Hello again everyone. The trials that the end of the academic year provide, coupled with the continuing orientation to the council, have left me with little time to sit and write. Recent events in the 8th district also gives us much that I feel needs to be discussed.
The most important point to comment on is the terrible tragedy that took place on State Street last Tuesday night. The shooting death of Austin Bodahl by Daniel A. Kelly has left the 8th district in a state of concern and many have questioned the level of safety we have in downtown Madison.
To address this event I must first start with a public commendation. When I arrived at the scene, and, along with Alder Mike Veveer, was briefed on what had occurred, we were told of some truly heroic acts performed by The City bar’s security. Although both the victim and suspect had not been patrons at the bar, the bouncers took decisive action in the altercation and made me proud to see that we had such courageous people living and working in our city. In that same motion, I applaud the
Madison Police Department for their reaction to the shooting. By quickly controlling the scene and apprehending the suspect, they may have prevented further violence.
With that said, we are left with the discussion of how a shooting on State Street affects our lives. The most important issue in the 8th district is a strong concern over campus and downtown safety. With common muggings, street level crime, and sexual assaults, students find themselves afraid to walk home at night. With all of that being the case, I will say I feel that Tuesday night’s event was an extremely unusual occurrence. Homicide is a word one does not associate with downtown or Madison at large, and given the size of our growing city, we should be extremely grateful that that is the case.
We are left with a discussion as to what the city’s next step is. I was overjoyed to see that Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, in his press release in the wake of the shooting, showed support for the growing Neighborhood Watch Programs being set up in the campus
area. Groups of students are banding together to patrol their own streets in an effort to eliminate street level crime and sexual assaults. I hope that, in the coming months, Mayor Dave and I will be able to work together to not only increase the Downtown
Safety Initiative (which has proved to be hugely beneficial to campus and downtown businesses) but also help facilitate and support the crucial public safety tool that are the NWP’s.
The downtown of Madison is the heart of our city, so it is our obligation to do what we can to protect it. Students are empowering themselves to retake their neighborhoods and I feel the City of Madison can play a terrific role in maintaining and building on their success.
If anyone has any questions or comments regarding these points, feel free to send them to district8@cityofmadison.com.
On another note, I have set up my schedule for “office hours”. I’ve established these times for any student or resident of the 8th district to come and have a chat with me. I urge you to bring your wants, concerns, or interesting stories to me when I am there. I will be in Lakefront on Langdon (in the Memorial Union) at the time specified. I will also do my best to create a sign so I am easily found:
Every Monday from 11:45am to 1PM
The first Thursday of every month from 6pm to 7:15pm
As more times open up I will post their availability. These dates are also only effective until the fall semester begins. Rest assured, a new schedule will be posted at that time. As always, if you ever need to contact me, feel free to send an email to
district8@cityofmadison.com, or call at (608) 322-6358.
