One year in: a message from your Alder
A year ago, our community trusted me with the honor of serving as District 18 Alder, and it has been a remarkable twelve months.
Residents brought concerns about railroad crossing repairs on Packers Avenue to my attention, and — thanks in large part to the partnership and persistent advocacy of Alder Julia Matthews of District 12 — those repairs got done.
We celebrated the grand opening of The River Food Pantry, a milestone that reflects exactly the kind of community that makes our Northside special.
Housing and planning conversations have reminded me that our neighbors want different things for their neighborhood, and that equitable engagement means actively reaching people who are not already in the room — renters, non-English speakers, seniors, young people, and those working multiple jobs who cannot make a 6 pm meeting. And throughout, District 18 has been at the center of Madison’s conversations about services for people experiencing homelessness — people who are full human beings deserving of dignity and a real path toward stable housing. None of this moved forward without you.
The work ahead matters enormously for District 18. The Mayor’s Executive Budget and the Warner Park Community Recreation Center will require sustained community advocacy. And there is something bigger on the horizon: the City of Madison has scheduled a comprehensive North Area Plan for late 2026 through early 2028. This plan will shape land use, housing, transportation, and parks on our Northside for a generation. It is one of the most significant opportunities our community has had in years to define our own future.
