November is usually seen as the end of a traditional election season, and this year appears to be business as usual. For many students, the gubernatorial election between Gov. Scott Walker and Mary Burke is as deep as they’ll think about politics for the next two years. In addition to voting in November, however, it is very important students take a stake in the Madison mayoral race held on Tuesday, April 7.
Currently, there are three declared candidates for the office, current Mayor Paul Soglin, Alder Scott Resnick and former Alder Bridget Maniaci. The debate over how to handle ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft has been most prominent so far in the race with both Soglin and Resnick publically touting their own solutions. Maniaci has not yet publically presented a unique solution. As an issue that many in the city feel strongly about, it’s odd that Maniaci’s campaign hasn’t presented a potential solution. The other campaigns are using this debate as a chance to distinguish themselves from their opposition in clear ways and Maniaci is losing news stories. Hopefully, she is about to unveil something big that will eclipse the current issues, but it’s not apparent right now.
For the candidates with an actual proposal, the Uber/Lyft debate is a great way to see how each candidate approaches policy. For example, Soglin’s proposal pushes Uber and Lyft into the same category as traditional taxi services requiring them to abide by similar rules and regulations in order to legally operate. The details of Soglin’s proposal read like a slash and burn policy toward Uber and Lyft. While acknowledging that they represent new technology, Soglin looks out of touch by trying to shoehorn these services into existing stagnant policies.
On the other hand, Resnick’s proposal rethinks some of the core tenants of Madison’s current taxi policies including the 24-hour operation requirement. The smartest thing about Resnick’s proposal is a surcharge on taxi companies that do not operate 24 hours that is meant to ensure and subsidize 24-hour transit. In a city without 24-hour busing, transit is important at all hours, and Resnick deftly created a system where Uber and Lyft can maintain their core services — peer-to-peer pickups with variable pricing — without destroying the numerous local businesses that have been serving Madison for years. This solution promotes flexibility and will ultimately benefit the city with better transportation services at fairer prices.
However, the Resnick campaign is playing a dangerous game. Soglin recently unveiled a $20 million proposal to create more affordable housing, a dramatic increase in funding for a program left languishing under Soglin’s leadership for the past few years. It’s a large sum and has received praise from numerous homeless advocates across the city. Whether Soglin can keep the full $20 million in the final budget is another matter, but Resnick and Maniaci seem to be the only ones not raving with compliments right now. Both candidates just pointed out the timing, saying it’s awfully convenient, especially since it has not been a priority for his previous years in office. While Resnick is winning hearts and minds over Uber and Lyft, Soglin has landed a solid punch by throwing out another policy that, and even if his proposed amount is eventually reduced, is getting good publicity.
Overall, the battle over Uber and Lyft is a caricature of the campaigns: Resnick, the young, tech-savvy entrepreneur is revising the system to accommodate new technologies entering the market and Soglin, the elder statesman who helped craft many of the policies which have successfully guided Madison for years arguing for the new businesses to assimilate into the existing model in order to safeguard safety and civil liberties for Madisonians. Maniaci just seems content to poke holes in other plans without presenting new ones. She’ll eventually start throwing out some good ideas, but the boat is leaving and she’s still on the docks.
The three candidates have a challenging few months ahead of them to convince the city that their vision of progress isn’t just smoke and mirrors. Right now, not considering fundraising, I’m giving the first round to the Resnick campaign for showing innovative ideas that can create a new environment for business. The second round is starting soon, and Resnick needs to get another policy out the door or risk being buried by Team Soglin’s proposals, whether they are realistic or not.
Adam Johnson ([email protected]) is a graduate student at La Follette School of Public Affairs.
