Madison, WI's downtown too white for aid

Madison's downtown was heavily looted a few weeks back. $250k in aid to downtown businesses was shot down by the city-council. The reason from one council-member:

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Ald. Rebecca Kemble, 18th District, said the equity program was not enough to get her on board with putting money toward Downtown, which she called "the whitest neighborhood in the city." She said the area already receives the most resources from the city, and the city should instead be focusing on investing in its Black community.

"This is quite literally institutional racism," Kemble said of the focus on Downtown businesses.

While there are business owners of color on State Street, none of them are Black, Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison, Inc., acknowledged. Ilstrup said the equity program paired with the recovery funds would allow the city to rebuild Downtown and "correct the errors of the past."

"We can create a city center where everyone feels welcome," Ilstrup said.

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Ironically, the three black city council members all voted in favor for the aid. Also, a Syrian business owner's response:

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Miar Maktabi, owner of the Dubai Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar on State Street and a Syrian immigrant, said his business sustained $39,000 in damage in one week. He pleaded with the city for help.

"You guys are burying us," Maktabi said.

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