Issues

I pledge to:
Act with integrity Educate myself, learn, and listen Be respectful Treat others with dignity Represent my constituents by doing what is right and not necessarily popular Be responsive Focus on improving our community, valuing our diversity, and creating a more humane society
Allied Drive. Allied Drive is in the midst of many changes. My goal is to continue to build upon the sense of ownership and empowerment currently existing among Allied residents. It is their right and responsibility to have a voice and chart their own course. I pledge to continue leadership and advancement in the Allied Drive neighborhood; however, it is imperative that changes not come at the expense of families who want to remain or do not have any other place to go. Our progress in Allied must be made with great care to ensure that we “Move Forward Not Out.” Working together, I know we CAAN Create An Allied Neighborhood that is safe, healthy, and affordable.
Economic development. As Madison changes and grows, it cannot count merely on government and the University to employ its residents. A strong business culture is essential. As we invest and engage the private sector, we’ll face difficult decisions. I’ll support advancement of the “high road economy,” where investments and decisions benefit those companies who take the high road by respecting the environment, supporting our community, and investing in their employees through family supporting wages and quality benefits.
Additionally, there are several key investments that must be made in order to ensure that workers have access to employment opportunities and employers have access to employees.
	Transportation. Transportation is possibly the most significant issue our city faces. As Madison continues to grow, the geographic realities of the Isthmus will grow proportionately. Transportation alternatives are essential to bridge our neighborhoods, suburbs, and central city. It is critical to ensure that significant numbers of our citizens are not isolated from the opportunities that make Madison such a wonderful place to live. Finally, and perhaps most important, transportation is economic development. Madison basically operates at full employment. It is only by ensuring access to new employees that businesses will be able to create new employment opportunities and expand our economy. Child care. Continued investments in quality, affordable child care not only gives kids a documented head start in their education (which will pay off in dividends once those children reach the K-12 system), but frees up parents to increase the availability and productivity of our workforce. Affordable housing. The third leg in the economic development foundational stool is affordable housing, which continues to be a difficult issue. Inclusionary zoning has shown some successes but continues to need refinement. Like transportation and child care, housing is one of the most significant issues when it comes to helping families succeed in the workplace.
Economic justice / equal opportunity. Madison is one of the best cities in America for many reasons. But one important reason is our commitment to economic justice for all Madisonians. When our citizens are educated and employed, there is a decreased need for prisons, jails, police, and other services. Our tax base increases, health care costs decrease, and our economy flourishes. Our commitment to economic justice needs to be reiterated in every discussion regarding the quality of our schools, the affordability of our housing, the accessibility of transportation alternatives, the availability of quality jobs with family supporting incomes, the cleanliness of our environment, and the magnitude of our high-quality employment opportunities.
Madison and Wisconsin both have always stood for what could be. Wisconsin was the first state to offer unemployment, offer workers compensation, and outlaw discrimination against women. The Madison Equal Opportunities ordinance was one of the first passed and remains one of the strongest in the nation. Equal opportunity is about valuing diversity but also about far more than that. It is about ensuring that all of our citizens have access to the same quality of life, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or age.
Land use. As a biker, one of my greatest pleasures is biking ten minutes out of town and pedaling through the beautiful farmland that continues to surround us. However, the geographic features that make Madison such an incredibly beautiful place also present distinct challenges. As we expand and grow, development pressure will continue to intensify. Good land use planning will be critical to ensure that we maintain those qualities that make Madison such a great place to live.

Authorized by Friends of Brian Solomon, Ken Golden, Treasurer