Morning Update

A little more love on Willy Street

Morning update: Tuesday, Oct. 11

In this newsletter

Image via Google Maps

Good morning, Madison!

Here's a bit of good news to start the day: The mural on the side of 924 Williamson Street (currently home to I/O Arcade Bar) is getting some much needed love from its creator, Baltimore artist Michael Owen.

The mural is part of Owen's larger “Baltimore Love Project,” in which he created dozens of similar paintings in his native Baltimore.

If you've never seen it, the Madison version portrays black hands that spell out the word “love” in front of bright splashes of color.

Owens brought his art to Willy street in 2014 and despite the fluctuation of the building's tenants (remember the doomed café/nightclub Canopy?), the mural has remained a constant.

— Hayley

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🚑 UW-Madison is putting Naloxone kits on campus.

University Health Services has installed 12 boxes in and around residence halls on campus equipped with two doses of naloxone nasal spray and other life-saving materials for use in case of an overdose.
The kits are a result of a partnership between the university and Wisconsin Voices for Recovery, an organization that installs the boxes for free in public areas across the state. When a Nalox-ZONE box is opened, a notification is sent to Wisconsin Voices for Recovery to let them know that the box needs to be refilled. Opening the box does not trigger a police or medical response.
The bigger picture: Madison isn't the first UW campus to install the kits. UW-Oshkosh brought the Nalox-ZONE boxes to campus in 2021. In August, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued a public health advisory due to an increased number of drug-related deaths, specifically involving fentanyl.

✏️ How's voter registration looking ahead of the election?

We're four weeks away from the election and the number of Wisconsinites registered to vote is reaching peak levels. As of Oct. 1, the state had 3,519,659 active registered voters, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. This marks a 10% increase over the total from the same time in 2018 before the midterm elections, PBS Wisconsin reports.
There are roughly 4.5 million Wisconsinites of voting age, meaning about 77% of the voting population in the state is registered.

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Are you ready to vote? The election is Nov. 8 and MyVote.wi.gov is your one-stop shop for all election information. We've also pulled a few extra links for specific questions.

Check your voter registration here.
Get the details on voter IDs here.
Meet the candidates here.

🏚 Meet the local website calling out Madison landlords.

The Slumlords website only launched in April but it's already getting some big attention. The anonymously-run site gives renters information on local landlords to help them make more informed decisions when it comes to renting a home. The information and testimonies on the website come from renters themselves and offers unfiltered perspectives on the landlords based on their personal experiences.
Now, the local site is expanding its public-shaming crusade across the country with the help of tenant advocacy groups in other cities, Tone Madison reports.

📚 50+ Free Author Programs? Write on!

Don’t miss the state’s premier literary event! The Wisconsin Book Festival Fall Celebration connects you with your favorite authors in 50+ free programs, encouraging conversations that spark ideas and foster understanding.
The lineup is packed with fiction, poetry and nonfiction, including STEM, politics, social justice and other book themes.
Learn more here.

⚖️ Fitchburg's mayor won't seek re-election.

Mayor Aaron Richardson made the announcement Monday. Richardson is currently running for State Treasurer. In a statement, he said no matter what the November election brings, he won't seek a third term as mayor.
Richardson was first elected to the office in 2019 and prior to that served on the Fitchburg Common Council.

"While I won’t continue in this role, Fitchburg will always be my home. I will be here to support and help our next Mayor in any way I can. We must ensure Fitchburg remains a diverse and vibrant community." — Aaron Richardson, mayor of Fitchburg

🐶 Happy Take Me Home Tuesday, meet Honey Bear.

From our friends at the Dane County Humane Society: Honey Bear is nearly 4 years old. She's a shy girl, but give her time and some encouraging words and Honey Bear will warm up. She is very friendly and sweet.

While Honey Bear has lived with other dogs, introductions should be done slowly. Honey Bear is looking for a patient family who will give her time to adjust while working with her to help her gain confidence.

Honey Bear has been at the shelter for a bit, so she’s a member of the Lonely Hearts Club. Because October is Adopt a Dog month, her adoption fee has been further reduced to $100. Learn more about her here.

✊ Your lunchtime read: Wisconsin workers show renewed energy after decade of anti-union laws.

Via Wisconsin Watch: "Kevin Gundlach, president of the South Central Federation of Labor in Madison, said his office phone has been ringing constantly from workers seeking advice on unionization. He estimates employees from some 20 private sector workplaces in his 11-county region around Madison have sought to organize this year.

'This is the first time we’ve seen this level of interest,' he said. 'There is no doubt. We’ve never seen this before.'

A wave of Republican laws over the past decade cratered union membership in Wisconsin, but recent private and public sector worker mobilization has demonstrated the staying power of organized labor."

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