Three candidates are vying for election to the District 12 Dane County Board seat: Larry Palm, who was appointed to the board on an interim basis after the death of longtime board member Paul Rusk; Goodwill Chekwube Obieze and Amani Latimer Burris.
Larry Palm served on the Madison Common Council for 14 years but said he did not seek re-election in 2019 because he wanted others to have an opportunity to serve. He has continued to be engaged in our community as the chair of the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission and a member of the Madison Public Market Foundation Board.
“I am excited to run for County Board to allow me to utilize my previous experiences to work on broader, county-focused issues,” he said. “I have an understanding of the history of issues. I also wish to honor Supervisor Paul Rusk, who served as a role model.”
Palm, 47, has lived in Madison for 30 years, 19 of those in the Eken Park neighborhood. He has been married to husband JD for seven years. He is an administrative assistant-senior/registrar for the Madison School District.
Palm supports social justice and environmental issues. He regards his main accomplishments on the Common Council as advocating for an inclusive and engaging Oscar Mayer reuse process, working to expand bike paths and supporting the original Occupy Madison tiny house project near East High School.
Major issues facing the Northside, according to Palm, are dangerous PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam at the airport and the decision to locate F-35 fighter jets here. He hopes to alleviate the impact of both issues with aggressive remediation of PFAS and removal of legal covenants that prevent residents who live near the airport from being eligible for sound-deadening funds.
He also hopes to expand services to those affected by COVID-19.
Goodwill Chekwube Obieze, 26, has lived on the Northside since 2012, after moving from Nigeria to the United States in 2010. He is married and has an infant daughter. “I want my kids to grow up on the Northside,” he said. The family resides in the Northport Apartments at Northport Drive and Packers Avenue.
Obieze has a bachelor’s degree in human resources from UW-Oshkosh and works for the State of Wisconsin in human resources, administering benefits such as health insurance and retirement. He attended Madison College before transferring to UW-Oshkosh.
He served as student body vice president and a student senator at UW-Oshkosh, working in those posts to continue a tuition freeze and make sure the campus was environmentally friendly.
Obieze is running for the County Board because of the COVID-19 crisis and its effect on local businesses. “I am tired of waiting for Congress to act,” he said. “Businesses are losing money and cannot afford to pay employees. It is time for local government to act.” He praised the County Board for approving $4 million to help businesses, which he said is moving in the right direction. “I will work to make sure necessary funds are provided.”
Obieze is also concerned about the PFAS contaminants in fish and pledges to work with the Department of Health Services and the DNR to communicate and mitigate that contamination. “I have contacts in state government and knowledge of the issue,” he said.
Affordable housing is another necessity, which is especially important as noise from F-35 jets will likely force people to move, and many will not be able to afford available housing.
“I have talked to people in the district and believe there is a need for more businesses on the Northside. Time and stress are issues if people have to travel to the west side to meet their needs,” he said.
Amani Latimer Burris carries on a tradition of involvement started by her mother, Milele Chikasa Anana, now deceased, who was well known for publishing UMOJA magazine. Her father is Capitol City Band Director Jim Latimer. She is married to attorney Rick Burris, and they have two children.
Latimer Burris, 51, has a bachelor’s degree in communication. She works in the State Senate as a legislative aide with a focus on policy development. Prior to this, she worked in the field for the Biden-Harris campaign and as a staffer for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. She is a Madison native who started her career as a journalist and has been a teacher and a small business owner. As an adult, she lived in Minneapolis and Los Angeles before moving back to Wisconsin. She now lives on the near east side.
“As an advocate with a depth of experience in law, I have spent more than 15,000 hours logged in eviction, foreclosure defense, housing discrimination and consumer protection. I will work to merge law and policy with real life,” she said.
Latimer Burris previously ran for the State Senate post vacated by longtime Sen. Fred Risser. She lost that race.
“I am running to make a difference in your life and help diversity the terms of engagement. I have the experience and the will to make a difference in our community during these difficult times,” she said.
Latimer Burris looks forward to building bridges of understanding while working towards inclusion and diversity. She looks forward to building coalitions and to getting the work done that the community wants to have done.
She is proudest of raising compassionate children who seek their own voice, and of working with her siblings to provide the best care they could for their mother through a long and difficult illness.
These questions were written by the Northside Antiracism Group to reflect issues that impact all Northsiders, have been the focus of local organizing and that city alders have power to act on.
Question 1: Environmental Justice
A report from Midwest Environmental Advocates last June showed multiple sites of environmental contamination on the Northside, including on and near the former Oscar Mayer property, where there is planned development by both the City of Madison and private developers. In July, the Common Council adopted the Oscar Mayer Special Area Plan (OMSAP) with a commitment to “address racial justice and social equity during the OMSAP redevelopment process which must include assessing and preventing human exposures to toxic chemicals at the site and/or released from the site among all people and particularly at-risk low income people and people of color.”
As the Northside sees much needed development of affordable housing and other projects, what actions will you take through the City to identify and clean up environmental contamination, including on and near the former Oscar Mayer property?
Like many communities across the country, Madison saw an increase in gun violence in 2020 as widespread unemployment exacerbated income inequality, and inadequate social services failed to meet the basic needs of individuals and families experiencing economic and social stresses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uprisings for racial justice also spotlighted the ways that our systems of policing and incarceration uphold racism and create and worsen racial disparities. Rather than reducing violence, these systems enact violence and cause harm.
What does it mean to you to take a trauma-informed approach to violence? Instead of reacting through the criminal justice system, what proposals, programs or services would you advocate for to proactively support families and prevent violence?
Question 3: City Budget
The City of Madison budget shapes priorities and programs for years to come. Right now, public engagement takes place at the end of the budgeting process, after the mayor and city staff have written a draft based on previous years. Community members and alders are left to react to the budget, rather than proactively shaping it.
What would you do to make the City of Madison budget process more participatory and to ensure that diverse community members have power to shape budget priorities?
Syed Abbas
Syed Abbas
Question 1: During last year’s Oscar Mayer Special Area Plan approval process, I fought tooth and nail to protect residents’ health and wellbeing from the heavily contaminated Oscar Mayer site. I raised questions and expressed my deep concerns regarding environmental justice during the Oscar Mayer Special Area Plan approval process. I put substantial pressure on city staff and developers to do better and take the necessary steps to clean up the contamination. I challenged city staff and developers who were pushing to place affordable housing on contaminated land.
As your alder, I do everything in my power to address your concerns about PFAS, F-35 fighter jets and environmental injustices at Oscar Mayer. I promise to do whatever it takes to ensure the contamination at Oscar Mayer is cleaned up.
I proposed environmental justice language at the Common Council that was a Madison first; it was approved unanimously: “Address racial justice and social equity during the OMSAP redevelopment process, which must include assessing and preventing human exposures to toxic chemicals at the site and/or released from the site among all people and particularly at-risk low-income people and people of color.” I am an action-based alder that works hard for the community.
Question 2: I recognize that trauma can disrupt our ability to trust and to manage feelings and can affect the ways we feel about other people. It is important we create policies that build trust between the community and the criminal justice system. I wholeheartedly support policies to proactively support our families and prevent violence.
I supported the development of the new Civilian Oversight Board; I advocated for hiring an Independent Police Monitor.
I worked to bring a CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) model to Madison by co-sponsoring a $250,000 budget amendment to support the crisis response team, where, in the case of behavioral health emergencies, a community paramedic is paired with a specially trained crisis worker.
To prevent violence, it is important for us to provide financial resources and our time to hear, understand and take into consideration the needs of the community. I worked actively with the Northside Planning Council and started the process to launch the mobile neighborhood connection project. Connecting communities of color and disconnected communities with resources, helping to empower them with resources is my priority. As your alder, I took these steps to move the Northside in the right direction.
Question 3: We must empower our diverse communities to have input in the budget process. As a person of color, I personally know how hard it can be to get a seat at the table. It is the responsibility of an alder to understand his or her district and work with city staff to allocate funding or set priorities to ensure the voices of our diverse community are considered and included.
As your alder and Common Council Vice President, I prioritized communicating with, listening to, and responding to my constituents. With the help of community feedback, I sponsored the following 2020 budget amendments, which were approved by the common council.
Allocating $500,000 in funds for affordable housing projects
Allocating $3,500,000 for the men’s homeless shelter
Allocating $2,500,000 for land banking to promote affordable housing
Allocating $45,000 to create Crisis Response Team Vehicle
Allocating $250,000 for COVID Relief Funds
Sponsoring a grant program for Madison Downtown Safety Initiative
Allocating $50,000 for PFAS testing
Sponsoring $50,000 for street outreach workers
The focus of my work is to develop a people-centered budget, prioritize investing in the community and increase diverse community voices in the budget process.
Tessa Echeverria
Tessa Echeverria
Question 1: We need development democracy now, so that the changes to our district over the next few years will lift up our community, not push us out. The magnitude of the current crisis requires that development must be done through an environmental lens; no one deserves to live in contaminated areas. Any plans should take into account the potential costs that may be incurred when disturbing contaminated sites and prepare for remediation of unknown contamination encountered during construction.
The city needs to add environmental protections to every development plan, including environmental surveys (already done for Oscar Mayer) and clean up plans. The City of Madison must adopt city-wide environmental justice policies. I am encouraged by the environmental language in the Oscar Mayer Special Area Plan. We need policies with teeth that will put the health of the community and the environment above private interests. At Oscar Mayer, the environmental study identifies eight sites that need to be cleaned up before construction can start.
The city needs to address the quality of our drinking water and the effects development will have. I also would like to see flood preparation given that frequent floods are in our future and will affect our district.
Question 2: I would invest in restorative justice practices, and black-led organizations that practice transformative justice. It’s important that we follow the lead of community groups that already do this work, like Dane County TimeBank. To effectively stop crime in our communities, we must address the root causes, particularly the poverty within our community. Funding should prioritize community development, public health, early childhood education and human services. We have to establish community oversight and public reporting practices that prevent over-policing of working class and poor neighborhoods which also house more Black, Indigenous, and people of color residents.
In our community, trauma filters down over generations. We have to prioritize ending the conditions that create traumatic situations, such as homelessness, abuse and eviction. By using restorative justice we will work to develop a community-based approach to respond to harm, to heal damaged relationships and restore power and agency to communities and our neighbors.
I oppose punitive ordinances, such as the criminalization of loitering and/or panhandling, that disproportionately target Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. Such ordinances only make poverty a crime.
Question 3: We deserve a city that invests in its people, and we can’t get that if citizens don’t have a voice in the process. We need to empower Madisonians, not the lobbyists and special interests that dominate our current process. Rather than having a completed budget where the community can only hope to tinker with the particulars, the process needs to start with residents and neighborhoods deciding what’s important for the city budget.
The city should have an Economic Development Plan that guides policy and practice, and focuses on neighborhoods most in need of investment through a public process.
Madison should adopt a participatory budgeting process, where the residents of Madison directly determine a portion of the city’s annual budgets. Budget information should be more transparent and understandable for members of the public, including details about agencies funded through the Community Development Division.
The city will need to increase community education, virtual platforms and other community media that offers informational programming to foster an open and democratic government. We need to invest in the necessary equipment and staffing to ensure all city meetings are video recorded and easily available to the public, with written transcripts and vote rolls.
These questions were written by the Northside Antiracism Group to reflect issues that impact all Northsiders, have been the focus of local organizing and that city alders have power to act on.
Question 1: Environmental Justice
A report from Midwest Environmental Advocates last June showed multiple sites of environmental contamination on the Northside, including on and near the former Oscar Mayer property, where there is planned development by both the City of Madison and private developers. In July, the Common Council adopted the Oscar Mayer Special Area Plan (OMSAP) with a commitment to “address racial justice and social equity during the OMSAP redevelopment process which must include assessing and preventing human exposures to toxic chemicals at the site and/or released from the site among all people and particularly at-risk low income people and people of color.”
As the Northside sees much needed development of affordable housing and other projects, what actions will you take through the City to identify and clean up environmental contamination, including on and near the former Oscar Mayer property?
The full report from Midwest Environmental Advocates is available at northsidenews.org/thetransparencyproject.
Question 2: Community Safety
Like many communities across the country, Madison saw an increase in gun violence in 2020 as widespread unemployment exacerbated income inequality, and inadequate social services failed to meet the basic needs of individuals and families experiencing economic and social stresses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uprisings for racial justice also spotlighted the ways that our systems of policing and incarceration uphold racism and create and worsen racial disparities. Rather than reducing violence, these systems enact violence and cause harm.
What does it mean to you to take a trauma-informed approach to violence? Instead of reacting through the criminal justice system, what proposals, programs or services would you advocate for to proactively support families and prevent violence?
Question 3: City Budget
The City of Madison budget shapes priorities and programs for years to come. Right now, public engagement takes place at the end of the budgeting process, after the mayor and city staff have written a draft based on previous years. Community members and alders are left to react to the budget, rather than proactively shaping it.
What would you do to make the City of Madison budget process more participatory and to ensure that diverse community members have power to shape budget priorities?
Rebecca Kemble
Rebecca Kemble
Question 1: The soil and groundwater contamination at the former Oscar Mayer and Hartmeyer sites, the former Burke Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Dane County Regional Airport are serious threats to the health of Northsiders. As District 18 Alder, I have worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, county supervisors, Midwest Environmental Justice Organization, and the Safe Skies Clean Water coalition to demand that a full site investigation of PFAS contamination at the airport be completed before the Wisconsin Air National Guard commences any soil disturbance for the multiple construction projects they have planned.
At Oscar Mayer, the current owners have placed restrictions on the kinds of environmental testing the city can do prior to purchasing any land. EPA Brownfields Clean Up Funds could be available to remediate the contamination if the land came under city ownership. However, it’s extremely risky for the city to purchase the property without thorough testing to determine the level and scope of the contamination. I will ensure that any future city approvals for development on that or any other contaminated site be contingent on the state closing their contamination investigations and the remediation of the source of contamination.
Question 2: A trauma informed approach to violence takes into consideration what a person has experienced in their life that has led them to commit an act of violence, rather than simply focusing on what they have done wrong. Instead of viewing someone as anti-social, disruptive, or not engaging, we should understand that they have been triggered. We must understand what someone needs for their healing and care, within the context of the community.
We need to invest in violence prevention. This includes family resources such as spaces for youth to feel safe and to belong with mentoring by adults in the community. Broadening access to mental health and addiction treatment services is crucial. We need a caring rather than punitive response to people exhibiting challenging behaviors. Punitive responses can be re-traumatising and increase the likelihood of future violence.
As District 18 Alder, I helped to develop the Northside Safe and Thriving Initiative and supported it through the city budget process. I also championed the expansion of Warner Park Community Recreation Center to provide a multi-purpose space for youth and exercise studios, allowing for more youth sports activities.
Question 3: Last year I advocated for the council, and by extension the public, to be involved in the budget process before the mayor’s executive budgets were released. I advocated for a more robust schedule of briefings at the Finance Committee, and for the council to hold public listening sessions to invite the community to discuss budget priorities in the spring and summer. However, the overwhelming challenges of COVID-19 put a hold on those plans. I continue to advocate for a more open and participatory process again this year.
Over the past several years the Finance Department has moved to in break down budget information, presenting it in more user friendly narratives and graphics. In addition to council-led efforts, I will continue to partner with diverse community groups to provide educational sessions about the budget. It is a priority for me to increase meaningful community participation throughout the budget process.
Veronica Figueroa Velez
Veronica Figueroa Velez
Question 1: Although I am not well-versed in Environmental Science, I understand the importance of maintaining healthy communities through practices that reduce pollution, contaminants, and exposure. I would propose that the city develop a committee of top experts in the field in our state to draft a multi-point plan to identify, assess and execute strategies for cleaning up contaminants and pollution in our city. I would begin by bringing experts in the area of hazardous chemicals to educate families about these issues. I would work with residents and enforcement programs to create strong relationships and encourage best practices for impacted communities.
Question 2: To take a trauma-informed approach to violence means putting the we on wellness and to work successfully in collaboration across sectors to support families. Prioritizing the possibilities and shifting our thinking from what’s wrong with you, to what happened to you. Leverage the strengths and assets we have in our community to move from fixing people to connecting with people. This approach requires us to be self-regulated, have a sense of belonging, and create time for everyone as everyone has something to offer and everyone matters. Lastly, take time to heal, and acknowledge our own trauma, to be able to bring our full selves into helping children and families. I would actively advocate for all schools in our district to become community schools and provide after school programs as well as other basic needs for children and families.
Question 3: Promoting public participation in community spending and decision making should be a priority of any elected official. I would like to see the City of Madison move in this direction. The first thing I would do is get out in the community, meet people, and co-create ideas. Bringing people together is critical; overcome physical distance and engage citizens face-to-face once this pandemic is under control. Enable people to take full ownership of their ideas and empower them by providing the tools to develop leadership skills.
Correction: The printed version of this article cut out a section of a quote from candidate Veronica Figueroa Velez at a jump between pages. The full quote is included correctly in the online version of the article.
Charles Myadze
Charles Myadze
Question 1: The Northside needs jobs, affordable housing, safe streets and public spaces for all of us to enjoy. We also need redevelopment and investment – and that never comes easy. The report from the Midwest Environmental Advocates highlights the challenges of redevelopment, but one that can be overcome. As your alder, I would fight to make sure public safety is a top priority, including limiting exposure to chemicals or other toxins released from redeveloping any property. I will ensure the city partners, with the state and federal government environmental agencies, follows strict regulations and does what other cities have done in successfully rehabbing former industrial sites.
Oscar Mayer is very special for many reasons. It is not just an abandoned plant that is being redeveloped – it contains many memories for thousands of people who call Madison home. Their parents or grandparents raised their families on the wages earned in that plant through hard work, commitment and a sense of pride. As a union member (Steelworker Local 904), I respect that legacy and want to ensure any use of those space reflect and respect it.
Question 2: The Northside, like much of this city, has seen far too much gun violence and increase in crime recently. There are many causes to this – but it is a problem that cannot be ignored. As a member of the NAACP Criminal Justice Committee, first generation son of an African immigrant and father to three African America youth, I know our system is broken. We do not live in an equitable and just America. The solutions to equality and public safety are not simple, and they cannot be all prevention or all law enforcement – they need to be both.
We need to listen to our community, change drug laws that disproportionately put African Americans and poor people behind bars and fund social services to provide the needed mental illness and drug abuse programs as alternatives to incarceration where possible. We also need to enforce existing laws, not let those who steal cars or shoot off firearms go unpunished. My neighbors tell me that they do not want to defund or abolish the police, but reform how we police. They demand we make the Northside a safer place to raise their families. I could not agree more.
Question 3: The City of Madison budget shapes priorities and programs for years to come. Right now, public engagement takes place at the end of the budgeting process, after the mayor and city staff have written a draft based on previous years. Community members and alders are left to react to the budget, rather than proactively shaping it. Right after I’m in office, I will start working on the budget, based on what my constituents have said their priorities are. I would work with other alders to seek their support so we could work together on a budget based on community priorities. That information would be shared with the mayor and staff when they start working on their budget.
These questions were written by the Northside Antiracism Group to reflect issues that impact Northsiders, that have been the focus of local organizing and that the county has power to act on.
Question 1: F-35s
The Air Force announced its decision to base a squadron of F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field Air National Guard Base last April. If the F-35s are placed at Truax, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released by the Air National Guard concluded “there would be significant disproportionate impacts to low-income and minority populations as well as children.” While the jets will directly impact all residents near the base, the EIS also confirmed that more than 1,000 homes would be considered “incompatible” with residential use due to noise exposure from the F-35s.
Members of Eken Park Resistance (EPR), a neighborhood under the flight path of the F-35s, pushed back against this designation in a letter published in The Cap Times and available at bit.ly/EPRLetter: “It isn’t our small homes, backyards, swing sets, neighbors, or kids that are incompatible for residential use.” EPR and Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin have opposed responses focused on funding noise mitigation as inadequate, calling on bodies like the County Board to pressure the Air Force to reverse their decision.
What specific actions will you take through the County to respond to community concerns about F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field?
Question 2: PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been found in water, soil and fish on the east and north sides of Madison, including in city wells and in fish caught in Starkweather Creek and Lake Monona. Dane County Regional Airport and Truax Field Air National Guard Base, both on County land, are two known sources of PFAS contamination.
As soon as this winter, the Air National Guard is expected to begin construction to accommodate the F-35s at Truax Field. A letter sent to the Air Force by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in October 2019 stated that “all planned construction projects will require a site investigation to determine whether PFAS contamination is present prior to construction.” Construction prior to a complete site investigation risks releasing more PFAS into the soil and groundwater.
Will you take action to stop construction at Truax Field until there is a complete investigation and approved clean-up plan for PFAS contamination? Given that Dane County is one of multiple entities liable for PFAS contamination originating on County property, what specific actions should the County Board and County Executive take to address PFAS investigation and mitigation?
Question 3: Incarceration
Community pressure to halt plans to build a $148 million new Dane County jail grew this summer amid racial justice uprisings, with demands for decarceration and abolition echoing calls across the country to stop building new jails and end mass incarceration. This has included demands, both from groups opposing and supporting a new jail, to significantly reduce the number of people incarcerated and to address racial disparities. In a Dec. 23 letter to The Cap Times, MOSES president Rachel Kincade wrote, “If Black people were incarcerated at the same percentage as white people, there would be about 16 Black people in the jail rather than the approximately 290 currently in the jail.” Although the number of people incarcerated in the jail has been reduced in response to COVID-19, those changes in practices have not addressed racial disparities. Updated plans for the new jail in November showed that the Sheriff’s Office and those designing the jail do not expect those reductions to continue after the pandemic.
Will you take action to stop work on a new jail? How do you explain that we are targeting Black people for incarceration at such extreme and disproportionate rates? How will you respond to community demands to decrease the jail population and to divest from incarceration?
Joe Parisi
Joe Parisi
Question 1: When the Department of Defense (DOD) put Truax Field at the top of their list for F-35 placement, I sent numerous letters to the Secretary of the Air Force asking for more information about their plans for flight hours, noise, and how they will handle PFAs mitigation if they have construction projects at the airport. Our community deserves better communication from the Air Force on this project and I am hopeful that the new administration will do a better job than the Trump administration has done on this.
I will also continue to work with Congressman Pocan to secure federal funding for sound mitigation before the F-35s arrive. F-35s have been in Vermont for a year now and the Department of Defense can clearly learn from that experience that they should bring sound mitigation funds to communities before they bring new jets. Congressman Pocan is working to secure funding in the Office of Economic Adjustment in the DOD for grants to communities impacted by military aviation noise and I will work with him to bring those funds to Madison.
Question 2: The county is working to address the PFAs contamination at Truax Field as quickly as possible and we are committed to continuing our work with the Department of Natural Resources, the Air National Guard, and the City of Madison on a comprehensive mitigation plan. We hired a national expert on PFAs at airports to lead the investigation and we are hiring a mitigation team. But we didn’t wait for the full plan to be completed before taking action. We have already deployed a new technology that has been successful in Michigan to reduce the level of PFAs in surface waters leaving the area while we are planning further mitigation.
As the question notes, the state Department of Natural Resources is the entity monitoring the construction at Truax Field and they will require the Air National Guard to work with them before those projects begin. The County does not approve construction projects at Truax Field and does not have the authority to stop them; however, I am confident that the Department of Natural Resources will be monitoring the entire project.
Question 3: The Criminal Justice (CJ) system has numerous points of contact: the person who initially calls the police, law enforcement, the courts and more. This necessitates a comprehensive approach to reducing jail populations.
I remain committed to reducing disproportionate minority confinement by building on our work to divert people from the CJ system and provide opportunities for people who are in need of a second chance.
I’ve created and partnered to build numerous jail diversion and re-entry initiatives including re-entry housing and supportive services, the community restorative court, mentoring and job training, and mental health support in schools and community centers. I remain committed to building on these efforts.
We must also continue working to create access to opportunity for underserved populations, to create opportunities to build Black wealth, and to create a more inclusive community. Systemic racism has deprived African Americans of opportunity since the inception of our nation. That’s why I’ve spearheaded the investment of millions of dollars into community building efforts like the Black Business & Entrepreneurial Center and the Center for Black Excellence.
I will continue working to further investments in initiatives that address the root causes of the challenges we face.
Mary Ann Nicholson
Mary Ann Nicholson
Question 1: The role the of Dane County Executive in this situation will be to bring together our Wisconsin Washington Delegation, the City of Madison Mayor, the District Alderperson(s), the United States Air Force and the neighborhood citizens. According to an article published in the Wisconsin State Journal, April 16, 2020 by Chris Hubbuch, Tammy Baldwin “hailed the economic impact and said she would continue working with the Air Force and Dane County “to make sure this positive development works for our community”. Unfortunately, it seems the ball was dropped in terms of working with the community. The Dane County Executive role should be to make sure the meeting is run in an orderly manner where all neighborhood concerns are heard. Once the concerns are heard, all the principles need to work out a plan which addresses the concerns of the neighborhood with measurable agreed upon solutions.
Question 2: PFAS contamination is a concern for all citizens of Dane County. These chemicals are found in everything from food packaging to fluorinated firefighter foam. Because PFAS do not breakdown naturally in the environment, they have been found in our soils and drinking water. PFAS contamination was addressed by Governor Evers in Executive Order #40, where he directed the WI DNR to lead a group of state agencies to address this problem. Before any construction begins at Traux Field, a comprehensive soil contamination remediation plan needs to be spelled out. This plan should be reviewed by the WI DNR and Dane County Board to make sure it meets the State of Wisconsin standards. As a county we need to make sure we are following the protocols developed by Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC) to ensure we are keeping our Dane County citizens safe from PFAS contamination.
Question 3: I do not feel building a $148 million jail is the answer to bridge the racial divide in our community. It is time we start the hard work of addressing the issues of racial inequities in Dane County. I would ask Black community Leaders, police and the City of Madison mayor to come together to build a foundation of lasting change in our County to end the racial inequities. We as a people need to talk about the racial divide in our County to come up with solid changes.
I cannot explain why Black people are targeted, but I think it is time we start the education process to end it. In order to come up with a lasting change we need to look at the criminal justice system. I feel we need to look at the correlation between economic inequalities and the incarceration rates. We need to lift people up by making sure everyone has the same opportunities in education and getting good paying jobs. Police Sensitivity training along with neighborhood Policing is another way which may stop the targeting of Black people.
I am not in favor of defunding police. Defunding in my opinion doesn’t issues the issue.
These questions were written by the Northside Antiracism Group to reflect issues that impact Northsiders, that have been the focus of local organizing and that the county has power to act on.
Question 1: F-35s
The Air Force announced its decision to base a squadron of F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field Air National Guard Base last April. If the F-35s are placed at Truax, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released by the Air National Guard concluded “there would be significant disproportionate impacts to low-income and minority populations as well as children.” While the jets will directly impact all residents near the base, the EIS also confirmed that more than 1,000 homes would be considered “incompatible” with residential use due to noise exposure from the F-35s.
Members of Eken Park Resistance (EPR), a neighborhood under the flight path of the F-35s, pushed back against this designation in a letter published in The Cap Times and available at bit.ly/EPRLetter: “It isn’t our small homes, backyards, swing sets, neighbors, or kids that are incompatible for residential use.” EPR and Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin have opposed responses focused on funding noise mitigation as inadequate, calling on bodies like the County Board to pressure the Air Force to reverse their decision.
What specific actions will you take through the County to respond to community concerns about F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field?
Question 2: PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been found in water, soil and fish on the east and north sides of Madison, including in city wells and in fish caught in Starkweather Creek and Lake Monona. Dane County Regional Airport and Truax Field Air National Guard Base, both on County land, are two known sources of PFAS contamination.
As soon as this winter, the Air National Guard is expected to begin construction to accommodate the F-35s at Truax Field. A letter sent to the Air Force by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in October 2019 stated that “all planned construction projects will require a site investigation to determine whether PFAS contamination is present prior to construction.” Construction prior to a complete site investigation risks releasing more PFAS into the soil and groundwater.
Will you take action to stop construction at Truax Field until there is a complete investigation and approved clean-up plan for PFAS contamination? Given that Dane County is one of multiple entities liable for PFAS contamination originating on County property, what specific actions should the County Board and County Executive take to address PFAS investigation and mitigation?
Question 3: Incarceration
Community pressure to halt plans to build a $148 million new Dane County jail grew this summer amid racial justice uprisings, with demands for decarceration and abolition echoing calls across the country to stop building new jails and end mass incarceration. This has included demands, both from groups opposing and supporting a new jail, to significantly reduce the number of people incarcerated and to address racial disparities. In a Dec. 23 letter to The Cap Times, MOSES president Rachel Kincade wrote, “If Black people were incarcerated at the same percentage as white people, there would be about 16 Black people in the jail rather than the approximately 290 currently in the jail.” Although the number of people incarcerated in the jail has been reduced in response to COVID-19, those changes in practices have not addressed racial disparities. Updated plans for the new jail in November showed that the Sheriff’s Office and those designing the jail do not expect those reductions to continue after the pandemic.
Will you take action to stop work on a new jail? How do you explain that we are targeting Black people for incarceration at such extreme and disproportionate rates? How will you respond to community demands to decrease the jail population and to divest from incarceration?
Larry Palm
Larry Palm
Question 1: Placement of the F-35 jets at the airport is a great concern to me. For nearly 20 years, I have lived in the Eken Park Neighborhood and have experienced the jets flying over my house. I support the actions that have been taken by the Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin coalition.
As Dane County Supervisor, I will strongly advocate for the residents of my district who will be most impacted by the F-35 jets. I have asked the Dane County Corporation Counsel for legislation to remove easement restrictions added during the last round of noise abatement funding over 20 years ago. Residents should not have to search through their deeds to determine if they are eligible or not to receive future funding.
If there is another round of noise abatement funding, then everyone should have a right to this funding especially those that are impacted most. I will advocate for a baseline noise study so that we understand what the current situation is so we can be prepared for any future changes.
Question 2: I support requiring site remediation of PFAS and any other chemicals during a disturbance from construction. I will advocate for local review of federal construction projects such as these to ensure that they support local needs instead of broad government policies.
I am deeply concerned about the slow pace of investigation and determination of the extent of PFAS at the airport. Recently a report was released that indicated that there are substantial concerns, and the State of Wisconsin PFAS task force has developed a concept of a plan, but both don’t go nearly far enough to actually begin to remediate the site.
Unfortunately, there are still too many questions about what an appropriate level of contamination is and how to properly remediate both soil and water. City and county officials will need to work together to advocate for remediation of this public health threat.
Question 3: I know Supervisor Paul Rusk advocated for replacing the existing jail because of the terrible conditions that residents were exposed to. As Alder, I visited the jail and was horrified by the conditions and support reducing the jail population and developing a smaller, modern jail.
As part of my job for the Madison Schools, I used to be the registrar for the jail school. I knew these young people and understood they were trying to better themselves through education. But when I visited their classroom — small, dark and dreary — it was not an environment conducive to being one’s best. I want these students back in their regular classrooms to be educated along with their peers, but the current situation is not acceptable.
I support expanding many diversion programs and working with other elected officials, such as the district attorney and judges, to significantly reduce the jail population. I support a dedicated mental health diversion program that works with individuals and their families to resolve issues and not compound them. Recently, I was able to support the elimination of juvenile justice fees and fines and erasing of debt as these fees significantly burdened families at the worst of times.
Goodwill Chekwube Obieze
Goodwill Chekwube Obieze
Question 1: By having the F-35 jets into Madison, it will force a lot of my constituents out of their homes due to environmental impacts, i.e. noise. I will work to have the federal government provide financial assistance to those that are negatively impacted. My constituents still agree that it should never be in a residential area. Finally, I will support plans that make this a climate crisis that will prioritize those who are vulnerable including persons who are currently homeless, disabled and low-income tenants. For more information, please visit goodwill4countyboard.com.
Question 2: I will continue to promote the fish consumption advisory at Lake Monona and Starkweather creek. I will propose a temporally ban from fishing in those lakes until investigations are complete. I will continue to work with DHS and DNR on how to mediate and safe guide our community. I would support the adoption of standards necessary to protect infants, children and persons especially vulnerable to toxins. Finally, I will promote clean water. For more information, please visit goodwill4countyboard.com.
Question 3: In our County Jail, approximately over 50% of those in jail are black. I do not support the expansion of the jail. We need to use that fund in mental health, schools. We need to begin treating mental health as a health crisis and not a public safety crisis. I just hope that we can allocate that such millions of dollars to those affected by the pandemic, our local businesses and prioritizing vacant public property for housing the homeless. I acknowledge that our current jail needs to be safe and humane, but we can achieve that without expanding the jail. I will ensure that all persons in the Jail have adequate access to healthcare needs. I would develop a decarceration plan, informed by the communities most impacted by incarceration. For more information, please visit goodwill4countyboard.com.
Amani Latimer Burris
Amani Latimer Burris
Question 1: I will consult experts, involve residents and advocacy groups, and look for concrete solutions for this complex problem.
We can work to come together as a community balancing the impacts on the environment with financial benefits and responsibilities. We can work through solutions to eliminate, reduce and/or mitigate exposure and make people in our shared community whole.
No doubt the noise exposure from F-35 Jet Fighters will impact the residents in our shared-community. During COVID-19, more people have become aware of this issue first raised by a variety of advocacy groups. People have realized that simple conversations (whether on Zoom or on the phone or in-person) can be impossible under the noise exposure. This exposure is confirmed to increase, with intervals reaching rock concert levels.
Relevant issues include mitigation and its practicability, responsibility, incompatibility between homeownership and livability, the want for reversal, need for remediation, realization of overall impacts on city, county and state, the airport, the military considerations, and the unrealized, long-term consequences that potentially affect many thousands of people — hearing loss, disease, sleep disruption, memory loss and learning development. In tandem, we can work to address these issues.
Question 2: I would seek a community consensus on the issue, which requires diversity in outreach and inclusivity in involvement. I believe we can take a two-prong approach. The PFAS and F-35 issues are intrinsically related; it’s possible to address both with increased effectiveness.
The DNR has called for a complete site investigation into PFAS contamination at Truax and its impact from any new F-35 construction as PFAS chemicals don’t break down in the environment and research has linked them to serious adverse health effects. A 2018 military investigation indicated a likelihood of PFAS contamination in the soil and groundwater due in part to the use of firefighting foam by fire departments training nearby.
Then, according to the DNR, moving contaminated soil could increase runoff into local water supplies, most directly Starkweather Creek, which passes through a large portion of the city. Extremely high PFAS levels have been confirmed in the water at affected sites and a public well has been shut down. Thus, it’s reasonable to know what’s already there, what’s going to be moved, and to where it’s going to be moved. Construction shouldn’t occur until we know what we’re dealing with. If there’s contamination, no construction should occur.
Question 3: This issue is why diversity matters, not just for the sake of diversity but because diversity demands whole solutions.
The late Supervisor Paul Rusk not only took this issue to heart but asked many in the community to pledge to do something different, realizing, I imagine, that many people did not fully understand the issue/impact of something they themselves have not personally experienced. This and other compound issues require more than taglines, photo-ops or surface commitments. It requires deep thinking and a willingness to go beyond oneself and into another person’s world; a willingness to dig out of our implicit biases and into inclusivity and diversity. Lived experience highlights the fact that this is a complex issue without a simple or neatly packaged answer, and underscores that our shared community is interconnected and what affects one eventually affects all.
My mother, the late Milele Chikasa Anana, worked with Mayor Soglin, Police Chief David Couper and others for women and people of color to be allowed in the system of policing and firefighting in a time that called for change. I’m ready to work, in collaboration, on these new issues that have plagued us forever. It’s time.
