July 2001

Madisonians,

Madison has received an Outstanding Achievement City Livability Award from the US Conference of Mayors for its efforts to improve race relations. I accepted the award at the conference's recent annual summer meeting in Detroit. Madison will be hosting the meeting in June 2002, at the Monona Terrace Convention and Community Center.

I am happy to share this award with all those in the community who have taken a personal stake in the outcome we are striving to achieve: that Madison be a supporting and welcoming environment for all who come here to live, learn, work, and play. The award recognizes my initiative in creating the Task Force on Race Relations in 1997 and the subsequent implementation of many of its recommendations and other actions.

I recently hosted a Community Dinner and Check-in on Race Relations at Olbrich Gardens, which was attended by more than 150 Madison residents. It was an opportunity for city managers to provide updates on steps they have taken to improve race relations. It was also an opportunity for citizens to brainstorm on additional steps that could be taken. After a careful review of their many suggestions I decided the city will emphasize five additional areas to improve race relations.

First and foremost among these is to do a better job of getting the word out about existing city programs that benefit individuals. Secondly, we will expand and increase study circles so that more people can become involved in this grass roots effort to fight racism. Thirdly, affordable housing will continue to be among the highest priorities of this administration. And, fourth, we will emphasize improving relations within neighborhoods as a high priority. Finally, we will increase our efforts in educating city staff about diversity.

We are, again, under constraints as we start putting together next year's budget. It is going to be another very difficult juggling act, balancing priorities and needs against an increasing local property tax burden.

We have more guidance this year than in previous years from property taxpayers themselves. The results of the taxpayer survey that was distributed along with property tax bills last December generally reflect a high level of satisfaction with the quality of city services. They do, however, indicate that there would be widespread resistance to tax increases to support a variety of worthy projects, including community gardens, commuter rail, and others. As always, when we approach the budget we schedule a series of listening sessions throughout the community to solicit your opinions. Look for a calendar of those events in the near future.

Mayor Susan J.M. Bauman