I'd like to commend Mayor Dave for announcing that adding 18 new police officers to the streets and addressing safety concerns will be his top budget priorities this year. If approved by the Board of Estimates and City Council, these new officers would mark the largest single increase in MPD’s recent history. This announcement came on the heels of two spirited neighborhood meetings that revealed with cold immediacy the public’s concern about the safety of Madison’s streets and sidewalks. I encourage Police Chief Wray and Mayor Dave to allocate at least some of these new police resources to the campus and downtown areas, particularly the crime-prone Langdon and State St. neighborhoods. In addition, I continue to strongly advocate for the addition of a community police officer to the Spring St. neighborhood.
Expect a detailed post following the Sept. 4 Common Council meeting, where we will discuss, among other things, the Regional Transit Authority and Allied Drive redevelopment.
