dave cieslewicz

Justice Trips Over Justice

The Madison City Council wants more affordable housing. That’s a laudable goal, but it can’t be accomplished without compromise. This week the council voted to reject, at least for now, two large projects that could add hundreds of units to the city’s housing stock. On Tuesday night the council voted down an 18-story mixed-use projectContinue reading “Justice Trips Over Justice”

Why 100?

In the midst of a good season it has been a great couple of weeks for the Milwaukee Brewers. Going into last night they had gone eight and two in their last 10 games, own a comfortable 7.5 game lead in their division, and they’ve added at least one big bat in Eduardo Escobar. AndContinue reading “Why 100?”

Max and Me

The other day, my good friend Denny Burke, who has been sending his friends a musical selection a day since March, 2020, sent us the lyrics to “We Can Be Together” from Jefferson Airplane’s “Volunteers” album. Here’s most of it: We can be togetherAh, you and meWe should be together We are all outlaws inContinue reading “Max and Me”

Block Nass

The first thing you have to understand about Steve Nass is that he wants to get under your skin. So, don’t let him. Just cooly turn him aside. Sen. Nass is a Republican from Whitewater who has been practicing “owning the libs” since before Donald Trump gave it a name. He routinely does stuff (andContinue reading “Block Nass”

Train Needs to Come Downtown

At the risk of rekindling my PTSD, let me offer an opinion on a high speed rail station in Madison. It has to be downtown. President Joe Biden’s proposed infrastructure bill, now being negotiated in the U.S. Senate, includes $66 billion for Amtrak improvements. The plan puts Madison on the map (literally) as part ofContinue reading “Train Needs to Come Downtown”

Happy Trails

By Spencer Black Whether its commuters pedaling to work in Madison, families enjoying the trails through the forests of Vilas County or tourists from around the world exploring the tunnels of the Elroy Sparta Trail, Wisconsin is the state for bikers. And this coming Sunday, Aug. 1, there will be celebration of someone who hasContinue reading “Happy Trails”

Forensic Audit of Brandtjen’s Brain Requested

Medical researchers are asking for permission to do a forensic audit of the brain of Republican Rep. Janel Brandtjen of Menomonee Falls. “Of course, we wish Rep. Brandtjen a long and happy life,” said Dr. Dan Broca. “But when that’s over we would love to get in there and try to understand what went wrong.”Continue reading “Forensic Audit of Brandtjen’s Brain Requested”

Bennett’s Bigoted Comment

Robert Lamp is dead. And, to make matters worse, he was rich and white. Unlucky for him, none of those things qualifies as a protected class in the City of Madison. I agree with Madison Ald. Juliana Bennett on the substance of her vote, but I very much disagree with her reasoning. Last week sheContinue reading “Bennett’s Bigoted Comment”

Our Dysfunctional State Government

Republicans wanted something. Democrats wanted something. Everybody was in Madison under the same dome. Why didn’t anybody try to work something out? Yesterday encapsulated what’s wrong with Wisconsin state government. Republican Speaker Robin Vos called an extraordinary session in an attempt to override a veto of a GOP bill to end extra Federal unemployment benefitsContinue reading “Our Dysfunctional State Government”

Please Get Vaxed

My guess is that the readership here at YSDA is pretty diverse. Of course, if you found your way here you are an intelligent, thoughtful and discerning person by definition. But, since I’m a center-left moderate (and still a liberal in many ways) who isn’t shy about taking on the hard-left and Democrats when IContinue reading “Please Get Vaxed”