Mayor Dave savors a court victory with a self satisfied little press release.
Cieslewicz statement praising ruling to uphold phosphorus ban: The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld Madison's and Dane County's ordinances restricting fertilizers containing phosphorus. The Court affirmed Judge Barbara Crabb's decision that the ordinances properly regulated fertilizers and did not improperly regulate pesticides. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz issued the following statement in support of the ruling.Regulation = Prohibition in Progressive Thinking. Mayor Dave obviously believes this prohibition is praiseworthy, especially if it creates an opportunity for increased government activity such as more street sweeping and municipally favored rain garden programs. I don’t love eutrophic lakes but I’m really wary anytime government response is a ban followed by proposals for more spending and regulations. I’m sure there are other means to the same goal but nothing as direct as direct government control.
"Today's ruling is a significant step forward in improving the water quality of Madison lakes. The phosphorus ban is an important part of a long-term battle that we must continue to fight if we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy Madison lakes. We need to build on this important ruling with a comprehensive set of strategies, which includes efforts such as increased street sweeping and the new City program to build 1,000 rain gardens," Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said.
