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Rosemary with time
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Also by Melissa Gilbert:
- Rosemary with time (November 4, 2005)
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by Melissa Gilbert
Friday, November 4, 2005
If an award were ever given for attending city council committee meetings in Madison, resident Rosemary Lee would surely be the winner.
By constantly attending city council meetings and always keeping in touch with Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, of whom Lee is a constituent, she has continually enabled herself to be heard by city officials.
"Rosemary volunteers her heart out for the greater good of the city," Verveer said. "She fills her time with civil involvement."
Lee has seen the changes the city has undergone over the past 50 years and knows how to get her point across to officials.
Lee has lived in Madison since 1959 and said she has loved watching the progress the city has made. She has witnessed the vast population growth and the cosmopolitan feeling that has increased in this city. The variety of Madison is engaging, she added.
"[I have] interest in the people, the physical beauty and the educational and cultural opportunities offered throughout this growing city," Lee said.
Lee said she loves the fact that students and citizens have tremendous access to musical and theatrical events that don't seem to cost too much money.
Lee has shown her love for Madison through her hard work as an active member of the city.
She has voiced her opinion on numerous laws passed in Madison, including the smoking ban, which she did not support.
"I think it's terrible. A government cannot legislate how private businesses selling legal products act. It should be up to the owners," Lee said.
Lee made it clear that although downtown bars may not be severely affected by the ban, many bars outside downtown have been hurt because customers can now drive a few minutes out of Madison to bars that allow smoking.
"This ban should have been statewide," Lee said. "Then it would be a level playing field for all bars in this state."
Another big step Lee has witnessed over the past years is the action involved with Halloween and the increasing attention that has been placed on the weekend over the years. Lee said she thinks the event has improved despite press coverage to the contrary.
"There has been great improvement. The media sensationalizes [Halloween] so students feel they must rise to the expected level," Lee said.
She said if Mayor Dave Cieslewicz does decide to block off State Street during next year's event, the partying would spread into neighborhoods and cause even more riots.
Having contacts with members of the government is the best way to be heard, Lee said.
"Your alderperson needs to know what their constituents think," she added. "Then your voice truly can be heard."
By constantly keeping in touch with Verveer and attending city council meetings, Lee said she has been able to change city council votes. According to Lee, her voice and strong opinions force alders to provide answers and take action.
Lee has become a well-known figure and activist in Madison, saying her love for students and UW has also kept her involved.
"I am always glad when the students return to campus," she said. "It is fortunate that we have the students, staff and faculty of the campus community as citizens of Madison."
