You may remember Kathleen Falk's "Revolving Bail Fund." It's something she snuck into the budget to bail suspected lawbreakers out of jail if they had no wherewithal to post their own bail. Where does the money come from? Our very own property taxes! Yes, they steal our stuff, we pay to catch them and then we pay to get them back out. What a system!
First-term County Supervisor Melanie Hampton is proving to be a diamond in the making. She killed the revolving bail fund! The supe from Madison's far southwest side told me:
I proposed budget amendments to eliminate this fund, but they failed PP&J [Public Protection and Judiciary Committee, chaired by Falk disciple Paul Rusk]. I then took it to Personnel and Finance and was able to eliminate the additional 5K in 2009, but not the current amt in the fund.
Then after a bit of research and conversations with DA [Brian] Blanchard, a letter was sent to the Office of the Attorney General for an official opinion on the matter. Upon learning of the request for an opinion, Sheriff Mahoney suspended use of the revolving bail fund.
Credit where due
I have been critical of The Capital Times more than usual, lately. So let me offer my appreciation for their good words for Carroll Metzner, a man who cared about Madison deeply.
