Economic Development – creating public-private partnerships to find common ground

This is the second blog post in a series.  The first blog post focused on Public Safety.  Other posts will discuss: Communication, and the Budget/Taxes.

Economic Development – creating public-private partnerships to find common ground

Pragmatism, common sense, logic.  These are words that I continue to hear from homeowners and business owners in District 1.  The City of Madison can improve its standing in the Greater Madison Business Community.  First steps would include: more proactive dialogue with stakeholders; continued conversations with businesses that would be impacted positively or negatively by a new or changing code/ordinance; and finding common ground between development and regulation.

A new Planning and Development Director will be starting in a few weeks.  Mr. Steve Cover brings a wealth of knowledge from both the public and private sectors.  Mr. Cover introduced himself at the January 18th Common Council meeting.  At this meeting he focused on how city staff should find ways to say “yes” while working with existing businesses and new businesses looking to locate in Madison.

I appreciate this mindset  - searching for common ground, using common sense, and finding ways to say “yes.”  This all sounds great.  I would look forward to working with Mr. Cover and other city staff to improve the economic development opportunities for businesses and workers in District 1. 

Also, near District 1, there is a new development in the works.  The new “Research Park 2” has begun with infrastructure improvements.  Soon we will be seeing physical structures being built that will house the businesses and researchers of tomorrow.  I will do all that I can to support this wonderful economic engine on our southwest side.  Creating bio-tech, clean-tech and next generation medical companies in Madison will continue to grow the job opportunities for residents.

We must remember, we are just beginning to come out of a major recession.  Many families and businesses are still struggling.  We must do everything we can, within reason, to help businesses create high-quality, family-supporting jobs for Madisonians.

Next week's topic - Budget/Taxes

“Breakfast with Brian” - Saturday, January 29th

Gary and Tanace (on Piping Rock Road) of the Green Tree Neighborhood were wonderful hosts this past Saturday.  Thanks to everyone that took time to share their thoughts and concerns.  Public safety, community collaboration and our schools were popular issues.  We discussed how we could encourage our parent-teacher groups and neighborhood organizations to continue working together.  I appreciated hearing about these items and other important topics.  Thanks again to Gary and Tanace.  Marilen and I value your support!

Mark your calendars, other events coming soon:

Thursday, February 3rd - 5:30 to 7:30pm - “Beers with Brian” at Babe’s Sports Grill

Saturday, February 5th – 8:30 to 10:00am – “Coffee with the Candidate” (TBA)

Please visit my website: http://www.driscollfordistrict1.com/ for more details. 

Thank you. 
 -Brian

Public Safety – supporting our neighborhoods and businesses.

This is the first in a series of blog posts that will highlight the issues and my positions.

Public Safety – supporting our neighborhoods and businesses.

Coordination and collaboration through communication is a good place to start.  If we could increase coordination with the Madison Metropolitan School District, our city/county public health workers, and our neighborhood watch groups we could make additional progress.

The Madison Police Department has seen an increase in staff through the last few budgets.  I would support additional staff for our next budget, especially if we can increase support and staff given to our neighborhood liaison officers.  Combining strong neighborhood watch groups with students’ work in our schools - Classes on Personal Safety (COPS) as well as continued support for our city/county public health workers would lay the foundation for future success.

If I am fortunate enough to represent you as Alder of District 1 on the Madison Common Council I will work to make our streets safer through additional police staff and more coordination.

Future blog posts will focus on:  Economic Development and the Budget.

"Cocktails with the Candidate"

Cocktails with the Candidate

Thursday, January 27 - 5:30 to 7:30pm

Babe's Sports Grill  --  http://www.babesmadison.com/

Thanks to everyone that came to Babe’s tonight to enjoy cocktails and conversation.  Thanks to Owner Lynn Haker and Manager Scott Peterson. 

It was great to hear about the issues our neighbors and friends care about most.  The three issues that continue to be discussed are:  public safety, economic development, and the budget. 

Please join us for more events at Babe’s.  “Cocktails with the Candidate” or “Beers with Brian” will be happening again soon  --  Thursday, February 3 and Thursday, February 10 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Hope to see you there!

A New Tone - "Date Night" at the State of the Union

(Please view previous post for more detail.)

Bipartisan Seating – “Date Night" at the State of the Union.

Many members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to change to tone of politics as usual.  Tonight there will be Republican members sitting with Democratic members while listening to the President of the United States’ State of the Union.  This may be the beginnings of civility in our nation’s capital, and it could be a one night event.  Nearly 60 legislators have volunteered to be part of this historic opportunity.  The author Senator Udall (D-CO) and Presidential Candidate, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) will be sitting together.  Other participants include:: Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Representative Tom Petri (R-WI). 

Historically, this event has taken place in January each year since President Woodrow Wilson in 1912.  Even before President Wilson, our first President, George Washington addressed legislators to update them on the “state of the union.”  Never before have Congressional members mixed together to listen to the President’s address.

Where does this leave the State of Wisconsin?  Will we see Republicans, Democrats and Independents sitting together when the Governor gives the State of the State on February 1^st? 

What kind of impact could this have on dialogue at our local level? The City of Madison Common Council meetings tend to have a collegial tone, with a few exceptions.

As an independent running for a non-partisan, part-time office to represent the residents and businesses of District 1 in the City of Madison, I hope that this is just the beginning. I hope for the sake of Wisconsinites and Madisonians we will see our elected officials crossing the aisle.  I can envision members at the federal level, state level and local level talking with other legislators that they have differ on with issues and opinion.

This is a good first step to establish a new level of civility in our dialogue.  And as the famous saying goes, “We must work to understand that we can disagree without being disagreeable.”  Another important phrase that may be appropriate is, “all politics are local.”  I’m hoping our local politics can also be civil.

Bipartisan Seating at the State of the Union

http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=879

UPDATED: Letter to Congressional Leadership Regarding Bipartisan Seating at the State of the Union Address

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Minority Leaders McConnell and Pelosi:

We, the undersigned members of Congress, believe that partisan seating arrangements at State of the Union addresses serve to symbolize division instead of the common challenges we face in securing a strong future for the United States.  As we all know, the tenor and debate surrounding our politics has grown ever more corrosive - ignoring the fact that while we may take different positions, we all have the same interests. This departure from statesmanship and collegiality is fueled, in part, by contentious campaigns and divisive rhetoric. Political differences will always generate a healthy debate, but over time the dialogue has become more hateful and at times violent. But now the opportunity before us is to bring civility back to politics. It is important to show the nation that the most powerful deliberative bodies in the world can debate our differences with respect, honor and civility. We believe that it is not only possible, but that it is something that nearly all members of Congress truly desire. To that end, we suggest setting a small, but important, new tradition in American politics.  At the State of the Union address, on January 25th, instead of sitting in our usual partisan divide, let us agree to have Democrats and Republicans sitting side by side throughout the chamber. Beyond custom, there is no rule or reason that on this night we should emphasize divided government, separated by party, instead of being seen united as a country. The choreographed standing and clapping of one side of the room - while the other side sits - is unbecoming of a serious institution. And the message that it sends is that even on a night when the President is addressing the entire nation, we in Congress cannot sit as one, but must be divided as two.  On the night of the State of the Union address, we are asking others to join us - House and Senate members from both parties - to cross the aisle and sit together. We hope that as the nation watches, Democrats and Republicans will reflect the interspersed character of America itself. Perhaps by sitting with each other for one night we will begin to rekindle that common spark that brought us here from 50 different states and widely diverging backgrounds to serve the public good.

With respect and admiration,

Co-signers (list current as of 3pm ET on Friday, January 21th):

Senate Mark Udall Lisa Murkowski Kelly Ayotte Mark Begich Michael Bennet Barbara Boxer Scott Brown Ben Cardin Thomas Carper Susan Collins Chris Coons Kirsten Gillibrand Kay Hagan Amy Klobuchar Herb Kohl Mary Landrieu Joseph Lieberman Joe Manchin John McCain Claire McCaskill Jeff Merkley Ben Nelson Bill Nelson Mark Pryor Jack Reed Chuck Schumer Jeanne Shaheen Olympia Snowe Mark Warner Sheldon Whitehouse Ron Wyden

House Heath Shuler Paul Gosar Jason Altmire Charles Bass Sanford Bishop Madeleine Bordallo Dan Boren Dennis Cardoza Russ Carnahan John Carney Steve Cohen Jim Cooper Phil Gingrey Richard Hanna Larry Kissell Dave Loebsack Jim Matheson Mike McIntyre Mike Michaud Sue Myrick Grace Napolitano Thomas Petri Chellie Pingree Laura Richardson Mike Ross Niki Tsongas Tim Walz Mel Watt

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0111/Poll_Americans_like_bipartisan_State_of_the_Union_seating.html?showall

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/139353-poll-americans-want-bipartisan-seating-at-state-of-the-union

Poll: Americans like bipartisan State of the Union seating

Americans are sold on the idea of bipartisan seating at the State of the Union address, a new poll finds. Of those surveyed, 72 percent say that Democrats and Republicans should sit together during the president’s annual address Jan. 25, rather than in the traditional partisan arrangement, according to the new poll from CNN/Opinion Research Corporation released Friday. Another 22 percent said they would prefer the partisan seating, according to the survey, which included 1,014 adults between Jan. 14 to 16.
Members of Congress have called for decorum and civility since President Barack Obama’s speech in Tucson commemorating the dead and wounded in the shooting earlier this month. The bipartisan seating has cropped up as one way for members to demonstrate their commitment to the new mood on Capitol Hill. The idea is catching on. Since Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) circulated a letter last week calling for bipartisan seating arrangements, his office reports 59 members of congress have signed on to the effort.  The initiative is undoubtedly more popular in the Senate, where 33 members have officially signed on to sit with members of the opposing party.

The League of Women Voters - Candidate Forum

This morning The League of Women Voters and the Madison City Channel hosted the first candidate forum for Alder of District 1 - Madison Common Council.  Thanks to LWVs and MCC for hosting.

To view this forum go to:  http://www.madisoncitychannel.com/ 

This forum will be played on:

Saturday, January 29 @ 3:30pm
Thursday, February 3 @ 3:00pm
Friday, February 11 @ 8:00pm

Many issues were discussed.  Please comment on my responses, or send me an email to:
DriscollforDistrict1@gmail.com

Coffee with the Candidate

This morning Marilen and I had friends and neighbors over for coffee, kringle and conversation.  I appreciate the insight and viewpoints shared by everyone. 

A few of the topics discussed include:

1.  Development of the neighborhood - single family homes, condos, apartments
2.  Public safety - level of police, fire and rescue support
3.  Basic services - snow removal, garbage, recycling, water and sewer
4.  Economy - budget and tax impacts
5.  Education - Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison College (formerly MATC) 

We are looking forward to the next "Breakfast with Brian" in the Green Tree Neighborhood - Saturday, January 29.  It will be from 8:30 - 10:00am.  Location to be announced. 

Alder - District 1 - Madison Common Council

Hello, my name is Brian Driscoll and I would like to earn your vote to do the job of Alder of District 1 on the Madison Common Council.  I hope that you will read my posts, ask me questions, and look for the answers. While listening to neighbors and friends in District 1 there have been a few main ideas . . . .

Quality - quality of life maintained through efficient government services and support.

Community - community economic development and development of community identity.

Connections - connecting with neighbors, friends and family to support public safety through strong relationships.

Other specific issues that I will be discussing in the future:
Public Safety
Economic Development
Communications
Budget/Taxes

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.  Please come back and post questions.
-Brian

Brian Driscoll
Candidate for Alder - District 1
Madison Common Council