And That’s A Good Thing!  The rebirth of the Allied community is well on its way of becoming a model community that the entire Madison community can be proud of. It all started with the “Move Forward, Not Out! Campaign” and the City of Madison working collectively to change the character and image of the neighborhood.

The idea was to eradicate crime and make the quality of life better for the residents. This effort was accomplished by a genuine trust in the leadership of city hall and the business community. Today more families are feeling safe in allowing their children to play outside and walking around the neighborhood without hearing sound of gunshots or gangs lining the side walks.

While allied is grossly under occupied, landlords are slower to make occupancy decisions until background checks are completed and character references are received. The excavation process of phase 1 of this multi-facet project is in full swing with giant bulldozers and earth movers in place.

Residents are feeling very excited and don’t view this project as a disruption but rather progress that is long over due. The city of Madison, under the leadership of Mayor Dave and Alder Brain Solomon, has kept their promise to ensure that residents being affected by this project will be given high priority and financial assistance to transition into their temporary digs.

The Allied family and Neighborhood Association leadership under Alice Howard, deserves to be commended on the role they played in the process of change. A tour of the initial phase of the project will show that the commitment to diversity on the work site is evident by the number of minorities represented on the site.

It was right for the allied neighborhood association to demand community representation on this project. Allied is the most diverse neighborhoods in the city. Chief Noble Wray once quipped, “Only until little girls can go outside and Double Dutch will Allied be viewed as a safe
neighborhood.”

We feel that Allied Drive will never be the same, and that’s a good thing!
 

Letters to the Editor

I recently learned of the City’s intent to rename some of the streets of the Allied neighborhood when the Revitalization is completed. We often hear “what’s in a name?” I think for this and any community a name is extremely important. It gives identity and place of belonging.

I hope as the City moves forward with this project, they will keep in mind, that the community today and those that will live there in the future, would benefit from street names that call to mind, recognizable leaders who understood and worked for community.

Thank-you.
Allied resident (name withheld by request)

Hats off to the Allied Festival Organizers and Participants

I want to publicly applaud the leaders and festival attendees for the organized and quick response to the storm warnings! All worked as a collective group to
keep the neighborhood and its guests safe. Although many got wet, everyone remained safe. I tip my Allied baseball hat (thanks Freddie!) to you all!

Jeanne Erickson