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So, I'm tired of doing all the work around here. I am not your mother!
Post your questions, answers, thoughts, recommendations, and other stuff here. Here's a few questions of my own.
Did you take the Green Monona Tour?
Where do always take out of town visitors? Any off-the-beaten-path places? (yes, it can be outside of Monona. duh.)
What are you doing to make Monona a better place?
Or, knowing that nearly all of us are a little bit lazy and like to procrastinate, what do you think you (or preferably somebody else) should be doing to make Monona a better place?
Is the half-assed factor alive and well? Examples, please.
Are you excited about Internet Explorer 8?
What will you do with your furlough days?
Your questions will be answered in the order I get around to them. Reliable answers will take a bit longer.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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I have a question about pesticide use (Chemlawn etc).
ReplyDeleteIt seems that Monona has no requirement to notify the neighbors when pesticides will be applied.
Is it reasonable to request prior notification? I live next door to Maywood School. The other day, a truck came and sprayed something. They left little tags on the grass between my driveway and their grass.
I'm not now, offering my opinion of pesticide use (I am not in favor of). I let my cats run around the neighborhood (another debate I am sure). They would have wandered right into the fresh spray if we hadn't seen the truck.
Thanks,
Marilyn Cohn
ps: I plan to not spend money on my furlough days.
Green Monona Tour? Nope. Went for a bike ride instead.
ReplyDeleteTake Visitors: We walk to the Botantical Gardens. (and usually go into Madison to The Old Fashioned, but now that Monona is smoke-free, maybe we'll stay local?)
Make Monona a better place? I'm pestering an alderman to ensure that Monona Drive is a more bike-friendly place... ;-)
Things that we should be doing? Think about why we leave Monona, whether it's for work, pleasure, food, festivities, etc. Then figure out how to bring that to Monona. For example, I head into Madison regularly for food, and the fact that once you've gotten to the general area you want, you can meander or try several different restaurants/bars to see what you like. Also works when certain places are crowded and the wait is long.
For example, a recent episode with the wife went along these lines: Bike into Madison. Dinner at The Old Fashioned. Dress shopping for the wife at the college places along State Street. Guiness at Brocach's (overpriced and not as good compared to local brews). Additional beer and appetizers at The Great Dane (mmmm, cask conditioned, gravity pulled something or other). Ride home. Not sure, I just don't feel that there's any concentrated area for eating/drinking in Monona that would be similar. Am I mistaken?
IE8? Aaaaahahahahaha. That's funny. Unless it's significantly better than IE7, Firefox, Chrome *and* Safari, I really don't see the point...
Furlough days? Don't have any.
Questions:
1) If we can't get the council to vote on Chickens, should we hold a referendum?
2) If we lose, should we hold massive protests like in Iran, with millions of people marching down Midmoor?
3) Have you ridden your bike to downtown Madison lately? (commute to work?)
4) Boxers or briefs?
5) Are we currently experiencing deflation through debt destruction, or inflation through an increase in the monetary supply. If the answer is deflation since banks are hoarding the money that the government is shoveling at them and not lending it out in turn, is there going to be a point at which they do start lending at an increased rate? Will that cause runaway inflation?
Hmmmmm. I think that's it.
I'll try Marilyn's question first.
ReplyDeleteThe state regulates pesticide notification. You can sign up to be put on the notice list and the lawn care company is supposed to provide notice.
Go here to get the scoop:
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/arm/agriculture/pest-fert/pesticides/lndscp_reg.jsp
Why do Monona and Dane County refuse to respect the Ho-Chunk people who are citizens and who object to Winnebago and Squaw as names for streets and a bay? Please urge Monona Mayor Robb Kahl and County Executive Kathleen Falk to begin the process of eliminating this prejudiced and bigoted naming in their jurisdictions.
ReplyDeleteIn Monona, the mayor and City Council should change the street map to rename Winnequah Road and Squaw Circle. The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Committee should move to eliminate the Squaw Bay name from Lake Monona.
The combination of "Winnebago" (people of the stinky water) and "quah" (squaw) gives us Winnequah, the name of a major street in Monona. From "quah" we get the name Squaw Bay in Lake Monona and Squaw Circle, a street neighboring the bay in Monona.
Today, the Ho Chunk people do not call themselves "Winnebago," a name given to them by Algonquin and settler peoples. Neither "Winne"' nor "quah" is acceptable to native people in Dane County.
I ask Monona and Dane County to move to change the names of Squaw Bay and Winnequah to names which ennoble rather than prejudice its citizens.
Where do always take out of town visitors? Any off-the-beaten-path places? (yes, it can be outside of Monona. duh.)
ReplyDeletePizza Oven
What are you doing to make Monona a better place?
I volunteer until my head is spinning and I have too many things on my plate.
Or, knowing that nearly all of us are a little bit lazy and like to procrastinate, what do you think you (or preferably somebody else) should be doing to make Monona a better place?
I think maintaining and improving the pool and library are key to keep our city attractive and maintaining our quality of life.
Is the half-assed factor alive and well? Examples, please.
Why would you think it goes away?
Example:
1. Our parks lack a comprehensivee plan and seems to lack vision. Thus, we ever yells the loudest gets the attention. This is not a criticism of Jake-he was sent to our city to save us.
What will you do with your furlough days?
I am going to go Tiki for the day. (Tiki shirt, Tiki Music and TIKI DRINKS!)
What is your favorite Tiki drink-that is my question? Yes-answer that one
I plan to spend my furlough days being glad I'm bellied up to the government trough with really good health benefits that I still don't really pay much for compared to what it costs the state, ample paid vacations and holidays, and that I'm not one of the state workers who is going to lose her job. At least not yet.
ReplyDeleteTravis, you could have combined the GMT with a bike ride!
ReplyDeleteQuestions:
1) If we can't get the council to vote on Chickens, should we hold a referendum?
A: Good question. However, I think the council will vote on it eventually. There are limits on direct legislation. Not sure if you can amend the zoning code.
From an article on state bar web site:
"Petitions for direct legislation are qualified only by four narrow limitations that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has declared "are implicit in the statute." Those limitations provide that direct legislation 1) must be legislative in nature; 2) cannot repeal an existing ordinance; 3) cannot exceed the powers of the municipal governing body itself; and 4) cannot modify statutorily prescribed procedures."
2) If we lose, should we hold massive protests like in Iran, with millions of people marching down Midmoor?
A: As long as everybody promises to shower on the morning of.
3) Have you ridden your bike to downtown Madison lately? (commute to work?)
A: Yes, but not to commute. I work on the near west side (610 n. whitney way).
4) Boxers or briefs? I alternate every Saturday night, whether I need to or not.
5) Are we currently experiencing deflation through debt destruction, or inflation through an increase in the monetary supply. If the answer is deflation since banks are hoarding the money that the government is shoveling at them and not lending it out in turn, is there going to be a point at which they do start lending at an increased rate? Will that cause runaway inflation?
A: Oh come on, everybody knows that one....
"Our parks lack a comprehensive plan and seems to lack vision. Thus, we ever yells the loudest gets the attention. This is not a criticism of Jake-he was sent to our city to save us."
ReplyDeleteA:I believe the Parks Board is working an update to the Parks and Open Space Plan. Much needed.
"What is your favorite Tiki drink-that is my question? Yes-answer that one."
A: Tiki drinks? Sheesh, with umbrellas and stuff? When I used to drink ( I very rarely imbibe anymore.), I went for VO on the rocks, no water to mess up the taste. So Tiki drinks aren't really my thing.
If I had to pick one thought the Evil Bastard sounds pretty good.
A giant ceramic munktiki cup comes to your table, and its Bacardi 151-soaked sugar cube (placed atop an orange slice) is lit on fire. After singeing your eyebrows, enjoy a strong combination of Whaler's vanilla, more 151, lemonade, orange juice, passion fruit and orgeat (almond) syrups.
"I plan to spend my furlough days being glad I'm bellied up to the government trough with really good health benefits etc, etc...."
ReplyDeleteA: MF, how are we going to start the revolution with talk like that?! Criminy.
Under my union contract, I am due a 2% pay increase on July 1. The state wants us to just give it back. I'm sorry, but that 2% raise was part of an overall contractual package. If Doyle wants something back, he has to offer something for it. Something other than threats. I would be willing to listen if they made some sort offering, but not just to give it back.
"I plan to spend my furlough days being glad I'm bellied up to the government trough with really good health benefits ......"
ReplyDeleteReally, you are a state worker...come on? That statement is stupid, a misunderstanding of the facts and just plain mean. I suggest you find another person to hurt and label.
"If I had to pick one thought the Evil Bastard sounds pretty good.
ReplyDeleteA giant ceramic munktiki cup comes to your table, and its Bacardi 151-soaked sugar cube (placed atop an orange slice) is lit on fire. After singeing your eyebrows, enjoy a strong combination of Whaler's vanilla, more 151, lemonade, orange juice, passion fruit and orgeat (almond) syrups"
Goodness-when should we come over?
HP
Based on the source, one can't put 100% faith in the description, but Wikipedia suggests that Winnebago and Squaw were not really negative terms. They may be negative now, but this is from people saying they are negative, the word "Squaw" seems to turned negative on Oprah about 20 years ago. Again this is a Wiki, and I haven't checked the sources listed yet.
ReplyDeleteI also do believe that we need to respect the heritage of the Ho Chunk, and it it obvious they do not call themselves Winnebago. I think it would be great to call all people by their native discription, which would include Francais (FRAWN-says) for the French. In some time the word French may be an offensive term. This too is a name for a group of people given by their neighbors, and not in their native tounge. Some radio hosts are turning it negative all ready. This doesn't mean most people are using it that way, nor that most natives of France would be offended by it.
I guess my points are either or both terms may be negative, and should be changed. But the posting above somewhat implies that this City and County are intentionally trying to be racist, which is quite false. The approach above is very confrontational, and slows down changing the names (people such as myself spend time researching, and finding reasons to "defend" the status quo). Finally, it doesn't offer something positive for people to unite around. How about a name of a Ho Chunk hero, or name from their history to change the names to? If for example we hear "We should rename Squaw Circle to Te-rok Circle in honor of the traditional homeland of the Ho Chunk people," we will be much more positive and supportive then hearing "You're City is doing something racist."
Doug,
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can look at this in a vacuum. Perspective is in order. Private sector folks are losing their jobs. Heck, you and I know a railroad worker in our own town who has been laid off with very little hope that he'll be called back soon. And lots of folks who haven't lost jobs are losing benefits (e.g., Cuna) and most private sector workers have seen their retirement funds destroyed. State workers who weren't the variable fund are not doing too bad on that front. Why should state workers get a 2% pay increase when so many other taxpayers in the private sector are suffering on the job front? Plus, most state workers who are represented have some pretty cushy protection in the event of a layoff, such as 8 months of health coverage and automatic rights to any comparable jobs that open up.
If it were me, I'd take an "eat the rich" stance with all of this. I would give a pay raise to only the lowest paid state workers, say, those making less than 300% the federal poverty rate and exempt them from the furloughs. I might even support a pay reduction and more extensive furloughs for the highest paid - say those making over $100,000. I think there's been piss poor leadership on this issue, particularly from the UW System where I work. Biddy needs to take a cut and Riley got a real nice raise last year. Even the gov should think about taking $1 for this year.
"Why should state workers get a 2% pay increase when so many other taxpayers in the private sector are suffering on the job front?"
ReplyDeleteA: We should get a 2% raise because we have a legally binding contract that includes a 2% increase. If the state wants us (unionized state employees) to give back the 2% raise, then they are going to have to *bargain* for it.
"Really, you are a state worker...come on?"
ReplyDeleteYes, I know MF and MF is both a state worker and a small business owner.
""Really, you are a state worker...come on?"
ReplyDeleteYes, I know MF and MF is both a state worker and a small business owner."
I feel sorry for that person who feels proud to belly up to the trough. I do not feel that way-in the least bit. I work hard and it is part of the deal. State workers have forgone raises to keep health care benefits-that was part of the deal
IN the menat time, I have lost a raise for the current fiscal year and will not get one for the next two years and have to take these forlugh days. I lost 5% and will loose more when we have to take a larger cut of health care benefits.
Further, I (like you) am paid off of program revenue. This money will not be returned to the state. Thus, what is going to happen to it? Are we going to build a weather change center?
All the while, I work under a system that does not give me the right to bargain, does not give me incenttives to do a good job or meeting my goals (I just do it) and forces me to do the work of other state workers who do not do their darn jobs-but no one wants to send them packing.
Belly up to trough-indeed.
"Plus, most state workers who are represented have some pretty cushy protection in the event of a layoff, such as 8 months of health coverage and automatic rights to any comparable jobs that open up.
ReplyDelete"
Gosh, most state workers where I work do not have that-so there ya go.
We're getting huffy here, huh? First of all, I am state worker and I work hard - I never said I didn't. "Bellied up to the trough" was a joke and since I'm talking about myself, I'm allowed to make fun of myself. The way I see it, there's no reason to get so darn serious about this. I'll save the serious talk for my friends who have lost their jobs. In the face of what is happening across this country, I refuse to feel sorry for myself or anyone else who is making a decent wage and has health care. Like I said, I think the lower paid workers should be exempt from the furlough, and higher paid workers should shoulder the burden.
ReplyDeleteI've also worked hard for corporations and as a small business owner. For me, the government job is the place I like most and, by a long shot, it provides the best benefits and job security I've ever had. When my husband and I worked together in our small business, we were paying nearly $1,000 a month for the same health benefits I get now for abut $170 per month and that was 8 years ago!
So I guess I have the perspective of someone who has spent most of her working life in the private sector, and now works for the government. It's a perspective that I cannot ignore. I'm happy. I like what I do, I'm good at it, and I work with a great bunch of people. Plus, I get to focus on my job, not whether or not what I do is making anybody any money. I like that too. So I'll take no raise in July (I'm non-rep) and I'll suck it up and take my furlough days because it's way better than the private sector situations I've worked in. (Although, I sure would like to see someone like the legislative fiscal bureau do an analysis on whether this really saves money or not)
As for provisions for laid off state workers - check your contract if you are represented. 6 years ago, about 2 years after I started working for the state, I was laid off when my agency was eliminated. My union contract gave me 6 months of health insurance on top of the two months all state employees get because the state pre-pays two months ahead. I also had a right to any comparable job in state government.
And, by the way, it's a week day. Nice that us state workers have paid time off to do stuff like post on Doug's blog. (ooohh, I bet I'm gonna be sorry I said that....)
For the record, I was on vacation this week.
ReplyDelete"1. Our parks lack a comprehensivee plan and seems to lack vision. Thus, we ever yells the loudest gets the attention."
ReplyDeleteReplace the word "park" with "city" and the statement is just as accurate! Its time for Rob and the old guard on the council, like Thomas to go... we need some fresh energetic blood, people with vision, before its too late.
"Its time for Rob and the old guard on the council, like Thomas to go... we need some fresh energetic blood, people with vision, before its too late."
ReplyDeleteHmmm, we just had an election for Mayor and nobody challenged the Robb. And while alder Thomas has been on the longest, yours truly has the second most seniority. And we just elected two new members (one-third) to the city council.
But yes, we need new people with openness to new ideas to get involved in city government. Chad Speight certainly brought the energy and the ideas and hopefully he will be back.
(The city also has a comprehensive plan that adopted a few years ago as part of the smart growth law.)
" My union contract gave me 6 months of health insurance on top of the two months all state employees get because the state pre-pays two months ahead. I also had a right to any comparable job in state government.
ReplyDelete"
Not all state workers are unionized and can NOT unionize by state law.
Hey, I have another question - what's going in on the corner of Winnequah and Monona Drive? Construction's almost done, and looks like some type of Commercial building. Is it retail of some sort? Do they have tenants already?
ReplyDelete"'re getting huffy here, huh? First of all, I am state worker and I work hard - I never said I didn't. "Bellied up to the trough" was a joke and since I'm talking about myself, I'm allowed to make fun of myself. "
ReplyDeleteyes, you are...but why would you ever say I am happy to belly up to the trough? I can find nothing good around that statement.
"what's going in on the corner of Winnequah and Monona Drive? Construction's almost done, and looks like some type of Commercial building."
ReplyDeleteYep, that will be a Medicine Shoppe pharmacy.
Here is a question: What are those 2X$s cover the sewer grates on certain streets that my kid keeps hitting with the vehicle?
ReplyDelete"What are those 2X$s cover the sewer grates on certain streets that my kid keeps hitting with the vehicle?"
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. What are we talking about? Give me a hint. Animal, mineral, or vegetable?
And why is your kid driving in the gutter? And really, isn't it *your* job to keep your kid out of the gutter? ;->
They are 2X4s (wood) that hold down a mesh and cover the sewer grates in certain areas of the city.
ReplyDelete"They are 2X4s (wood) that hold down a mesh and cover the sewer grates in certain areas of the city."
ReplyDeleteOhhh. Those are used during construction projects to screen runoff before it gets into the storm sewer. I think they are supposed to be removed at the end of a project.
OK-Thanks. They are just still hanging around in certain parts of our fair city longer then that-no big deal.
ReplyDeleteGreen Monona Tour-- overall, the best part was chatting with people that I had not yet met before. Great excuse to meet new neighbors!
ReplyDelete+Kuntzsch Family, was very inspiring since my family wants to expand home garden
+The Paprockis, I did well to insulate the attic, but I learned what I did wrong with sill plate insulation
+Gates residence, this is Sustainability Central in Monona, yes?
+Suzanne and Larry Wade, confirmed that rain barrels and dual flush toilets could be on my list
Furlough days -- beats a layoff. Cheap dates with my wife, house projects, maybe a long weekend to see friends.