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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

If you are looking for something educational and fun to do Sunday come out to Bunny Day at the Dane County Humane Society, noon-4. There will be a bunch of adoptable rabbits to play with, lectures about rabbit health, cool rabbit apparel, and vegan treats. I'm going! isthmus.com/events/bunny...

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Utschig has been a key ally of Lotfi, but both he and Van Asten have seemed to have soured on her as Village President.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Shorewood Hills Files: Just before last month's meeting, Trustee Utschig said he would take legal action after Pres. Lotfi left his proposed items off the agenda. The next day it triggered Van Asten's dramatic email claiming Lotfi was abusing her powers. Van Asten later apologized for the email

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Finally met the one and only President Imes.

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Alders Glenn, and Matthews voted against the introduction of the resolution. However, this was only for introduction without debate - alders typically don't vote against. We will have a substantial public comment, debate, and vote at the Oct 20th meeting.

Importantly, the resolution is pretty narrow in that it doesn't mention Glass's actions during the Ruiz killing protests that drew criticism from some the city attorney, MPD, and alders. During a prev. Council meeting Ochowicz alleged that Glass had been working with PCOB to be hired permanently.

At last night's Madison Common Council, Alder Ochowicz introduced a resolution for the Oct 20 meeting to terminate Interim Police Monitor Glass. The resolution claims that Glass has not fulfilled her job functions by not working to hire permanent Monitor. Council Chief of staff would run OIM.

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On a personal note, I use Signal sometimes because some people insist on it. I hate it. I'm always asking them later to repeat what they told me, because their stupid message disappeared. Worst thing ever for BBQs. You've got to write down the address on your own!

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OK, they really need to get out of Signal...Of course there has been some alders using it for official business. Just send emails like normal people.

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madison365.com/signal-chat-... There is an Madison Alder Signal group? No official business is being conducted? Obviously the best way to ensure to the public that nothing sketchy is going on is to invite me into the group. I'll even resist the urge to go to all of your awesome Alder BBQs!

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What am I even going to do with this stuff...Shorewood Hills I tell you. This is going to take me a while to go through.

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Trustee Van Asten would apologize the next day for sending the email. That apology email was more widely distributed (see my post about it below). bsky.app/profile/ther...

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The email appears to originate from complaints by Trustee Utschig that Pres. Lotfi wasn't allowing his agenda items. Van Asten was coming to Utschig's defense. I will release more emails in the coming days that show this growing feud between Pres. Lotfi and Utschig. They were allies in ousting Imes.

Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

In an email I obtained via open records request, Shorewood Hills Trustee Van Asten says Pres. Lotfi is "becoming confused with power." and claims Trustee Barford, because of a "promise," is trying to hide that the Police Chief was behind survey responses praising the Lodgic building purchase.

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I'll provide details about the rest of tonight's PC meeting soon!

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Tonight Madison Plan Commission unanimously approved the demolition of the "Wonder Bar" at 222 E Olin Ave. Some public comment even seemed to backfire, with Com. Heck saying that he wasn't convinced by arguments mostly based in nostalgia and worry that the city is changing.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Just back from a trip so will have to catch tonight's Plan Commission late. The demolition of the "Wonder Bar" has gotten attention on Facebook and Nextdoor, but PC is likely to recommend demolition. They previously approved demo and Council has signaled that they support it as well.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We finally have an updated YIMBY index. We'll get Alder Nzegwu on there once she votes on something. I've got her little picture ready and everything! www.councilytics.com

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It's gone! Who was it? What did they say?

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I've requested Trustee Utschig provide the records his accusations are based upon. He has so far refused, wanting me to request them myself through the village (which could take a while and possibly cost money). OK, now go out and enjoy the beautiful day!

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The full text of his letter, along with a letter he obtained through open records from the father of someone who sued Shorewood Hills for possible civil rights violations during a traffic stop. Village settled. For context, the father is is a criminal defense attorney with a 4th amendment focus.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This morning Shorewood Hills Trustee Utschig released a statement to his private email list, linking 10 Lodgic building survey responses to (what he claims are) Stevens Point IP addresses used by Police Chief Weitzel. He also expressed concern about a 2024 civil rights lawsuit against the village.

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I have a PhD in political philosophy, and studied a lot about institutional structure/systems of representative government/incentives/etc. during that time. There is a lot that is interesting from those frames in these examples I think.

Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I would like to write a book about bad governance. The two examples I have right now are Shorewood Hills and UW-Madison. I have pretty exciting stories from both!

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Agenda and link to watch here: shorewoodhillswi.gov/vertical/sit...

shorewoodhillswi.gov

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Another special Shorewood Hills Trustee meeting tonight to in part discuss former Admin Mooney's employment. Maybe they just love hanging out with each other and can't do it without calling a special meeting. What, are they going to try to fire Mooney?

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The world needs more Plan Commission (or whatever they call it) coverage!

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Zenz @therealzenz.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A really cool downtown map packet. Bookmark! Lots of cool maps here. www.cityofmadison.com/dpced/planni...

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Reposted by Zenz

Come down to the Madison is for People, Downtown Area Plan Feedback session - Wednesday at 6pm, Madison Municipal Building. I'll be there! RSVP here: actionnetwork.org/events/madis...

actionnetwork.org

Madison is for People Downtown Plan Feedback

Madison is for People members will be meeting with planning staff to discuss the Downtown Plan. We will be advocating for more, better, and affordable housing downtown.

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Reposted by Zenz

The amended motion to require an update on various police recommendations with the MPD final report, and then twice a year, passes unanimously.

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The amended motion to require an update on various police recommendations with the MPD final report, and then twice a year, passes unanimously.

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Ochowicz had sent around an example of how Austin, TX communicates oversight with the city and to Police. He thinks long-term MPD should have 5 year plan. Madison needs a better way to move recommendations between PCOB and MPD.

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Lieberman moves to eliminate the 90 day rule, require the report 2 times a year. The first report would instead come with the annual MPD report. Matthews expressed support for that. Amendment passes unanimously.

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Alder Matthews (one of the sponsors) says that the report about recommendations seeks to close the loop in all of the disparate reports. She says PCOB is volunteer, and so they will need a lot of info from MPD to evaluate whether recommendations have been met. It can help org and consolidate recs.

The Chief is also saying that the recommendations were at least in part included in their strategic planning previously. Glenn clarifies that they sent the resolution to the Chief on the Sept 2, though he didn't have a convo with the sponsors.

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Evers seems skeptical of the resolution, says a resident Alex Saloutos wrote it, the sponsoring alders didn't consult the Chief at any point. Wonders whether PCOB should go back to recommendations and find ones that are most important in this moment. Evers also asks whether 6 months would be better.

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Zhang seems concerned about producing so many separate reports, she asks the Chief what the "deliverable" is. Chief says he wants to make improvements to the organization. There are consultants helping them with a strategic plan.

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Chief says that MPD is starting a group to engage with community and PCOB, to work on recommendations, but it could take a while. Last engagement took a year. Matthews thinks that the report on the recommendations might not be duplicative and could be wrapped into MPD outreach work.

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Matthews says that the recurring nature of the report about progress on police recommendations is the most important part of the resolution. Chief blames some previous reporting about recommendations was deleted from website during a redesign, but he says it will be published again.

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On to the requested report (in 90 days) of a progress report by MPD on 300 or so recommendations submitted to PCOB and Council. Matthews asks Chief whether the timeline is a problem He says that if they had more time it would allow them to outreach, but they will produced a report if asked.

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Prtichett wants us to understand better what use of force does to the body, even to handcuff someone, that it can cause harm. She says she could kill another alder with her bare hands. She says that certain behaviors by people interacting with police can more likely lead to use of force.

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Message from the Chief is that much has changed in the city and MPD that it will be more helpful to have current engagement with the PCOB and the public rather than only rehashing older recommendations. However, he says some recs not completed but they are still trying, like hiring bilingual staff.

During the summer MPD increased of traffic laws, especially hazardous behavior, but that has dropped off now. Chief is a little unclear what will change with community outreach, but more outreach efforts will work to divert people from the criminal justice system, and more city-wide coordination.

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Glenn is worried that "stratifying policing" will turn into "blue blanket," or over-policing. Alder Matthews notes that she did some calculations of use of force that only included cases when there was contact with the police and found larger recent increases (39% Q1->Q2). However, rates were < .3%.

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Glenn also worries about disorderly conduct being used too often. Like other alders she wonders whether too many calls for service (that don't result in any police response) included in statistics. Wonders what pro-active policing looks like. Chief wants police where it matters, even to walk around.

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Glenn asks about whether MPD has a leadership culture, given that they have so many new recruits. Chief says that they need to worry about police subcultures developing and deal with. She also asks what happens when there is excessive use of force - could range all the way up to firing.

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