Vote Moga

Environmentally Friendly Buildings

UW gets vision of 1st 'green' building- The Capital Times  2/12/05

    It's good to see that well-engineered buildings designed for efficiency and quality are being taken seriously.  Not only will they save money over the long run but they are also saving on natural resources that are so often taken for granted.  I hope others in the architecture/development community realize the benefits that green buildings have to offer and continue to set higher standards for construction.

Underage Drinking

Police crack down on UWM parties- The Badger Herald  2/7/05

    Yes, house parties have been happening on the UW-Campus for decades and they will continue to happen.  No, I don't know why certain authority figures can't accept the fact that we work hard and party hard.  Let's face it, one of the reasons I came to UW-Madison, like many of my other fellow students, is that the campus had the reputation of getting things done and then letting off some steam as well.
    I also find it ironic that at 18, young men and women can die for their country but aren't allowed to legally have a beer.  I am absolutely against high schoolers having access to alcohol; however, young people who are attending an advanced academic institution are an entirely different story.  Madison police have been relatively lenient in the past and I am all for a passive stance by the City when it comes to drinking on campus.

Budget or Bikes?

Watching the wheels...- The Badger Herald  1/31/05

    As I'm talking to more and more residents of the near west side there is a common theme, the cost of property taxes is not adding up to the quality of city services received.  Citizens have practical needs such as quality snow plowing in the winter which is among one of their top concerns when it comes to basic service.  With the budget tight and the city expanding, there are sure to be trade-offs and priorities when it comes to services.
     Casey raises an excellent point when it comes to the priority that Robbie and the Mayor have established with bicycles.  Don't get me wrong, cycling is a great activity that promotes fitness, conservation, and an alternative means of transportation.  However, are bike lanes around Capitol Square and in bank drive-up windows really worth the attention they have received or are there more pressing city matters?

Campus Master Plan

A Time to Build: Big plan on Campus- Capital Times  1/29/05

    Madison has a long history of being a great University: the discovery of Vitamin A, invention of the 60 carbon atom Bucky Ball, and most recently the development of embryonic stem cells.  UW is the public institution for a state that has consistently ranked at the top of the nation in education for many years.  The academic integrity is established, our research reputation is solidified, the sports program has risen to national prominence, and the campus master plan will put the finishing touches on the aesthetics.   
    Chancellor Wiley has made sure that this project has reached out to the community for any input about the future direction of the project.  At the same time, high quality talent has been recruited to ensure that the final result is a success.  Meanwhile, UW-Madison remains one of the lowest in-state tuitions in the Big Ten.  It is good times to be a Badger and the future's so bright...

Tasering a Teen

Cop's use of Taser on teen at school is questioned- Wisconsin State Journal 1/30/05

    What concerns me most about this incident is the relationship, or lack thereof, that the Madison police force is establishing with young people.  The bottom line is that a taser was used on a 14 year old boy who wasn't even supposed to be arrested in the first place.  Our police force does an excellent job of keeping crime low in the city.  It would seem that they would be trained well enough to handle a simple thing like serving a warrant on a juvenile.  Instead, the way in which the boy was arrested caused him to panic and resulted in a jolt of electricity.
    The police department has responded by charging the boy with resisting arrest and his mother with disorderly conduct for being too emotional in the emergency room.  There are accusations of racism and I wonder who got stuck with the medical bill?  The mission of the police department is to "protect and to serve", too often they come across as "to protect at any cost".  This no holds bar attitude is justified by officers' concerns of personal safety; however, it is instances like this that make me wonder if the weapons we give our police force gives them an advantage or a complex.

Trains, the Future of Transportation

Congress Should Fund High-speed Rail- Wisconsin State Journal  1/9/05

    One of the main reason's I support Kathleen Falk on a regional rail as opposed to a city trolley is the belief that high-speed trains are the future of the Midwest.  It would bode well for Madison to have an advanced light rail stretching from the suburbs to downtown.  This article gives a good overview of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative and supporting arguments.