Madison Media Owes Chief Barnes an Apology
This week we were pleased to learn that the City of Madison and its investigators cleared Chief Shon Barnes of any wrongdoing as it relates to the allegations that he made sexually inappropriate comments to an officer departing the Madison Police Department. We are also pleased to hear that the city apologized to Chief Barnes, as well.
To be clear, the city investigated Chief Barnes for attempting to retain a good officer on his force. He made no sexual innuendos, no inappropriate touching, and no harassment of any kind. And yet, the media quickly ran with sensationalized headlines insinuating that Chief Barnes did just that.
While we are pleased that the city has apologized to Chief Barnes for their mishandling of this complaint and the media has reported that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing, we do not believe this is sufficient to repair the harm that has been done to Chief Barnes and his family.
In an age in which trust in police is at an all-time low, and the sexuality of Black men is seen as “other” and scary in our culture, these allegations did real damage to the Chief.
Chief Barnes’ mission here in Madison, like the mission of every other Chief before him, is to be a leader in providing a safe and vibrant community and empower his officers to do the same. To do this, Chief Barnes must develop strong relationships with all of the citizens of Dane County.
The bedrock of quality policing in any community is public trust. A police department achieves public trust through integrity, transparency, and high ethical behavior. Quality policing serves a very important role in all communities across our great nation, and especially in Madison.
The media’s sensationalized reporting of the allegations against Chief Barnes were unwarranted and damaging. We urge you to apologize to him and the citizens of Madison, as well.
Sincerely,
Rev. David Hart, Esq, Kirbie Mack, Ray Allen, Theresa Sanders, Tracey Caradine, Rev. Joseph Baring, Rev. Dr. Alex Gee, Rev. Marcus Allen, Rev. William Badger, Kaleem Caire, Atty. Josh Hargrove, Atty. Angela Arrington, Connie Miles, Carola Gaines, Deidre Morgan, Yvette Craig, Dr. Corinda Rainey-Moore, Teresita Torrence and Jacqueline Jolly.
.BPSADC, Inc.
Tips to Save Energy This Spring
From Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE)
Warmer temperatures are on the horizon. MGE has some simple ways to help you save energy as spring returns!
Prevent Excess Moisture
Spring is a great time to get your dehumidifier ready for the increased humidity the season brings. While it's important to control high humidity in basements to prevent mold growth and improve indoor air quality, dehumidifiers can cost as much as $50 per month to operate. Look for ways to control moisture and reduce run time by:
- Checking gutter and downspout drainage. Gutters should drain 4 to 6 feet away from the house.
- Sloping soil away from your home's foundation.
- Looking for the ENERGY STAR® label when buying a new dehumidifier.
- Setting your humidifier to a 50 percent relative humidity setting and checking for leaking hose connections. And don't forget to empty it regularly or connect the hose to a drain.
Give Appliances and Vents a Spring Cleaning
Keeping appliances clean and maintained can help them operate more efficiently. Here are a few quick spring-cleaning tips to keep your central air system in good shape.
- Hose off the outdoor central air condensing unit to remove dirt and leaves. Choose a qualified contractor to service your central air every two years.
- Vacuum dust and dirt from the coils and fan of your dehumidifier, and clean the filter once a month.
- Take a few moments to wipe any dust that may have gathered on your vents, and if your home has both high (a grate higher up on the wall) and low (a grate closer to the floor) air returns — give them a quick switch. When the seasons change and we go from heating to cooling, it's helpful to close the lower return and ensure the higher one is open. This encourages the warmer air to come into the return ductwork and get sent back to get cooled once again.
- Check your furnace filter. If the filter is dirty, replace it.
Using energy efficiently and conserving it are some of the ways we all can reduce our environmental footprint and save money. Visit mge2050.com for more ways to save.