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City passes Peace Park designs
Council gives final approval of plans including installation of controversial ATM
BOBBY BREITENBACH/Herald photo
Madison’s homeless march from Peace Park to a City Council meeting in protest of new designs.
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CHARLIE GORICHANAZ/Herald video
Several residents speak against the Peace Park renovations
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The City Council gave final approval Tuesday for plans to renovate Lisa Link Peace Park, adding a visitor’s center, public bathrooms, an ATM and an outdoor theater.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, told the council how excited he was the plan was finally before them because there are so few parks in his district.
“This is a project that is near and dear to my heart,” Verveer said.
While almost everyone who spoke at the meeting praised the design of the park, the approval of the plans came after many hours of debate, much of it focusing on the installation of an ATM at the park.
The ATM would prohibit panhandling within 50 feet of the machine due to a city ordinance, and many homeless advocates said this was “exclusionary.”
More than 25 of Madison’s homeless and their supporters marched from Peace Park to City Hall prior to the meeting to protest the renovation of the park.
According to Jeffrey Holmen of Operation Welcome Home — an advocacy group for helping the homeless — the homeless of Madison have been pushed from place to place for many years.
Holmen said he believed money proposed for the park should be given to helping solve the problem of homelessness.
“I’m not just up here about the Peace Park situation, I’m up here … about the homeless situation,” Holmen said.
Richard Raymond of Operation Welcome Home said the homeless have been pushed around enough and it is time to address the root problem of homelessness.
“I need somebody’s help — anybody’s help,” Raymond said.
Mary Carbine of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District assured the council the ATM was not intended to leave anyone out of the park. According to Carbine, the ATM would bring in $3,500 to $5,000 per year — money that would go directly to the upkeep of the park.
Carbine said the BID had stretched the budget to be able to afford to fund the park and the money from the ATM is essential.
“For us, a few thousand dollars really makes a big difference,” Carbine said.
Among alders, a long debate ensued over the necessity of the ATM.
Ald. Marsha Rummel, District 6, introduced an amendment to the plans removing the exterior ATM. Rummel said the addition of the ATM would make the park feel less welcoming to the homeless.
“I do not think it’s worth $3,500 to $5,000 for what it has caused,” Rummel said.
Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, supported Rummel’s amendment.
“Depending on what we do tonight, there will be a perception from some segments of our community that we are not their friends,” Rhodes-Conway said.
Verveer expressed his sadness the discussion made it seem like those in favor of the ATM were “anti poor-people.”
Rummel’s amendment failed, while everyone on the council recognized the root problem of homelessness needs to be addressed in the future.
Ald. Brian Solomon, District 10, said he feels like everything the council does on issues relating to homelessness and social justice seems to make it harder for the homeless people of Madison.
“We’ve got to recognize how hard this life is,” Solomon said.
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IP hash: 30a7a499
stfu solomon, srsly.
IP hash: fe16f2d6
Well MR or MS Anonymous
Before you pull stfu’s out you should note that this was a paraphrase and an oversimplification of what Solomon said.
Furthermore, why are you anonymous?
Nate Godfrey
IP hash: de72386f
his response to every serious issue to the quality of life downtown regarding homeless is a “root cause” argument. he never, and I mean never suggests that taxpayers, students, citizens, or anyone is ever justified in any action that so much as hints as something the Peace Park Brigade would oppose. Never mind that taxpayers fund the park.
It’s not that “root cause” arguments lack merit; it’s that they are cowardly. He knows he’ll never get the tens upon millions of dollars that would be necessary to provide the Euro-style social services to every single mentally ill, homeless, drug addicted, and yes INTENTIONALLY LAZY person who causes problems downtown. Thus, he sounds like the PC liberal that he is without ever having to address serious quality of life issues affecting downtown. No one is ever going to call his bluff when he gives his Glenn Beck of the left speeches from the Council floors.
IP hash: c51110b7
Nate - Sometimes when people are confronted with things that make them feel uncomfortable, they respond by wanting people to just shut up. Easier to stick your head in the sand than hear the truth.