On Farmland surfacing in Janesville Smart Growth talks
Posted on December 4 at 5:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think McDonald understands that the Smart Growth plan does not dictate development. Because there is a smart growth zone out there in farmland does not mean the city intends to annex and develop it. In fact, what generally happens is that a farm family sells its property and then the developer asks to come into the city.
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Farmland owners are the ones who should be concerned now with development. Conservation easements can be implemented privately by anyone or in cooperation with a land trust or conservation district. The problem is that the easement restricts what the farmer's own family can do with the land after the farmer's death. If they want to cash out of the business, selling to another farmer at that time might not even be feasible. So what happens is largely out of the hands of the city.
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To the extent that there is interest in farmland conservation, that should be taken up by those interested and using existing tools. The Smart Growth plan may acknowledge such activity but there's really no realistic way that it will be bound by it. The existing proposed plan does much to "suggest" more development on the west side and more infill development where possible to increase density (and lower the cost of city services). But it can't make that happen any more than it can prevent a farmer from selling.
On Committee prefers public awareness to plastic bag ban
Posted on December 4 at 3:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ITBuckyWI, the city only collects types of plastic that recycling vendors will take. 1 and 2 are almost universally recycled, but other types are in some cases not recycled at all, mostly depending on location. It does no good to have the recycling materials we can sell mixed in with materials we cannot sell.
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Just because a plastic has a number on it does not make it "recyclable". It has a number on it so you know whether you can put it in your recycling stream or not.
On Survey finds high rate of sex assault in UW System
Posted on December 4 at 3:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't know what is causing people to dismiss this study. If you think it's unrealistic (280 out of 13,000 is 2%), try the US Department of Justice study.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crim...
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The figures there are actually somewhat higher although they used a broader time scale and did not specify where the assaults occurred. Almost 5% of women in that study reported having been forcibly assaulted since entering college. Over 11% experienced a sexual assault while incapacitated. If anything, the UW results are somewhat low.
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In any event there is an emerging finding that a majority of these assaults take place in the first six weeks of freshman year, while students are still adjusting to campus life, perhaps having access to alcohol (illicit as it may be), or to other drugs, for the first time. This is also a period when young women may be uncertain whom to trust as almost everyone they meet is a stranger. It points to the need for more upfront information about protecting oneself and also to greater awareness about the need for reporting assaults. Many women blame themselves. Student orientation should probably include more (or blunter) information about this problem.
On Rock County Board applicants rejected
Posted on December 4 at 11:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
A three-person committee couldn't come to a majority decision on two applicants? That's ... odd. I suppose at least one of them didn't like either candidate.
On Deported man faces indictment
Posted on December 4 at 11:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I suppose you can say that prison is three hots and a cot, but somehow I doubt it's "what he wants". He wasn't homeless.
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Anyway, regardless of one's views on immigration, pretty much everyone agrees this type of individual has no right to be here.
On Committee prefers public awareness to plastic bag ban
Posted on December 4 at 11:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"The answer to the paper-or-plastic dilemma is: Neither. They're roughly equal in pros and cons. While convenient addictions, they both gobble up natural resources and cause significant pollution."
http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id...
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No, this isn't one of the top issues out there, but it's something that we can do now at little or no cost. If we waited until all the major problems were solved before we tried anything small, we'd never get anything done.
On Inmate swallows crack cocaine after search
Posted on December 3 at 4:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Quite the record -- two pages of results on CCAP. It's unclear from that where he grew up, but his entire adult criminal career has been in Janesville. You name it -- possession THC, forgery, theft, reckless endangerment, and that's just the first half-dozen charges. There was a slew of more stuff throughout 2006, then he was sent to State for two years, but appears to be ... out. Since he's violated supervision he should be remanded to state prison after this.
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Oh, the crack thing? Don't do that. You can die just smoking it, let alone ingesting it. Imagine a hole in your stomach lining.
On Chiropractor accused of improper touching sanctioned
Posted on December 3 at 10:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Chiropracty is pretty much quack medicine anyway.
On Shopko lays off 43 at headquarters
Posted on December 3 at 10:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
One would actually expect discounters to thrive in this environment. This is not promising.
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On Farmland surfacing in Janesville Smart Growth talks
Posted on December 4 at 11:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Exactly, janesvillemom, but the point is that often those selling land do so to developers, who can pay more than farmers. Also, once a parcel is annexed into the city, any township or county zoning (I forget if any is applicable here) is voided. At that time the city will use what leverage it has to encourage adherence with the plan.