ItÕs been a great honor to serve you, the residents of the heart of the North Isthmus, for the past four years. IÕve enjoyed the privilege of working with many people from such a diverse, progressive and active district. IÕm looking forward to another two exciting, challenging and productive years. I also welcome entering into a campaign race once again. This is truly democracy at work to bring about a more open discussion of neighborhood and city-wide issues.

WeÕve accomplished a great deal in the past four years and Tenney-Lapham has led the city in many arenas. The Tenney-Lapham area became the second location in the city to utilize a curbside street-sweeping program, due to interest from the neighborhood association, and particularly Richard Linster, with my support. Chronic flooding problems brought to my attention by many residents resulted in the replacement of sewer pipes under North Few and Elizabeth Streets. The next phase is replacement of sewer pipes below North Baldwin Street, North Thornton Avenue and Burr Jones Field scheduled for this year. This work actually led to a citywide policy of replacing sanitary sewer pipes in additional to storm water pipes when reconstruction of older streets occurs. For snow removal, I initiated the establishment of a city Pedestrian Priority Route system which requires the city to remove snow within 24 hours along routes designated as heavily pedestrian-traveled or frequently used routes for people with mobility impairments. Building code enforcement has been a major concern of residents and the neighborhood association for many years and this past year I was successful in instituting an ongoing systematic inspection policy for both the Old Market Place and Tenney-Lapham neighborhoods.

Because of important concerns raised by the neighborhood campaign spearheaded by Kathi Bresnehan and Tim Olsen, "Drive 25, Keep Our Kids Alive," traffic issues along East Johnson and Gorham Streets were looked at seriously and we pushed together to change timing of stop lights and to implement the use of flashing red lights. Since then, traffic calming has become a major city issue and this spring a new Traffic Enforcement Unit will begin, with seven police officers working solely on speeding.

The second district continues to be one step ahead in the arts while discussions regarding the establishment of a downtown Cultural Arts District are beginning. The Esquire Theater is already open for community theater companies to perform right off the Capitol on East Mifflin Street. This collaborative effort was made possible with the backing of city staff, myself, and neighborhood residents Gretchen Wheat and Jake Jacobson.

The same type of dynamics emerged in determining the use for the vacated Reynolds property, with strong support from some residents for housing and from others for community gardens. The end result was a predominant use of the land for housing development and, at the same time, a separate parcel for community gardens. Neighborhood work on this issue led to the formation of a committee, of which I am a member, to consider three proposals for housing development. A second committee, of which I am also a member, is formulating a report and plan for community gardens citywide. Resident John Bell chairs this committee.

The Yahara Parkway Plan, initiated by my predecessor David Wallner and former alder Bert Zipperer, was recently officially adopted after three years of our committeeÕs work. It encompasses a vision for the next one hundred years for the enhancement of the Yahara River Parkway. Completed aspects of the plan include the dead-ending of Thornton Avenue in Tenney Park, which splits into bike paths connected to both directions of East Johnson Street, as well as some landscaping in Tenney Park. Further implementation of the Plan is a tremendous undertaking, including pedestrian-bicycle underpasses for East Washington Avenue and East Johnson Street, expanded parkland along the river, development of the former WPS site, improved development along Thornton Avenue with housing possibilities and much more. Many thanks to neighborhood residents Ed Jepsen, with his continuing strong involvement, and Alison Mader for their work on the committee.

In addition to the ongoing projects IÕve already outlined, in the next two years IÕll be continuing work on transportation issues, including the reconstruction of East Washington Avenue. I added TLNA member Mark Fraire to those on the Strategic Advisory Committee since the Tenney-Lapham area was not included in the initial make-up of neighborhood and business representatives. The anticipated work is an enormous challenge with construction occurring in several phases over four yearsÕ time from Blair Street to Thierer Road, beginning in 2001 with the reconstruction of the Yahara bridge. Alternatives for pedestrian/bicycle issues, aesthetics, lane closings and more are now being discussed. The burden this construction will put on adjoining streets, especially E. Johnson and E. Gorham streets, is one which must be investigated and monitored carefully. Also, traffic calming measures need to be continued in conjunction with traffic safety education and incentives for alternative forms of transportation, including expanded bus transit and rail possibilities, to ease the congestion of our growing city.

In addition to building code enforcement, IÕll be working on ways to address the affordable housing crisis in the city. Besides pushing forward the two EOC ordinances IÕve been spearheading, IÕm ready to work on some initiatives presented by the Affordable Housing Action Alliance as well as others from the Housing Summit. Providing more affordable housing options and increasing choices in accessing existing affordable housing will be one of my top priorities. IÕll continue to work on fair housing practices as well as the facilitation of first time home-ownership.

ItÕs great to connect with so many residents who have taken active roles in such diverse areas of interest. Parks will continue to be a priority, with the Yahara Parkway, community gardens and other opportunities for expanded greenspace, not to mention the upkeep of neighborhood parks with an emphasis currently on Demetral Field. Following police concerns and strong residentsÕ support, I sponsored a limited alcohol ban in Tenney Park and initiated two study groups led by the County ExecutiveÕs office to explore alternative ways of dealing with public chronic alcoholism. The R2 Zoning Committee, initiated by Bob Kinderman and other hard-working community members, including Gigi Holland and Diane Milligan, has finished the report that is now progressing through various committees.

In other city-wide issues, IÕm continuing my work begun on the Living Wage Task Force, on another initiative presently in committee, the Living Wage ordinance. Finally, civil rights and social justice issues will also continue to be a priority. IÕm proud to have served four years on the Equal Opportunities Commission, tackling the often-times difficult issues which discrimination embodies. Paul Fieber, a neighborhood resident, has been a great long-standing asset to the commission.IÕm excited about the next two years in continuing and expanding on this grassroots-up rather than top-down leadership approach with these and many more issues. Government must not only be open and responsive but must also include the entire community in direct participation. I have a ten-minute campaign video available for anyone to view (call me), visit my website at http://move.to/votevedder and, as always, you can personally contact me at 249-8428. YouÕre welcome to attend a unique cultural campaign event at the Esquire Theater on March 24th. And most importantly of all, donÕt forget to vote April 6!

-Barbara Vedder


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