I listened to the PCOB meeting tonight. Credit to WORT WKOW for also being in the meeting.

This board literally doesn’t understand what the ordinance that creates and governs their board and the IPM actually does. Like, at the most basic level.

It feels like the board simply does not understand that their roles and power are defined by, and derived from, the power of the city council and our elected officials. Some seem to believe they’re the victims in all of this, which seems to just underscore the disconnect from reality they’re marinating in.

It’s clear that some members of the board resent being subject to the authority of the common council, and thus, us as citizen and voters in the city. Some seem to think it’s only real independence if they are outside of the authority of any element of the city government…

A few of them seem to not even understand what the role of the city attorney is, as though he’s the Mayors personal attorney. Alder Glenn, the city council VP, essentially just crapped all over the city attorney and completely mischaracterized the relationship between the PCOB and the city. She also insisted that another unnamed lawyer, who (paraphrasing) knows the ordinance really well (trust me bro) disagrees with the city attorney, hence the need for independent legal council for the PCOB.

Credit to the city attorney for keeping his calm, because this feels like an unfunny episode of parks and rec. The questions from the board are all over the place. He had to spend 10 minutes explaining what it means for the board to be independent in the most basic sense. It wasn’t well received.

One of the board members seems to take issue with the idea that the city council has the right to terminate the monitors job at all.

It’s like they don’t understand the very basic concepts of government and civics and the entire concept of representative democracy, which seems important if you’re going to be part of said system.

We had more competent officers in my 4-H club than this.

The board itself exists to hire and oversee the IPM, they themselves are not outside of the accountability of the city council, they are agents of it! They are not the ones who define the role or requirements of the IPM are, they exist to hire the IPM role to execute the position defined in the ordinance. This shit is wild.

And what’s really damning here is that multiple board members seem to be too busy attending to their pets diets and children to keep their attention on the meeting itself.

Unserious clowns, the lot of them. They don’t care about protecting civil rights and mitigating police abuse of authority. They seem a whole lot more interested in hearing themselves speak, self-congratulating, excusing Glass, rejecting the notion of acting with the statute that defines their job, and virtue signaling (looking at you Helyn Luisi-Mills, for the record).

And if I know this city, the result of this will be more inaction and a demand to modify the ordinances so that the board gets their own legal council and more budget so they can argue against the the authority of the city council over the PCOB. To that end, Alex Saloutos, a public commentator, showed a draft resolution he wrote asking the common council to spend $41k so the board can hire itself an independent lawyer for the board. To what end? They are an arm of the city and the common council, why do they think they need their own lawyer to give them an opinion other the city attorneys, aka a lawyer that represents their interests already? They seem to think that they need an external lawyer to read the statute the city council passed to see if the city council has the authority to fire the IPM? Great use of tax payer resources.

As someone who generally feels ACAB is usually the correct answer when there’s conflict between the public and cops, this is making me think the best option is to just dissolve the PCOB and start over. After this meeting, I don’t trust these people to pick an ice cream flavor, let alone the next IPM. Disgraceful.

We need to start yelling at our common council members to take this seriously and act. We are not some quaint little
College town. We’re a real city with real challenges. We needed a functioning PCOB and IPM this summer when Ruiz was executed, and due to navel gazing and grift we still don’t have one. Well done, everyone.

Happening right now
This is not common

Update: they did a pit maneuver and it’s handled now it sounds like

Umm- don't use Schmidts towing! Saw this in another community.

It’s nearly bare now. Getting ready for winter.

Huge update from the center for politics. We have a a real shot a blue trifecta. Will only be possible if Dane county shows up at the polls. Early voting starts on Tuesday!

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I recently had a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis with contrast for a medical issue, and I was pretty shocked when I received the bill.

Here's the breakdown:

- CT scan: $6,821

- Contrast material: $490

- Total billed: $7,311

- Insurance allowed amount: $4,752.15

- My responsibility after insurance: $1,750.43

For context, I have insurance through GHC-SCW.

I understand that the original billed amount isn't necessarily what insurance pays, but even the negotiated rate seems incredibly high compared to prices I've seen for similar scans elsewhere.

I reached out to billing to question the charges. They sent everything to their coding department, which confirmed that the procedure was billed correctly. I also requested a more detailed itemized bill but was told that the billing statement and explanation of benefits were all they could provide.

I asked about financial assistance as well, since I'm currently out of work awaiting surgery. Unfortunately, I was told that because I have insurance, they couldn't offer any assistance beyond setting up a payment plan.

I realize medical billing is complicated, and I'm not necessarily suggesting anything was coded incorrectly. I'm more frustrated by how expensive a relatively routine diagnostic procedure can be, even with insurance.

I'm curious whether anyone else in the Madison area has had a similar CT scan, particularly with GHC, and what they were charged. I'd also be interested in hearing if anyone has successfully gotten a bill like this reduced after insurance processed it.

I'd appreciate hearing other people's experiences.

I drive up Packers/Northport nearly every day, and I always looked forward to seeing the bush monster. I was nervous for it this year, because its growth got off to a slow start. By midsummer, it was back in full effect. I believe this year was the year that someone added red reflective eyes to it, too. An excellent touch.

Needless to say, I was absolutely devastated to find it leveled when I drove by earlier today. May the soul of the heartless landscaper that mowed it down be haunted by the bush for eternity.

I've been wanting to get something nice lately but am not sure where to go. I'm trans so I need somewhere that will be okay with that. I haven't gotten professionally fitted before since I'm fairly early in my transition in the grand scheme of things, but I can feel myself starting to outgrow the starter bras I bought from Walmart when I started transitioning. Im fine with spending more to get something nice but I don't want to go too expensive since there's a decent chance I outgrow what I get a year out (dear god if you can hear me please outgrow anything I buy soon a year after owning it 🙏🙏🙏).

Lmk if you have any suggestions!!

Contact your alders, especially if you live in D12 or D18. Better yet contact the entire council:

https://www.cityofmadison.com/council/contact

The Public Civilian Oversight Board should do its job and end interim police monitor Aeiramique Glass’s employment. She has degraded the position with her highly unprofessional actions and behavior, which, in turn, has undermined her office's ability to provide broader community monitoring of our police department.

If the PCOB handled this rather than the city council, it could preserve its authority in the future. If they leave it to the council, the PCOB's future is in serious doubt.

Can hear a lot of sirens on the east side right now for the last 20 minutes. Any one that follows the scanners have any updates?

That is all.

I saw three of these massive contraptions on my way to work today on Highway 12 West. My theory is that they are diesel generators for a data center.

In the mood for a pumpkin pie this weekend. Anybody have any recommendations for where to get a good one?? Thanks for any ideas!! 🎃🥧