Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

The Madison school district just tripped over a pile of cash. So why do they need an extra $100 million from taxpayers? This morning it was reported that the district will receive an unexpected windfall in state school aids. Up until now they had to work off of rough estimates, but now the final numberContinue reading “More Reason to Vote ‘No’ on MSN Schools Question”

In the 2022 mid term elections all the smart money was on the Democrats getting creamed. It didn’t happen. Why? Abortion. It turned out that an issue that was lagging in the polls actually was the key to Democratic success. A similar dynamic may be playing out this year. Once again abortion ranks a distantContinue reading “Could Abortion Save the Dems?”

I don’t have a clue who will win the presidency. And there’s no reason to think the answer will become clearer in the next three weeks. This has been a race that has been a dead heat since the start and nothing either candidate says, no world or national event, changes the numbers very much.Continue reading “Some Election Certainty”

This week’s quote comes to us from none other than Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene who, in the wake of two deadly hurricanes in the last couple of weeks, tweeted (Xed?): “Climate change is the new Covid. Ask your government if the weather is manipulated or controlled. Did you ever give permission to them to doContinue reading “The Q&Q For 10/12/24”

In my first job out of college I worked as staffer for a conservative Democratic legislator (there used to be conservative Democrats) named John Plewa. John was a good guy and he represented his heavily Catholic district on the Southside of Milwaukee well. He emphasized constituent service and he pretty well reflected their views whenContinue reading “Stop Coddling Young Whiners”

Two years ago only 39% of Wisconsin elementary school students were proficient in English. Last year 51% achieved that goal. Was that the result of revolutionary new approaches to teaching? Maybe a bounce back from the pandemic? Nope. The Department of Public Instruction simply lowered the scores necessary to be deemed proficient. It would beContinue reading “Did Underly Juice Test Scores for Reelection?”

Why do local governments do business with Urban Triage? That question comes to mind now because the Madison nonprofit overspent a Dane County contract to provide homeless services. They overspent a $317,000 contract by $100,000. I ran two nonprofits. I have no idea how this is even possible. The organization’s executive director blames new accountingContinue reading “Time to Triage Urban Triage”

I’m often strongly critical of the Madison School Board. But when it was reported yesterday that the Board incinerated $100,000 of taxpayers’ money in their search for a new superintendent I couldn’t single it out as being especially wasteful. Pretty much every major public and private entity blows money on these search efforts. Of thatContinue reading “Exec Search Firms Waste Money”

This week’s quote comes to us from none other than a spokesperson for Top Trumps, a company that is producing a version of Monopoly built around Madison. The unfortunately named company is asking Madisonians to suggest street names and other details to replace the iconic items in the original game based on Atlantic City. InContinue reading “The Q&Q For 10/5/24”

As we head into the final month before the election — and while early voting has already started in some states — the leaves are turning brown for the Democrats. You always worry about an October surprise. But Donald Trump is immune from this sort of thing. Here’s a guy who was found liable forContinue reading “October Surprises”