The Madison Common Council failed to get the three-fourths vote necessary to approve the purchase of a building on Zeier Road to create a permanent homeless shelter for men.
Many attendees and community members spoke in support of the measure, which would amend the 2021 Adopted Capital Budget for the Community Development Division’s Men’s Homeless Shelter capital project to purchase property on Madison’s east side for homeless shelter purposes. This purchase would have created a permanent property for the homeless shelter to replace the temporary space now being used. After debates about where the shelter should be, 14 alders voted in favor of the purchase — one short of the 15 needed. Common Council President Syed Abbas joined Alders Sheri Carter, Charles Myadze, Barbara Harrington-McKinney and Gary Halverson in voting no. Alder Nasra Wehelie was absent.
In other business, the Council approved an expenditure to repair the roof of the Police Training Office. Many community members said in public comment that the police department should not receive any more funding and that the money should go towards providing housing for those in need.
The Common Council also approved a resolution designating May 5, 2021 as “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Awareness Day” in Madison. Common Council Vice President Arvina Martin, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, spoke about the issues of violence and sex trafficking in Madison against Indigenous girls and women.
There will be a vigil at 7 pm tonight in front of the Capitol Building to draw more awareness to the murders and kidnapping of Indigenous women and girls.