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| What Madison's Talking About |
|  | Several attempts to tear down the Essen Haus and redevelop the property have fallen through, but developers are trying again. (Photo courtesy of Essen Haus) |
| 🍻 Will Essen Haus Finally Get the Boot? After several false starts, developers are again proposing to redevelop the property on East Wilson Street currently occupied by the Essen Haus and Come Back In. This time, Madison officials and the Lotus Company are presenting plans to tear down the two watering holes and build a 200-unit affordable housing development. [WKOW] | | 🌳 Madison Acquiring 200 Acres For Future Parkland: The city is planning to buy 200 acres of land from a quarry and gravel pit near Burke and Sun Prairie for future parkland. The land acquired for $6 million from Madison Crushing and Excavating Inc. has long been on the wishlist of city planners, who say it’s ideal for open space, and includes several “quality ponds.” [Cap Times] | | 😠 Let’s Calm Down Out There: Madison police say there’s already been more reported road rage incidents this year than by this point in 2025. [News 3] | | 🗳️ Which Madison Neighborhood Votes the Most? The answer may not surprise you. [Isthmus] | | 🏳️🌈 Madison Pride Fest is This Weekend! OutReach’s big annual LGBTQ+ event is this weekend at Warner Park. The City Cast Madison team will be there in our brand-new tent, so stop by and say hi! We’ll be giving away stickers and candy (while supplies last). [OutReach] | | 🙏 Badger Road Closed For Ruiz Funeral: For the protection of mourners going to Corey Ruiz’s funeral at Fountain of Life Church, the city is closing West Badger Road between South Park Street and North Rusk Avenue from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. Rev. Al Sharpton will give the eulogy for Ruiz, who was killed by Madison police on July 22. | - Dig deeper: On the City Cast Madison podcast today, local entrepreneur and former Madison alder Scott Resnick is our special guest. We talk about the latest in the Ruiz case, the hangover from Tuesday’s election, and the imminent opening of the new men’s shelter. Plus, if you’re a City Cast Madison Neighbor, you can hear our members-only segment on the one topic that’s still taboo to talk about in Madison: money! [City of Madison, 🎧 City Cast Madison]
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| |  | Frankie is a rescue dog. The question is, “Who rescued who?” (Photo by Walt J.) |
| Meet Franklin! “Franklin Norbert, a.k.a. Frankie, is a rescue dog from Houston, Texas, when they had their last hurricane about three years ago. They say he’s a rescue. However, he has rescued us more times than that over since his time with us. | | “He protects his other daddy whenever he goes outside to the barn and helps with the care of the goats, sheep, and miniature horse and as of late he’s been enjoying car rides.” Share your pet pics with us! 🐶 | |
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📰 Extra! Extra! Are there any budding Indiana Joneses out there? One Madison Redditor was digging up their yard and found these odd shaped pieces of hard-carving stone underneath. The stones look to be part of an old building facade and seem to spell out something, so they’ve invited some puzzlers over to try and put them together! 🧩 |
| – Rob Thomas | ✏️ Thanks to Hayley Sperling and Natalia Aldana for editing this week’s newsletter! |
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