In the State of the City
speech I recently outlined several initiatives that are intended to enhance
Madison by strengthening its neighborhoods. Neighborhoods are what make a city. As neighborhoods go, so goes the
quality of life in the city of Madison.
The first is that
Neighborhood Resource Teams (NRT) are being expanded to cover the entire
city. NRTs are made up of
representatives of the Police and Health departments, the Inspection Unit, CDBG
Office and, in some cases, staff representing the Library, Housing, Community
Services, Streets and other agencies.
For nearly a decade NRTs
have served to address the needs of challenged neighborhoods and provide
services in a coordinated fashion.
By all accounts, the concept has been successful. I am pleased to announce that, by the
end of the year, every area of the city will be covered by a NRT.
Much of the city is
already covered. A recent report
from an expanded NRT indicated success in addressing an issue in record time
due to the readiness of the team in a non-challenged neighborhood.
Although the city has
emphasized neighborhoods in many ways over the years, the organizational
structure of the city does not reflect this neighborhood emphasis. In order to provide a focal point for
our NRT efforts, neighborhood planning efforts, our planning council
coordination, our community leadership development efforts and our financial
programs, such as the Community Enhancement program or the Neighborhood
Planning Grant program, I have decided to create an Office of Neighborhood
Support.
I envision this as
evolving so that it might ultimately become a new agency. I'm excited by what may be the first
truly innovative structural change for the city of Madison in many years.
Another important part of
building a strong community is addressing the needs of children. Our youth represent 25 percent of
today's population, but they represent 100 percent of the future. Amazingly statistics compiled by
Columbia University researchers demonstrate that children of families that eat
dinner together on a regular basis without watching television have fewer drug
and alcohol problems than others.
On September 24 there will be a National Eat-Dinner-With-Your-Children
Day. I hope that each of you will
take the time on that day, but also on many other days, to eat dinner with your
children, without television or other distraction.
-Susan
J.M. Bauman
Mayor