On Wednesday evening, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz will adjourn from his meeting with southside Ald. Tim Bruer and make his way down Park St. (On bike? I would.) for the annual South Central Federation of Labor "Bean Feed."
I grew up in Minnesota, where the Democrats call themselves the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). DFLers hold lots of bean feeds and they all generally follow the same script. People fork over $5 or something for a paper plate (often one with compartments, to prevent mixing of foods) with a hotdog or burger, maybe some potato salad, some chips, a hunk of watermelon and the star of the show, a mess of baked beans. Labor leaders and politicians will stand up at a stand-alone mic, often with ties loosened and sleeves rolled, and attempt to fire up the partisan crowd. At least one will have spilled some beans on his shirt or tie, often because the only available utensils are sporks, which are hardly the tool of choice for handling slippery, saucy beans.
My advice to the mayor: Flip your tie over your shoulder, so if you spill some beans or mustard or something on your shirt, you can flip your tie back down and cover the stain. And maybe bring your own spoon. Sporks suck.
MAYOR CIESLEWICZ WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Monday, May 21, 2007
8:30 a.m. Ald. Brian Solomon 10:00 a.m. Policy staff meeting 11:00 a.m. Plan Commission agenda review 12:00 noon Lunch with Michael Blumenfeld 3:00 p.m. Taping of "The Mayor's Report" (MMB 260) 4:30 p.m. Board of Estimates meeting (MMB 260)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
9:00 a.m. Dean Brasser quarterly meeting
10:30 a.m. Mike Vickerman, Charlie Higley, Katie Nekola, George Edgar, Jerry Mendl, and Joel Plant
12:00 noon Brown bag lunch with Overture Center employees (Overture Center, Wisconsin Studio)
2:00 p.m. Chris Eigenberger, Jason Saari, and Mario Mendoza
3:30 p.m. Scott Vaughn, Joe Oswald, Kent Craig, Mary Watrud, Ald. Tim Bruer, Larry Nelson, Mike Deiters, and Janet Piraino
5:00 p.m. East Madison Community Center groundbreaking ceremony (8 Straubel Court)
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
9:00 a.m. Salli Martyniak, Jim Bower, Mark Olinger, Don Marx, and Janet Piraino 10:30 a.m. Special Department/Division heads meeting and Mayor's capital budget message (MMB 260) 12:00 noon "Got Milk? Think About Your Drink Day" proclamation presentation (State Capitol Square) 2:00 p.m. Al Schumacher quarterly meeting 5:00 p.m. Ald. Tim Bruer 6:00 p.m. South Central Federation of Labor Bean Feed (Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street)
Thursday, May 24, 2007
8:00 a.m. Ald. Marsha Rummel 9:30 a.m. Dean Brasser, Jim Morgan, Larry Nelson, Tim Fruit, and Rebecca Cnare 10:30 a.m. Public Works Improvements (PWI) meeting (Mayor's Conf. Room) 12:00 noon Lunch with Joel Skornicka 1:30 p.m. Ald. Judy Compton, Larry Nelson, Joe DeMorett, Susan Courter, and Rebecca Cnare 3:00 p.m. Kathleen Woit and Enis Ragland 4:30 p.m. Common Council leadership meeting 5:00 p.m. Wisconsin Women in Government annual banquet (Alliant Energy Center)
Friday, May 25, 2007
8:30 a.m. Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway
5:30 p.m. Picture with Bobby Bryan and the Original Downtown Players (Monona Golf Course, Clubhouse)
Monday, May 28, 2007
1:00 p.m. Madison Veterans Council Memorial Day ceremonies (Alliant Energy Center)
2:30 p.m. Madison Brat Fest celebrity cashier (Alliant Energy Center, Willow Island)
