NEWS
Alder advocates for west side
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Also by Sam Brummitt:
- National cancer club to open Madison branch (February 28, 2007)
- Atheist group heading to D.C. (February 23, 2007)
- Energy plan moves ahead (February 19, 2007)
- Alder advocates for west side (February 12, 2007)
- King of the council (February 2, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Devotion to local politics influences alder (March 9, 2006)
- Webber tackles transportation issues (November 11, 2005)
- Self-proclaimed civil servant 'steps up to the plate' (March 28, 2003)
- Webber carries District 5 (April 2, 2003)
- Bike paths lose federal funding (October 18, 2006)
by Sam Brummitt
Monday, February 12, 2007
Ald. Robbie Webber, District 5, has served on the City Council for the past four years. During that time, she has helped shape the rapid growth of both the University of Wisconsin campus and the city of Madison, focusing on issues such as transportation, city development and bicycle advocacy.
Webber's passion for bikes and alternative transportation fits Madison well. She has worked as an advocate for bicycle transportation with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin for the past eight years, and described Madison as a city that has been a "pioneer of bike transportation," partly due to necessity.
"The fact that the central city and campus is built on an isthmus means it is extremely compact," Webber said. "It functions as a city much larger than it is; it is much more dense."
According to Webber, Madison was one of the first cities in the state to build bike lanes, and in 1988, Madison enacted a code requiring bicycle parking.
"[Bicycling] has become a very strong political force, which is great," Webber said. "I'm all for people having a strong political voice."
Webber is running for a re-election April 3 against Troy Thiel, a realty agent for First Weber. If re-elected, this would be her third term as District 5 Alder.
Both Webber and Thiel have an ear for students' concerns and have worked to improve student quality of life. Webber sponsored an ordinance mandating exterior locks in buildings, the smoking ban, the minimum-wage hike and the sick-leave ordinance, all of which affect students living and working off-campus.
Thiel has worked as a liaison with UW on different development projects, served as an advisor on Madison's inclusionary zoning law, serves as co-chair of the Regent Neighborhood Association and is a supporter and fundraiser for the Tenant Resource Center.
"I've found that Robbie's priorities are not the priorities of our district," Thiel said, citing Webber's need to focus more on crime and street improvement.
But City Council President Austin King has worked with Webber during her four years on the Council and said he can attest to her efforts to represent students.
"She has been a great champion of student issues, especially with nightlife and student safety issues," King said. "She has shown how fair she is, how diligent she is — she has a good attendance record [and] she speaks her mind."
The quality and accessibility of the city's public transportation is also an issue that directly impacts students, Webber said, particularly when the temperature drops below zero. Students pay for the cost of the public transportation system through city taxes.
"Students pay rent, so they pay property taxes," Webber said. "It's perfectly reasonable for students to say, 'This is how I want my money to be spent.'"
The city's Streetcar Study Committee, of which Webber is a member, is currently exploring ways to expand and improve Madison's public transportation system. One proposal in the study is to construct streetcar lines connecting the Capitol Square with the east, west and south sides of Madison.
"The bus system is the base of the public transportation system," Webber explained. "The Streetcar Study Committee is trying to figure out the next step — light-rail or streetcar."
But Webber's opponent said the city should focus on priorities other than a streetcar system.
"I don't see the traffic crisis to merit the streetcar," Thiel said. "I believe that we should improve and streamline the services we have now — I'm not sold on the streetcar concept."
From campus renovations to housing developments and city transportation, Webber has found great satisfaction in shaping issues that affect her neighborhood.
Webber said she realized the importance of each vote when her predecessor won the aldermanic seat in District 5 by only 29 votes. Every vote will count April 3, Webber added, when students and Madison residents choose who will represent the west end of campus for the next two years.
"Getting involved and voting is so powerful, especially at the local level," Webber said. "Very few votes can have a large impact."
Anonymous (February 12, 2007 @ 3:18am):
Robbie Webber is a worthless hippie.
Anonymous (February 12, 2007 @ 3:32am):
As is Ashok Kumar. Check out the Daily Cardinal to see him exposed!
Anonymous (February 12, 2007 @ 9:25am):
Yeah, what a shocking expose, Neil. People like you are the reason the left in this country is so divided, you just can't wait to sell out anyone more "liberal" than you. If this were 1950, you'd have McCarthy's office on speed dial.
Anonymous (February 12, 2007 @ 9:59am):
Go Robbie! Thiel's endorsement by the uber-conservative Chamber of Commerce (R-Madison) should be a boost to her campaign.
Anonymous (February 12, 2007 @ 10:13am):
Wow, Neil Goldsmith is quite a loser. What was the vote at last year's College Dems meeting? 38 to 3 was it? That's a "hi-jacking"? No, that's an ass-whooping.
Out of all of this idiocy (Kumar and Goldsmith and Lewein especially), the only good news is that Lauren Woods comes out on top. She took the high ground in the article, and then when Goldsmith attacks her at the end of his "expose", he just comes off as pathetic.
Anonymous (February 12, 2007 @ 2:00pm):
The title of this article is misleading. Alder Webber represents the west end of *campus*, not the west side of Madison (and especially not the near west side, namely Midvale Heights and Westmoreland). Her support of the Midvale Plaza redevelopment was undying despite the overwhelming local protest. The redevelopment is going to make things a lot more difficult for bikers. The project is definitely not green friendly either.
Anonymous (February 12, 2007 @ 6:00pm):
Woods did not take any high ground, she just did as told by her puppet masters: Ashok Kumar and the ultra-extremist Greens. Won't change when she is in office, too bad for her it'll never happen. Gotta feel bad for her, after all, she was promised no competition. That must suck on those cold afternoons walking around campus...
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