IZ this week, continue checking in to the other blog.
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Metro Holiday Service . . .or lack thereof . . .

When I heard last night that Rhythm & Booms was cancelled, my first thought, as much as I hate to admit it, was . . . oh my god, Metro overtime. Even tho I'd had a few margaritas and guinesses, I'm still thinking city politics, quite pathetic! Anyways . . . I was concerned because I didn't want a further impact on the Metro budget when we can't even get ordinary working people to and from their jobs early mornings, late nights and on the weekends so that we decided to wrap the busses in ridiculous advertising. Well, looks like I worried for nothing . . . no extra bus service for Rhythm & Booms . . . but also the very limited service if you have to work on the 4th as well . . .Metro Rider Alert below . . .

NO SERVICE TO RHYTHM & BOOMS RAIN DATE

Sunday, July 2
Metro will NOT be operating special shuttle or extra service to the Rhythm & Booms rain date on Sunday, July 2.

REGULAR WEEKDAY SERVICE

Monday, July 3
Buses will follow regular weekday service on Monday, July 3.

INDEPENDENCE DAY SERVICE

Tuesday, July 4
Metro will follow Holiday Schedules on Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4. Only Routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 18, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31, 32, 50, and 51 will operate.

The Customer Service Center will operate from 12:30 PM until 4:30 PM. The Metro Main Office will be closed for the holiday.

● Routes/Schedules
++++++
PARATRANSIT HOLIDAY SERVICE
Standing Rides Canceled on Tuesday, July 4
All STANDING paratransit rides and LONG TERM ASSIGNMENT rides will be canceled on Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4.

ALL Paratransit customers, including those participating in the Long Term Assignment program, wishing to travel on the holiday must set up a CASUAL ride.

Rides are eligible according to Metro's Holiday service schedules.
Long-Term Assignment riders should schedule rides for Tuesday, July 4 with the Metro Customer Service Center at 266-4466 TTY:866-704-2316) rather than Laidlaw Transit. The Customer Service Center will operate from 12:30 PM until 4:30 PM. The Metro Main Office will be closed for the holiday.
● Routes/Schedules
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Save the Trees . . .

I feel like the Lorax.


If you can still call these things trees . . .






















These pictures were all taken within a half block of my house, but I'm sure you've seen what's happened around the Isthmus . . .

Now I know it is expensive to put the wires underground . . . But sometimes, folks like the Once-ler are wrong when they say "BUT... business is business! And business must grow." Sometimes, what we do to the environment around us just isn't worth it. Please don't forget about the Brown Bar-ba-loots and the Swomee-Swans. Its not enough to just finally deal with your Gluppity-Glupp.
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