Blair/John Nolen/Wilson/Willy and the Bike Paths
Madison's Most Miserable Misstep
1. Not Plowing During the Blizzard of '09
2. Edgewater TIF financing/approval
3. Overture finance situation
Mayor Dave wrote a blog post fretting that he might get "Bilandiced" over the city's poor handling of a major snowstorm last December, a reference to Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic, drummed out of office after a similar snafu. Cieslewicz offered a full apology, and only time will tell if voters will forgive and forget before next April's election. But for now it's still fresh enough in their minds to earn top honors in this fiercely competitive category, behind the city's support for Edgewater and the Overture's Center's fiscal woes.
Local Loudmouth
1. Sly Sylvester and Vicki McKenna (TIE)
2. Dave Blaska
Loudmouths, apparently, are in the ear of the beholder, as the winners of this category attest. WTDY's John "Sly" Slyvester and WIBA's Vicki McKenna tied for number one, with Isthmus blogger Dave Blaska and gadfly-turned-former-Ald. Brenda Konkel bringing up the rear. All are highly opinionated and fairly articulate, but whether you love 'em or hate 'em depends on whether you agree with what they have to say. Can't we all just get along?
Worst Intersection for Cars or Bikes
1. Blair/Wilson/Willy/John Nolen and the Bike Paths2. U.S. 51 at 151 (Stoughton Road and East Washington)
Madisonians have a love/hate relationship with the city's dangerous intersections. While our blood pressure spikes as we white-knuckle our way through them, the sense of accomplishment we get by executing a simple left turn onto East Wilson from John Nolen is such a rush! Changing lanes on Stoughton Road can often provide a thrill similar to bungee jumping.
