June 20, 2025, | Vol. 1, Issue 16(Approx. 1589 words â a 9-minute read)
đŽ Whatâs Ahead?
Policy in the Shadows: Public Engagement Needs More Than a Microphone
đď¸ Janesville City Council
Policy in the Shadows
Although the Janesville City Council is officially on break until July 7, pivotal policy discussions continue quietly, with implications that stretch far beyond summer recess. Among the most pressing: Janesvilleâs deepening need for affordable housing and the systems guiding its development.
Recent headlines surrounding the proposed Wall Street multifamily project and mounting calls for a community-wide Housing Summit suggest heightened public interest. Yet efforts to invite that public into meaningful dialogue continue to fall short.
A case in point: this weekâs agenda from the Janesville Community Development Authority included a public hearing tied to the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Annual Action Planâtogether directing an estimated $3.8 million in federal funds toward housing priorities. But for all the promise of transparency, the underlying framework for the plan was omittedâunavailable on the agenda and missing from the cityâs website. Beyond a perfunctory cover memo introducing the item, there was no guidance to the reader on what to prepare as remarks, let alone a discussion of the depth and scope of the proposed plan. There are some old plans listed on the website, but nothing of contemporary guidance for the person interested in participating in the planning process.
Hypothetically SpeakingâŚ
Public hearings are hollow without access to public information. If residents are expected to participate meaningfully in the democratic process, they must be equipped with timely, complete documentation. Otherwise, their role is reduced to formalityâsymbolic rather than substantive.
Trust in local government is earned, and true civic engagement demands visibility, not just visibility on paper, but in practice.
Editorial Comment:
Editorial: Planning with Purpose, Not Performance
The Policy in the Shadows piece and the upcoming Welcome Editorial Return regarding the Gazette, highlight a common and compelling throughlineâour communityâs growing need for purposeful, actionable planning. From the debate over affordable housing to renewed discussions about the future of Milton Avenue, and even the evolving role of public access media, Janesville is no exception.
To be clear: this is not a call for planning for planningâs sake. It is a call for strategic frameworks that are not only visionary but grounded in implementation. The proliferation of reports destined to gather dust on government shelves does little to serve the public good. Plans must come with clear benchmarks, timelines, and responsibilities. The ARISE Plan, with its structured path toward downtown revitalization, remains an encouraging example of how vision can be matched with action.
The need for such purpose-driven planning has perhaps never been more urgent than nowâparticularly regarding the future of the former GM plant site and the adjacent JATCO staging area. While closed-door discussions at City Hall are reportedly underway, the public remains in the dark regarding costs of acquisition, intended use, and the guiding framework for redevelopment. If the City of Janesville now owns this strategic land parcel, the logical next step is clear: initiate a public process that centers the voices of those who ultimately foot the billâour residents and taxpayers.
Convening a Citizen Task Force would be a timely and constructive step. Such a body, working in tandem with city staff and regional stakeholders, could help shape a shared vision for redevelopment, identify core priorities, and establish public accountability from day one. This is not only good governanceâit is common sense. When community members are part of the process, they are far more likely to support the outcome.
The broader point is this: civic trust is built not only through transparency, but through shared ownership of the future. Planning without citizen input is not planningâitâs pretense. And communities that fail to provide opportunities for meaningful engagement risk losing both credibility and momentum.
Itâs time to take a page from successful communities across the countryâthose that treat public involvement not as a legal requirement, but as a democratic imperative. A comprehensive citizen participation plan would lay the foundation for a more inclusive, resilient, and responsive city.
The Civics Academy continues to believe that the residents of Janesville are readyâindeed eagerâto be part of the solution. The only question is whether leadership is ready to invite them in.
The clock is ticking. Letâs not waste another turn.
đď¸ A Welcome Editorial Return of the Janesville Gazette
Three Cheers and Go Green on Milton Avenue
In what many are calling a long-overdue move, the Janesville Gazette reentered the communityâs editorial conversation last weekâand did so with unmistakable clarity and relevance.
Since the transition to Adams Publishing Group and especially following the retirement of editorial voice Greg Peck, the paperâs perspective on local affairs had grown conspicuously quiet. Readers accustomed to thoughtful, often incisive commentary were left with headlines and silence.
That changed with the Gazetteâs recent editorial: âA Plea for a Greener Future Milton Avenue.â In it, the board challenges Janesville to reimagine one of its most prominent commercial corridorsânot as an asphalt relic of the 1980s, but as a space for sustainability, public design, and economic renewal.
This couldnât be timelier.
As redevelopment takes shape near the Woodmanâs Sports and Convention Center, concepts like walkability, greenspace, and mixed-use vibrancy are gaining traction. Among the most promising efforts: a speculative development just outside the TID District at 1247 Milton Avenue, spearheaded by local entrepreneur Daniela Samara. Her vision blends architecture with environmental stewardshipâoffering a glimpse into what is possible when private initiative meets community-minded planning.
Daniela Samara Development 1247 Milton Avenue, Janesville Wi
Hypothetically SpeakingâŚ
The Rock County Civics Academy has long advocated a strategic, coordinated approach to corridor redevelopment. Major investments of Center Avenue, Court Street, and now Milton Avenue point to opportunityâbut without cohesive vision, that opportunity remains fragmented. So, here’s to the Gazetteâs editorial team and to Daniela Samara: for stepping forward, for raising the standard, and for helping chart a more thoughtful, inclusive future for Janesville.
Leading Local Media Outlet Moves into New Access Arena
Meanwhile, local media continues to evolve. Big Radioâs launch of a subscription-based platform reinforces an uncomfortable truth: in-depth, community-specific journalism doesnât fund itself. While many mourn the rise of paywalls, they are often essential to sustainability.
Thatâs a balance we continue to navigate at Hypothetically Speaking. Thanks to our engaged sponsors and donors, our reporting remains publicly availableâyet still reliant on broad-based community backing.
đŤ School Finance Outlook
A Regional Challenge Intensifies
Earlier this year, we examined the intricate budget process within the School District of Beloit. As those efforts continue, itâs clear that districts across Rock County are facing a similarly difficult landscape as they finalize budgets for fiscal year 2025â26.
With an operating budget exceeding $100 million, Janesville School District will begin the new fiscal year on July 1 facing an estimated $750,000 shortfallâbased on current funding assumptions. Without any meaningful increase in state support, district leaders are proposing to defer critical maintenance projects to preserve student-facing services and essential operations.
But that tradeoffâbetween short-term solvency and long-term stewardshipâis hardly unique.
Unsustainable Practices, Rising Voices
Most recently in Janesville, a voter-approved referendum addressed only basic facility upgradesâimprovements delayed for years through cost-saving deferrals. What these referendums do not do is enable bold academic investment or innovation. From Evansville and Edgerton to Brodhead, Parkview, and Clinton, school boards are locked in a cycle of underfunding and over-extension. With state funding formulas out of step with actual costs, referendums have become routineâan often-fragile lifeline for keeping the doors open and the curriculum intact.
Until now, the primary push for funding education reform has come from parents and guardians. Thatâs starting to change. Recognizing the workforce implications of underfunded schools, business leaders are joining the call for systemic reform, arguing that educational capacity is directly tied to economic competitiveness.
A broader coalition is formingâone rooted in both civic conviction and business pragmatism.
Hypothetically SpeakingâŚ
What might be possible if our school districts were empowered to lead rather than lagâfreed from financial brinksmanship, and supported by a framework that rewards initiative and outcomes?
A future where public schools serve not only to educate, but to inspireâpreparing students to lead, to adapt, and to build a stronger Rock County in the years ahead.
đ¤ Newsmakers Preview
Spotlight on Community Voices
Weâre thrilled to share the momentum behind Newsmakers, a recently launched public affairs series featuring 15-minute one-on-one interviews with local individuals making a difference.
From civic leaders to arts advocates, and from nonprofit champions to world-traveling athletes, each episode captures stories of perseverance, innovation, and local pride.
So far, guests have included:
⢠The Executive Director of the Emergence Orchestra
⢠The Leader of the Pregnancy Helpline of Janesville
⢠A local farmer who ran seven marathons on seven continents in six days
⢠Education leaders, chamber of commerce directors, and many others shaping our civic landscape
đş How to Watch & Listen:
- Fridays at 9:30 AM â JATV Community Access Channel 994 (Spectrum)
- Fridays at 9:15 AM â WCLO Radio: Your Talk Show with Tim Bremel
- Anytime, On-Demand â YouTube: Search âJATV Mediaâ or âRock County Civics Academyâ
â Community Spotlight: Havana Coffee
Fueling Dialogue, One Cup at a Time
Looking for a space to connect and reflect? Visit Havana Coffee at 1250 Milton Avenueâa true Janesville gem where civic energy meets excellent espresso. With hearty food, warm service, and a strong commitment to local journalism, Havana Coffee proudly supports the Rock County Civics Academy and all who believe in informed engagement.
đŹ A Call to Leadership
Every advancement in our community begins with someone choosing to act. If you’ve ever asked yourself when the right time to get involved isâthe answer might just be now.
Ways to contribute:
⢠Volunteer with a civic group
⢠Apply to serve on a local board or commission
⢠Run for public office and lead the change.
âIf not me, who? If not now, when?â â Hillel the Elder
đ Hypothetically SpeakingâŚ
- What if transparency was standard in local government?
- What if civic engagement became Rock Countyâs defining strength?
That is the mission of Hypothetically Speaking. And with your voice in the mix, itâs closer to reality than ever.
đ Stay Engaged with the Rock County Civics Academy
đ [Visit Our Website]
đ [Follow on Facebook]
đş [Subscribe on YouTube]
đ° [Join Our Substack Newsletter]
Until next timeâstay curious, stay engaged, and stay connected.
Š2025 Rock County Civics Academy â All Rights Reserved.
No responses yet