It’s what progressives do.
Madison’s Defund the Police crowd remains unbowed. Ald. Keith Furman, president of the Common Council, wants to reject funding for six new police officers who would work to build trust with at-risk youth. The alder for Orchard Ridge on the SW side, Yannette Figueroa Cole, is a co-sponor.
They want to spurn a $277,069 grant from the federal government for community oriented policing services that was actually accepted by the city and is included in Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway’s proposed annual budget. Amendment #12 would also strike $94,902 from the police budget.
They want to apply $105,098 of the grant’s local matching appropriation to the Crisis Alternative Response Emergency Services unit in the fire department. Even the fire department says it is premature. Fire would one additional paramedic position; CARES would get one crisis worker. More details on page 18 of the proposed budget amendments.
We first reported the maneuver two weeks ago.

While they are zeroing out police, Furman and Figueroa-Cole want to more than double their own annual salaries — to $31,793 from $14,904. Furman’s take, as council president, increases to $38,686 from $18,135. That’s a total $379,300 hit on the budget every year. Co-sponsors of the pay grab are: Juliana Bennett, Nikki Conklin, Jael Currie, Yanette Figueroa Cole, Foster, Patrick Heck, and Matt Phair. See pages 19 and 20 for more on budget amendment #13.
The full Common Council will vote on budget amendments on Tuesday 11-15-22. Meeting starts 5:30 p.m. Register in opposition here to amendments #12 and #13 on Agenda #2, the executive operating budget. Buzz the alders themselves here.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Mark well how your alder votes.
You’d think somebody would say no.
How is it so many of your neighbors voted for Figueroa Cole? Where did she come from?
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And we had a reasonable alternative.
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Reasonable doesn’t seem to carry much weight any more.
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These are the same Alders that wanted full time 4 year terms and then wanted 3 year terms when The People voted down the referendums. Now they just double their salary. Less money for police and more for social workers. This is what is making Madison safe. I have no confidence that Madison or Dane County will ever come out of their woke Ideology.
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Somebody ought to challenge Matt Phair, especially. He has gotten a free ride for too long.
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What they WANT and what they GET are two different things. Don’t get all crazy yet.
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No and neither do most of the dems. Check this out from Libs of Tik Tok on Twitter. It is a story about a woman who now considers herself trigender as she now see’s her self having has having 3 genders just like a triangle.
If I say I’m a billionaire that does not make me one.
Stoned, so stoned!
delusional!
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“Does YOUR alder represent YOU?”
Nope; not since the talented Thuy Pham-Remmele’s much appreciated representation to the former 20th Aldermanic District came to an end.
The Gotch
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