Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Requesting the City-County Liaison Committee to gather public input and make recommendations to the City of Madison and Dane County on possible locations to rename in honor of President Barack Obama.
Calling for the renaming of the City-County Building as the President Barack Obama City-County Building for the City of Madison and Dane County.
Body
WHEREAS, President Obama ended his second term as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2017; and,
WHEREAS, he served the state and nation with dignity and grace for eight years; and,
WHEREAS, he advocated for the principles held dear by our community: equality, social justice, and stewardship for our neighbors, communities, and environment; and,
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama is the only sitting President of the United States to visit the City-County Building. The President held an event outside the building on November 5, 2012, drawing tens of thousands of people to downtown Madison. The City-County Building was chosen by the President’s staff because of the iconic view it provided and because of the confidence in a Madison welcome. Indeed, it was the largest attendance of any of the President’s events that year; and,
WHEREAS, through its many years as the central home of government for the County of Dane and City of Madison, the City-County Building has never had a formal name, other than the generic designation, which describes its function; and,
WHEREAS, President Obama ended his second term as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2017. He served the state and nation with dignity and grace for eight years. He advocated for the principles held dear by our community: equality, social justice, and stewardship for our neighbors, communities, and environment; and,
WHEREAS, as Americans we benefited from the grace and wisdom of the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and watched their daughters, Malia and Sasha, grow from children to the young women they are today; and,
WHEREAS, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the 35th President of the United States, presented the Profile in Courage award to former President Obama in March 2017 and stated, “President Kennedy called on a new generation of Americans to give their talents to the service of the country. With exceptional dignity and courage, President Obama has carried that torch into our time, providing young people of all backgrounds with an example they can emulate in their own lives.”; and,
WHEREAS, the values of President Obama mirror those of Madison and Dane County leaders and residents; and, . As President Obama’s term in office has recently ended, it seems appropriate to rename the building that serves as the central home of City and County government after former President Obama,
WHEREAS, as President Obama’s term in office has recently ended, it seems appropriate rename a location in honor of him;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the City-County Liaison Committee gather public input and make recommendations to the City of Madison and Dane County on possible locations to rename in honor of President Barack Obama.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City-County Building be renamed the “President Barack Obama City-County Building” as it continues to serve local government offices and functions for the City of Madison and Dane County; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a plaque memorializing President Barack Obama’s service and this designation be placed outside the City-County Building, to further honor his legacy as America’s 44th President.