Mayor Paul Soglin Opposed To Madison Firefighters “Fill The Boot” Campaign In City Streets To Help MDA
Last night at the Madison Common Council meeting one might have expected Mayor Paul Soglin to have been energized over the issue of why the city needed to forgive a $1.1 million loan to the Genesis Enterprise Center. Not only did the city need to forgive the loan but do so amid questions about where money to the financially troubled business incubator had gone.
While Soglin had a couple of points to make about the risk factor in using block grants there was no fist on the table moment in trying to foster a better understanding of where the loan money was spent, or by whom.
No, Mayor Soglin was storing up his energy for another cause on the agenda that was more pressing to him.
Major Soglin relinquished his chair at the front of the council chambers, and took to the speaker’s podium to sternly state why Madison firefighters should not be allowed to take to city streets to raise monies from motorists to fight muscular dystrophy.
All over the country the sight of a firefighter holding a boot and collecting dollar bills to fight muscular dystrophy is one of those all-American moments.
But to hear Soglin speak last night one would think that these brave men and women were acting without regard to public safety, and merely creating traffic concerns.
That is just plain wrong.
I witnessed a number of Madison firefighters carrying the boots to cars at the John Nolen/Rimrock road intersection several weeks ago. It was most inspiring to see countless windows rolled down, smiles passed, cash collected, and that connection between people who were on each side of the boot helping to make a difference for others they did not even know.
It was a quintessential American moment to see these firefighters who have long been a part of the MDA fulfilling their pledge to make a difference for those afflicted with muscular dystrophy.
The city council allowed the firefighters a three-year window to use the streets in this fashion at certain times for the “fill the boot” project. After three years the policy will be evaluated to see if there are concerns, or if it worked so well that it should be continued. But in true Paul Soglin fashion every policy that was not completed under his watch needs to be reviewed, and undone.
That is just wrong.
The Madison Common Council made it clear in a 14-5 vote that would not be the case with the firefighters.
Alderperson Steve King was emotional as he emphatically stated that “firefighters are the most trusted individuals we have” and added “they know what they are doing’.
Steve King ended his comments aimed at the few who wanted to undermine “fill the boot” with the bluntness of “get over it people”.
Isthmus Alder Marsha Rummel voted against the firefighters after stating she had witnessed cars and firefighters on Blair Street, and thought it was dangerous. I mused to myself what Rummel would do if the vote were about the crazy bikers who often create real hazards on the streets.
I think it is most telling when the emotional moments at a council meeting take place over the topic of firefighters wishing to make a positive contribution, and those who somehow abuse $1.1 million get hardly a nod.
Ninja,
No it is not illegal. You might note the part of the post that states “The city council allowed the firefighters a three-year window to use the streets in this fashion at certain times for the “fill the boot” project. After three years the policy will be evaluated to see if there are concerns, or if it worked so well that it should be continued. The Madison Common Council made it clear in a 14-5 vote…..”
It does make me feel warm and American to see this and to be able to support it. Hopefully you will never need to know why the program is so important to others,
I had forgotten about it, but I saw two men in full fire gear wandering through traffic at the corner of Northport and Sherman collecting money about a month ago and I just about called the cops because I assumed it had to be a scam. What kind of public safety professional would think it was a good idea to walk around in afternoon rush hour traffic, especially at that intersection, which was an absolute chaotic disaster all summer because of construction?
Glad to hear that it gives you the quintessential American warm fuzzies, but it’s stupid, dangerous and illegal, so it should probably stop. Not to mention the fact that people in this town already have a bizarrely difficult time crossing the street safely and legally. They don’t need more bad behavior to model.
“Quintessential American moment”? What makes it quintessentially American? It raises my hackles to read such a phrase, which suggests that caring for others is not a universal human trait.
I would argue that the firefighters could spend their time raising money for a more worthwhile group, one that doesn’t spend such a huge chunk of their money on administrative and fundraising. (Though MDA has recently improved their score from Charity Navigator: See http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4134)
The mayor is a huge disappointment on so many levels.