EEEE Round Up: Everything Else Except the Edgewater

That title sounds like it should be sung to the tune from "All Along the Watchtower" . . . but yes, there are other things going on around town . . .

WORTH READING
Here's another take on why the city has a budget problem. Tho a few of us tried to address this a few times, it is something the council never seriously considers. Sanborn was the only one hammering on the Capital Budget this year, but if others had tried to cut roads, especially ones in his district, he would have voted for them.

Barry Orton, on Soglin's blog, does a good job summarizing where we are at with the Cable Competition Act . . . more broken promises. This is what led to the the defunding of WYOU (donate now!) and an average 21% rise in cable rates in two years.

Check out the drop in our air quality! Full Dane County Environmental Health Card Report Card here.

I appreciated this call to have the County Board members to stand up to the sheriff's department . . . and the understanding that it could have political implications if they were to do so.

ART GALLERY OPENING

The Jackie Macaulay Gallery is hosting an artist reception for Desereé Nehrkorn

Friday, December 4, 2009 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.

Wine and hor'devours to be served.

Located in the Social Justice Center,
1202 Williamson Street, Madison, WI

WISCONSIN ONCE AGAIN SHOWING IT IS PROGRESSIVE
From the Democracy campaign:

Impartial Justice bill signed into law
The Impartial Justice bill is officially the Impartial Justice law. Governor Jim Doyle signed the bill this morning. The governor's signing statement is here.

With today's action, Wisconsin becomes the first and only state to enact public financing legislation this year and joins North Carolina and New Mexico as the only states to ever create public financing systems for judicial elections.

The Democracy Campaign thanks Governor Doyle and all the legislators who acted to make this long-sought reform a reality. WDC also thanks the many other groups that worked for the bill's passage, most especially Common Cause in Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. And we owe a great debt of gratitude to the countless citizens who took the time to contact their representatives and the governor to urge them to take this important step toward cleaning up state Supreme Court elections.

This historic breakthrough for campaign finance reform was a decade in the making, as the Impartial Justice bill was first proposed in 1999. It is the most significant campaign reform in Wisconsin since 1977.

WATER RATES GOING UP!!!
According to the letter from the PSC,

Our proposed charge for public fire protection provides an increase of approximately 27 percent compared to a 21 percent increase in general service rates.

There is a public hearing next Tuesday. You can comment here.

DID YOU KNOW . . .
County board elections are coming up? People can start filing for that and school board starting yesterday. Seems really, really, really quiet this year . . . so far, Melissa Sargeant is running for a seat being vacated by Dorothy Wheeler and there's some action on campus . . . but I haven't heard a whole lot more, but I haven't been paying a whole lot of attention either and there is a virtual media blackout at the county and school board levels, making it hard to find news . . . but, at the county level, if you don't like what happened to human services this year, or are concerned about the sheriff's office and the immigration issues, or are passionate about land use (yes, there are some of you out there!) or [insert issue here], you should consider running! It's not as much work as the city council and there are important issues that need to be addressed! School Board info here. County Board info here. Of course, if you are interested, you might want to talk to some folks . . . feel free to call or email me or find someone who you respect or agree with! Candidates needed!

SMALL BUSINESS BUS PASS PROGRAM
Sometimes those crazy Progressive Dane ideas can even be supported by Jenifer Alexander of the Chamber of Commerce . . . for more info to get involved in the program, see here.

STALLED HOTEL
Hmmm, not returning phone calls . . . hard to buy the initial excuses about product not being available given the news of liens being filed against the property.

AIDS QUILT IN MADISON TODAY AND TOMORROW"

Overture Center Main Lobby
201 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Thursday, December 3, 2009
10:00 am - 10:00 pm

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is an expanding memorial to the lives of people lost to HIV/AIDS, created by those who loved them. It is the largest community art project in the world, totaling more than 45,500 individual panels that commemorate more than 91,000 people.

View 21 12'x12' blocks of the captivating quilt in person, brought to Madison in recognition of World AIDS Day (December 1) by the UW Health HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Care Program, with financial support from Becker Law Office, the Wisconsin AIDS/HIV Program and our many generous allies and friends.

JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT . . .
Do some shopping, help the community, get a good deal!

Help Promote Sustainability Statewide and these Community Causes: Dane County TimeBank, WYOU Community Access TV, Community Groundworks at Troy Gardens

PEACE RALLY TODAY
Wednesday, December 2 – March of the Dead & Placing Demands on Sen. Kohls Office Door & Rep. Baldwin’s Office Door.

11:00 AM – Gather at Lisa Link Peace Park, State St., Mad., WI and march to Veterans Park at corner of State St. and the Capitol Square.

We will have a somber March of the Dead to the Capitol Square where we will remember and mourn the dead by reading their stories. Will arrive at the Square at NOON. We will deliver our demands to Senator Kohl’s office at approximately 12:30 to 12:45 and to Congresswoman Baldwin’s office at 1:30 or 1:45 PM, calling on our legislators to refuse to fund the escalation for the wars.

MADISON LOBBIES
Check out what the City of Madison is paying money to lobby on. The question that always bothered me is . . . who decides what we lobby on? In the last few years there has been a minimal effort to involve the council in the decisions, but it mostly is just a report on what has already happened and a request to give input once a year.

YOUR ALDER SAID WHAT?
As a side note to the above issue, check this out, the audio of the meeting is available. It's the last link at the bottom of the links here. It would be sooooooo totally cool if that was made available for every committee meeting. Tho, that would probably scare the bejesus out most elected officials . . . but it also might make them think a little more about what they say. I wonder why this audio is available and if they plan to continue doing it?

CASEY JONES, YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR SPEED
Ticketing for speeding is once again a priority, kinda. There used to be two traffic enforcement teams called TEST teams. I forget when and how it went away, but I remember council members being concerned at the time and we were told to mind our own business . . . I remember thinking that the cops at the time just didn't want to give tickets, they wanted to work on "real crime" because it was more exciting. Glad to see that preventative safety is back on their minds . . . but I'm also bracing myself for that ticket and when I get it, I won't have any good excuses besides I just have a lead foot! But then again, the enforcement is still probably so light, I might never even notice.

WTF?
This is an account of a beating on Halloween weekend, which I don't think we ever heard about:

Because of his injuries, which medical records show also include bulging discs, Miller was unable to complete the fall semester at UW-Parkside, and it is uncertain if he will be able to start a theater job in New York City scheduled to begin in January, he said.

Miller said he told a paramedic, whom he thought was a police officer, that he had just been beaten and could not get up. He said the paramedic told him to get up or he would be taken to detox then pulled him up and took him back to the house of the friend with whom he had been arguing.

Miller said the paramedic asked if he needed an ambulance, and he replied that he had no health insurance. The paramedic then questioned whether he was refusing medical treatment, but Miller did not reply, Miller said.

Amesqua said the paramedic, Gary Schreiber, denied that Miller told him he had been beaten. Miller also had no apparent injuries, she said.

Schreiber told a police detective that Miller refused medical treatment, Amesqua said.

A Fire Department report indicates paramedics responded to "a man sleeping in a alley. We were able to get him up and inside his house."

I'm freaking speechless.
Read more!

Continued Round Up for this Week

Less regurgitation of things you should know, more attitude! :)

BIGOTED FLASHBACK
As my co-worker and friend Megin McDonell says on my Facebook page "hello? 1999? is that you? can you come and get your talking points, please, and take them back to your own century? thanks."

Apparently, we're going to have the debate about if Section 8 causes crime, again. What's so galling is that is that it is the landlord's responsibility to screen their tenants just like any other tenant and if they find the tenant to be a problem - for a reason other than that they receive Section 8 payments to help pay their rents - then it is up to them to deny them. What I find concerning about the police department's current desire to map where crime and Section 8 vouchers might line up, is that it presumes that Section 8 somehow causes the crime, instead of recognizing that maybe, just maybe, those are the only landlords they can get to to rent to them because the other units are too expensive or they are being discriminated against. Another facebook friend notes "Of course, there's never any drug use, alcohol related violence, sexual assault, battery, theft, etc. happening at other concentrations of government assisted housing in town, i.e. the University." Good point. The final craziness here is that the section 8 program has their own requirements from HUD related to felony drug offenses and qualification to receive benefits of the program. On a final note, the landlord they are using as their poster child here is not the greatest landlord and I hear many concerns about his dealings. And I do believe he is in violation of the ordinance based on his comments in this article and previous articles on this matter. My personal opinion - not "according to sources at the Madison Tenant Resource Center"

SHAPIRO OUT, MERCER IN
Wow. Somehow, I don't think this is a very good decision. First of all, I don't think they can just decide who replaces Shapiro, I'm pretty sure the council will vote on it. Second, I really hope that cooler heads prevail and someone talks some sense into the Tavern League - Mercer certainly hasn't used good judgment lately, if the Tavern League wants to further alienate themselves, this is a good step, if not, I hope they reconsider.

HOW'D I MISS THIS
What? 12 Monona Terrace employees lost their jobs? Why? Just trying to be thorough, randomly. Do you believe it?

WOW

"In many ways, progressive Madison resembles a European-style monarchy. The king is called the mayor, and the council is a group of his advisers."

That kind of nailed it. This council has a council leadership that is an arm of the mayor. It's like they forgot there is an executive and legislative branch. The Mayor has 10 staff people, the 20 council members have 2 to share among them. They also all mostly have full time jobs in addition to serving our community. The problem I see is that the Mayor doesn't have to have all this power. The council could elect council leadership that will represent the council's interests, not the Mayor's. The council could take more initiative and show some leadership of their own, both individually and collectively. The Council could work in a more democratic manner instead of letting three guys make all the decisions behind the scenes and then call things "compromises" when 3/4 of the council and none of the community were involved in the discussion. Sigh . . . I could go on, but I better stop . . .

BONE MARROW DONORS NEEDED

Marrow Donor Registration
Antonio Rieder Drive
Saturday, November 21
10am-3pm
At Centro Hispano

Antonio is an adorable 6-year-old from Guatemala who was adopted by a family in Madison. During the fall of 2009, he was diagnosed with the blood disorder aplastic anemia. Antonio’s best treatment may be a bone marrow transplant. The best match for him and other patients of color is an unrelated donor from the same ethnic group. That’s why his family is encouraging donors from all ethnicities to join the Be The Match Registry.

You could help save a life.

Contact Todd Coleman at (866) 702-HOPE Or todd.coleman@bcw.edu

LANDBANKING WORKSHOPS

On November 11th, the Madison Common Council took the historic step of setting aside $5 million to establish a city land banking fund.

But how exactly will land banking work here in Madison? The details are still being worked out, but there is one thing that we know for sure: we increase the likelihood that our land banking efforts will be successful if we do a good job of learning lessons from successful land banking programs in other cities.

Join us for a discussion with two of the nation’s most innovative land banking experts from Denver, CO. Aaron Miripol is President and CEO of the Urban Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization with a mission of land banking, preservation and development of urban property for the long term community benefit. Joining Aaron will be Dace West, Co-Director of the City of Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships, which serves as a catalyst to leverage the best of Denver's public and nonprofit sectors to engage in innovative and collaborative work.

Aaron and Dace will share their experiences and help build our knowledge base around issues such as:

* Models of land banking, including Denver’s Urban Land Conservancy,
* Developing collaborative projects between city government and nonprofits,
* Incorporating neighborhood needs through Community Benefits Agreements,
* Creating successful transit oriented development.

Land Banking Workshops (same workshop both dates)

* Monday, November 30th, 6:30-8:30 PM, at the brand new Urban League Center for Economic Development & Workforce Training, 2222 S. Park St.
* Tuesday, December 1st, 9:00–11:00 AM, at the Madison Municipal Building, Room 260, 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

Sponsored by the Center for Resilient Cities, Common Wealth Development, Housing Initiatives, Madison Area Community Land Trust, Project Home, Urban League of Greater Madison, and the City of Madison.

For more information, go to www.affordablehome.org/landbanking

Read more!

Mid-week Round Up

Lots and lots of miscellaneous . . . catching up on non-budget, non-Edgewater related topics! And no long meetings to report on! Spent time in non-government meetings last night! :)

PROPERTY OWNERS, GET YOUR TAX CREDITS

The Dane County Treasurer, David Worzala, is encouraging property owners to make sure they are signed up for the lottery credit to reduce their 2009 property taxes. The lottery credit is paid by the state and will reduce your taxes by $70-100 each year depending on your school district. The credit remains each year until you move so the savings continues each year once you have signed up.

While most property owners are signed up, the Treasurer's Office has identified almost 14,000 properties in Dane County that are likely to be eligible, but who are not yet signed up. To be eligible for the lottery credit you have to have lived in your home on January 1, 2009 and it has to be your primary residence.

To check if you are one of those not yet signed up, click here and follow the simple directions. To get on this year's tax bill, you have to send in your form before Thanksgiving.

DIDN'T THIS GET SETTLED YEARS AGO
One would this this shouldn't be necessary . . .

WIEA “Indian” Mascot and Logo Taskforce and RAAINL will be providing educational material, observing fan behavior and providing a ‘Silent Vigil of Protest’ at the 2009 WIAA State Football Championship games involving race-based “Indian” named teams playing at Camp Randall Field on Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20.

We need volunteers to observe/vigil/photograph fan behavior during, and to help distribute materials to fans as they leave the following games:

Division 4 – Kewaunee ‘Indians’ vs. Big Foot ‘Chiefs’
Division 2 – Kimberly vs. Waunakee ‘Warriors’
Division 1 – Milwaukee Marquette vs. Menomonee Falls ‘Indians’

If you can help distribute materials, meet outside Camp Randall at Gate 1 at:
8:30 PM Thursday, November 19 for Division 4 Game
2:30 PM Friday, November 20 for Division 2
5:30 PM Friday for Division 1

The games start at 7 PM, 1 PM and 4 PM respectively for those attending the ‘Silent Vigil.’

EMPLOYERS STEALING FROM LOW-WAGE WORKERS
Man, it just gets worse . . . as if the economy wasn't taking its toll on low-income workers . .. .

Employers Stealing Millions from Workers Everywhere!
Workers Speak Out Against Wage Theft

When: 6pm Thursday, November 19
Where: UW-Madison campus. Check TITU for room location.

Wage theft is rampant across the country! A recent study found that 26 percent of low-wage workers were paid less than minimum wage, while 76 percent were not paid for overtime, resulting in an average of $51 stolen from workers' paychecks every week.

The illegal underpayment or non-payment of workers' wages affects millions of workers each year, forcing many to choose between paying their rent and feeding their families.

Join us in educating and organizing ourselves to help stop wage theft. We'll hear from local workers who have experienced it, from faith and community leaders describing the impact on our community, and from students discussing how we can organize in solidarity with workers and do something about it!

Organized by the Student Labor Action Coalition and the Workers' Rights Center.

Endorsed by: Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice, Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program, Campus Women’s Center, Chicana/o Latina/o Studies Program, Havens Center, Immigrant Workers Union (UTI).

PRAISE OR PROTEST
How's Obama doing on Afghanistan? Get ready to react!

Where: Madison, beginning at Lisa Link Peace Park, 400 State Street, up State St. toward the Capitol, around the Capitol and ending inside the Capitol rotunda with a rally and speakers.

When: On the day following the announcement by President Obama of his decision on additional troops for the war in Afghanistan:
If the announcement is made Sunday - Thursday: Event will be held the following day (Monday-Friday) at 4:30pm
If the announcement is made Friday or Saturday: Event will be held the following day (Saturday or Sunday) at noon
(Please check with contacts below to confirm time and day after President Obama makes an announcement of his decision.)

Contact info removed, but I can send it to you if you want.

While those within the Obama administration continue a vigorous debate about a possible escalation of the war in Afghanistan, concerned Madison-area citizens have already put in place their plans for a response to Obama's decision. A coalition of local peace groups, including Veterans for Peace, Madison-Area Peace Coalition, Madison Pledge of Resistance, and Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice are calling for Madison citizens to gather at Madison's Lisa Link Peace Park, 400 State Street, for a response to Obama's decision, including an open mic where speakers representing a range of opinions will share their views, followed by a solemn candlelight walk around the Capitol in remembrance of all of the victims of war.

"I'd like nothing more than for us to be able to gather to note a positive development, like a decision that no additional troops will be sent, or that the United States is establishing a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan," said Steve Burns, of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.

Recently, high-level Obama administration officials and influential members of Congress, including US ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, have spoken out against sending additional troops into the war in Afghanistan, raising hopes that the Obama administration might pull back from the brink of an Afghanistan escalation.

Despite these hopeful signs, Madison-area residents remain prepared to speak out forcefully if Obama does make a decision to escalate the war. “During the 10 year Soviet war in Afghanistan an estimated 1 million Afghans died, 1.2 million were disabled and 3 million were wounded. The American people will not stand for the Obama administration repeating the actions of the Russians. The killing must stop.It only breeds hate, not peace,” said Buzz Davis of Veterans for Peace.

Rae Vogeler of the Madison Area Peace Coalition said, “Our position has always been the US shouldn’t be in Afghanistan to begin with. We want the wars ended now and the troops and contractors brought home. Every day more troops and civilians die, more billions are spent, and we move closer to bankruptcy as a nation.”

This event has been endorsed by: Veterans for Peace, Madison Area Peace Coalition, WI Network for Peace and Justice, Madison Pledge of Resistance, Peregrine Forum and Wisconsin Impeachment/Bring Our Troops Home Coalition.

UN-NAMED SOURCE
I was in my sitting in my office and got a google alert for the Tenant Resource Center so I read the article and burst out laughing and rolled my eyes. One of the worst questions we get asked is if a landlord is good or bad and the problem is, its all relative, it can vary from year to year and of course, people threaten to sue us - so we don't really give recommendations or endorsements. Large management companies are usually as good as the people they hire, some small landlords are as good as the meds they are taking. Sometimes there are some where we see patterns or bad policies. We can guess who's charging illegally for carpet cleaning or charging security deposits for routine cleaning. We know who is sloppy on their landlord entry policies or who will negotiate with tenants when they are at eviction court. But . . . we're hesitant to say anything on the record, officially. Which is why I laughed so hard at this ringing endorsement from an un-named source in my office . . . which I thought was very artfully worded and subtle, but Apex owner Bosben clearly knew was not exactly a compliment:

“I wouldn’t say they are any better or any worse than the other big management companies,” says a source at the Madison Tenant Resource Center.

Bosben takes issue with any criticism . . .

Wait, we didn't exactly criticize him! He made that assumption . . .

As for me, when they asked me if they could put my name on that quote I hesitated . . . because of my sorta miserable multiple experiences with them as a neighbor went with the ol' "no comment".

But Kudos to my staff who managed to say nothing and yet get the landlord to say that they knew it was criticism! Too funny, some people are their own worst enemy.

MAYOR DAVE'S BIG DONORS
At the last council meeting, Pham-Remmele accused Mayor Dave of selling a seat on a committee for $1000. Mayor Dave says there are so few of those donors, so I thought I'd take a peak at some of his reports, here's what I found:
January 2009 Continuing Report
- Robert and Irwin Goodman each gave $500.
July 2009 Continuing Report
- #20,565 raised with 19 pages of donors mostly giving $100 - 500.
January 2008 continuing
- Raised a total of $225
July 2008 Continuing
- $6,231 raised.
- Fred and Mary Mohs each gave $500
- Emily Earley gave $1,000
January 2007 report
- James Crow gave an accumulated total of $1,250
- David Liebl gave an accumulated total of $1,150
- Frank Byrne gave an accumulated total of $1,387
- Peggy Anderson gave an accumulated total of $1,000
- Elliot Butler gave an accumulated total of $1,150
Spring Pre-primary 2007
- Stephen Hurley gave $1,000
- Spring Pre-Election 2007
- Patrick Essie gave $1000
- Bruce Neviaser gave $1000
July Continuing 2007
- Raised $8,127 but not larger donors

So, I went through that quickly, might have missed something, but . . . did any of these folks get some super great committee assignment? Perhaps I missed people who gave over several years? I dunno, nothing jumps out at me. I'll dig around some more. I'd have quite a few other comments about his campaign finance reports, but I don't think that people are buying seats on city committees . . .

MEETINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK
Because the 46 meetings I looked at on Monday morning were not enough, here's the ones that were added since then . . .
Yesterday, I posted the week ahead schedule, but because 46 meetings just aren't enough, here are the ones that they have added since then . . .

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
1:30 PM SISTER CITY COLLABORATION COMMITTEE FUNDRAISING SUBCOMMITTEE ROOM LL-110 MMB

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
4:00 PM HOUSING DIVERSITY PLANNING AD HOC COMMITTEE ROOM 313 MMB

Thursday, November 19, 2009
3:00 PM ERLANER, JEFFREY CLAY, CIVILITY IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE AWARD COMMITTEE ROOM 403 CCB

5:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY REVIEW COMMITTEE ROOM 103A CCB
- Chronic Nuisance and licensing landlords
- Vendors by schools

I ALSO MISSED THIS IN THE WEEK AHEAD!
Robbie Webber explains . . .

Thursday, November 19, 5:00 PM, Room 300 of the Municipal Bldg This is a scheduled meeting of the Long Range Transportation Plan Commission, but members of the Ped/Bike/Motor Vehicle Commission, the Transit and Parking Commission, Board of Public Works, and Transportation Planning Board (MPO) have also been invited.

The Wisconsin DOT will present their plans for the intersection of Verona Rd and the West Beltline. The project extends down to Cty PD (McKee Rd) and will affect/alter some intersections in the area, including the entrance to the Home Depot area.

There is also a proposed new road under Verona Rd where the SW Path runs down. The path would be moved laterally to run along the side of the new road.

This project is far in the future, but this is an opportunity to see what WisDOT has planned so far and see if you want to comment. This is an information only meeting. No action or vote will be taken.

The DOT web site has some drawings, but changes may have been made since then. However, the web site will give you can idea of the general outline of the project.

PEOPLE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING VISION PLODS FORWARD
There are no easy answers, but feel free to join us tonight at the Central Library to discuss how we move forward:

Please come to the People's Housing Vision meeting this Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the second floor meeting room of the Central Library. We're moving forward on our priorities and developing detailed solutions. We'll be discussing our research on addressing important concerns like enforcement of Ch. 32 of the Madison ordinances, expanding overflow shelter space, a third party shelter complaint system, expanding community resources in tenant/landlord matters for persons with Limited English Proficiency, rehabbing foreclosed properties to provide affordable housing opportunities, and providing greater fair housing protections for victims of domestic violence and persons with service animals . . . and more.

HARRIET IS MOVING!

Starting November 20, 2009, the Telecirc ("Harriet") phone number will change to 608-242-4700. Please note this change if you call Harriet to renew items, or to review your list of holds, items checked out, or items overdue.

Email notification for holds is also available! Contact your local library to sign up for email notices. Contact information for LINKcat libraries is available here.

Read more!

Health Care Rally Today

Here's the details. I saw them making posters in the SJC conference room yesterday, not know knowing that Linda Farley had passed away, I often saw here there with that very same group.

Health Care Demonstration Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at Noon, City-County Building

Contact: Ron Biendseil, rbiend@charter.net
PH: 608-836-1920 CELL: 608-712-6831

The citizens’ action group Organizing for America/Dane County Grassroots Network will conduct a demonstration in support of single-payer health care on June 10 at noon on the steps of the City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., in Madison. The group is concerned that neither the Obama administration nor Congressional Democrats are giving serious consideration to a universal health care plan that includes a public single payer option that would compete with private insurers.

Speakers will include members of the medical and health care community as well as individuals whose lives are affected by lack of adequate health care.

The Madison chapter of the international social action group, The Raging Grannies, will perform.

OFA/Dane County Grassroots Network believes that health care for all is a right, not a privilege and should not be a commodity to be purchased by only those who can afford it. The group advocates for a single-payer, government funded health-care system much like the present Medicare system. The single-payer approach is
(1) The only reform proposal to date that would provide truly universal coverage; and
(2) The most efficient and cost-effective means of delivery of health care.

Various reputable national polls over the past year have consistently shown that almost 60 percent of the population in the U.S. prefers a single-payer system. These polls demonstrate that the public both
(1) Understands that that a fundamental injustice inheres in the denial of health-care coverage to 45 million people in a country as wealthy as the U.S.; and
(2) Has lost faith in a system in which big insurance companies profit by denying proper care to the insured.

Health care should be a basic civil right, not a source of profit for insurance companies.

Read more!

World Record for Hugs in an Hour?

Another thing to do at Rhythm & Booms, volunteers needed! This was unusual, so I thought I'd pass it along.

Help Us Set the World Record for the Number of Hugs Given in One Hour!!!

Volunteer Opportunity

Join us at Rhythm and Booms on Saturday, June 27th (rain date Sunday, June 28th) to help raise money for With Wings and a Halo-R.E.A.C.H. a Child. We are a nationwide nonprofit that supplies emergency providers with backpacks full of books to distribute to children in crisis. The Mascot and Celebrity Charity Hug is a way to raise funds for With Wings and a Halo-R.E.A.C.H. a Child and be part of the Guinness Book of World Records. The Mascot and Celebrity Charity Hug will set a new world record for the most hugs given simultaneously in one hour during the Rhythm and Booms event. When you are finished with your shift, feel free to stick around for free music and the fireworks at Rhythm and Booms.

Each volunteer will receive a t-shirt for the event and a chance to be part of setting the Guinness Record. Groups that participate in the event will also receive ten percent of the donations they collect before the event and on the day of the event.

Below is a list of the volunteers that we need.

Wrist Band Promoters/Donation Collectors (2 Shifts Available)

Shift #1 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Shift #2 5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

· Walk through the crowds to promote the event.
· Accept donations for wrist bands and books.
· Work at stations as needed to accept donations and promote the event.

Shift #1 40 people**
Shift #2 40 people**

**All volunteers must be at least 14 years-old.

Counters

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

· Assigned to one mascot/celebrity.
· Tally the number of hugs for that one mascot/celebrity in an hour.

10 – 15 people**

Monitor Lines/Celebrity and Mascot Sign Holders

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

· Assigned to one mascot/celebrity.
· Instruct people to form two lines as they gather for the mascot/celebrity.
· Hold the sign identifying that mascot/celebrity.

10-15 people**

There are two ways to volunteer:

1. Individuals--We are looking for individuals that would love to help out at our event. Please contact Julie Cruz at chefjulie@wislug.net or (608) 445-9903 with your name, email address and phone number as well as what volunteer position you are looking for (first and second choices).

2. Groups—We are also looking for groups to participate. If you have a group that is interested, please provide your name and contact information as well as the name of your group and number of people able to volunteer to Julie Cruz at chefjulie@wislug.net or (608) 445-9903

Read more!

Help the South Madison Library

Fundraiser, Friday & Saturday!

Friends of the South Madison Branch Library Just-in-time for Summer Annual Book, AV and Bake Sale! Friday June 5, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Loads of new and used books, CDs, DVDs, videos, books on Cd or cassette and more! Lots of books for kids and teens! Many books in Spanish, too! All at affordable prices! Plus delicious cookies, cakes and pies! South Madison Branch Library, 2222 S. Park St. Enter through the Harambee Center or library doors. (Bag Sale on Saturday at 1 p.m.- All you can fit in a paper grocery bag for $5.00!) For more information, call 266-6395.

Read more!

Fundraiser to Help with Health Care Costs

Ah, where to begin with the problems with health care and how it can wreak havoc on a person's life. Here's a chance to help someone in our community who is often helping everyone else!

As you may have heard, Barbara Wright of The Dardanelles recently had
an emergency appendectomy, and as a small business owner with past
health issues, she doesn't have access to health insurance. The
operation came to $27,000, and although Meriter has forgiven some of
the debt, Barbara will be paying off the rest for years.

She agreed to let us do a fundraiser to help her only if half the
proceeds went to help others without insurance -- which is typical of
Barbara, who has been such a big supporter of every liberal and
humanitarian cause in Madison. So 50% of what is raised will go to
the Access Community Health Centers.

The Access to Health Care fundraiser will be held on Sunday, June 7
from 5:00 to 8:00 at The Dardanelles, 1851 Monroe Street. Local
restaurants and retailers are donating food and wine, and there will
be live music and an incredible silent auction of donated goods and
services. Tickets are $40 each, available at Orange Tree Imports,
1721 Monroe Street. There may also be tickets at the door.

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Remembering and Honoring Dr. George Tiller

Sunday, in Madison.

A candlelight vigil will be held in memory of long time women’s health services advocate Dr. George Tiller this Sunday evening at 8 p.m. at Peace Park in Madison, WI.

Sunday, 6/7 at 8 p.m.
Lisa Link Peace Park
400 State Street, Madison, WI

A vigil will be held at the same date and time in Milwaukee at a location not yet determined. More information on the Milwaukee vigil will be shared as soon as it is available.

The vigil will be a welcoming memorial honoring the life of Dr. Tiller and mourning his death. This is also an opportunity to honor the commitment and dedication of providers in our own state of Wisconsin.

Please direct any questions to the NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin office at (608) 287-0016 or info@prochoicewisconsin.org.

If you are outside of the Madison or Milwaukee area and would like to plan a vigil for Sunday in your Wisconsin community, please contact the NARAL office at (608) 287-0016, and we will help you spread the word.

Read more!