August 2001

Madisonians,

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

Note: The Mayor’s State of the City speech is available as text and as streaming video online at www.ci.madison.wi.us