Morning Update

The ABCs of Madison

Every city has its own vernacular and sometimes, it can take years to become fluent.

In this newsletter

Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday, we published what I have titled The Ultimate Madison Dictionary.

Every city has its own vernacular and sometimes, it can take years to become fluent. I moved to Madison about a decade ago and I'm still learning new terms — like what's TOD?

I wanted to publish this dictionary because sometimes it’s hard to find answers to these questions (and embarrassing to ask). This dictionary is for all of the Madison newbies and veterans alike. I hope you learn something new.

If you have a Madison word, acronym, or idiom to add, send me an email.

— Hayley

🚰 This new program will help reduce utility bills for low-income customers.

The Madison Customer Assistance Program (MadCAP) offers a monthly discount to lower-income residents on municipal services bills (think water, sewer, etc.).
The program is the first of its kind in Wisconsin and launched today as a two-year pilot.
MadCAP will give a $20 monthly credit to residents earning 30-50% of the area median income and a $30 monthly credit to residents earning less than 30% of the area median income. For context, 50% of the area median income for a four-person household is $57,650 and 30% is $34,600. You can check your eligibility here.

*First image: Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. Second image: Gloria Reyes.*

🗳️ Recapping the mayoral debate.

The spring election is just over a month away and Madison mayoral candidates Satya Rhodes-Conway and Gloria Reyes met in their first one-on-one debate this week. Here are the highlights.

City finances: The two candidates differ starkly when it comes to balancing the city's budget. Madison is likely to face a massive deficit in the near future if the city doesn't figure out how to increase revenue. Rhodes-Conway called on state legislators to increase shared revenue. Reyes rebuked this idea and instead opted for spending cuts. Both candidates entertained the idea of a city sales tax.
Public safety: Reyes, a former Madison Police Officer, advocated for body cameras, focusing on youth intervention, and increased police staffing to address public safety concerns in the city. Both she and Rhodes-Conway said they would prioritize a "public health approach to violence." Rhodes-Conway has been indecisive on body cameras for police officers but said she's interested to see the results of the city's pilot program, which is set to launch this year.
Housing: When it comes to addressing Madison's housing shortage, Rhodes-Conway has emphasized policy and zoning changes as a path toward creating more density. Reyes argued for building more city systems to empower minority communities to become homeowners.

🏫 Say “hello” to Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School.

Starting this fall, Thomas Jefferson Middle School will be called Ezekiel Gillespie Middle School. The School Board voted unanimously on the change Monday.
Who is Ezekiel Gillespie? Gillespie was a civil rights pioneer in Milwaukee who in 1866 successfully sued the state for Black residents' right to vote.
The bigger picture: The Madison School District has been in an ongoing reckoning with its schools' names. This is the fourth MMSD school to get a new name since January 2020, according to Cap Times.

🎭 Introducing World Premiere Wisconsin.

A new statewide theater festival kicks off today. World Premiere Wisconsin has been years in the making and will bring brand new plays celebrating all Wisconsin has to offer to nearly 50 participating theaters throughout the state.
Madison performances include Shining in Misery: A King-Sized Parody from Capital City Theatre, which is currently running through March 5, and Artemisia from Forward Theater, which runs April 13–30.
Check out all of the Wisconsin shows.
Related: ‘Shining in Misery’ takes a Stephen King mash-up to the stage (Isthmus)

💩 Just for shits.

A Madison-based company was the butt of the joke in a recent Saturday Night Live sketch. Woody Harrelson starred in a skit that poked fun at Cologuard, a mail-in cancer screening tool from Exact Sciences.

The company took the jest in stride. I won't spoil any more, you can watch the clip for yourself.

📬

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here.

🎙️ Today on City Cast Madison

We Turn the Mic on Host Bianca Martin

Today, we’re turning the tables on our host, Bianca Martin. We’re putting her on the other side of the mic. She was interviewed by Angela Russell, the host of the Black Oxygen podcast, about how she came to host City Cast Madison. We’re airing an excerpt of their conversation.

You can find the full interview on the Black Oxygen podcast.

Listen now