Because of budget cuts and changing priorities, Mark Woulf will no longer be just the city's alcohol policy coordinator. He'll also be its food policy coordinator.
While alcohol policy tends to be restrictive, food policy is more about expanding opportunities, Woulf says. "You can only go so far with alcohol policy."
Woulf was hired by the city in January 2011 under Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. His job continued after Cieslewicz lost his seat to Paul Soglin. The position was partially supported by the UW-Madison, which has since pulled funding.
Sally Miley, an aide to Mayor Soglin, says food issues are becoming increasingly prominent on the city's agenda.
"At one time, four of us [aides] were doing something related to food," she says. "We just started laughing because everyone was doing little pieces of it. The mayor's hope is to pull it all together to have a comprehensive approach."
Among other things, the city is contemplating starting a public market and using zoning to restrict the fast-food industry. Soglin recently established the Madison Food Policy Council, which Woulf will work with.