La Crosse Mayor Washington-Spivey on $3M budget shortfall and park closures

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey joined us in studio discussing efforts to close a $3 million gap in the city’s 2026 budget, the recent closure of two parks due to drug activity and violence, and his upcoming “15 Minutes with the Mayor” sessions. We began with the public engagement sessions, as Washington-Spivey noted that 16 resident interviews are scheduled for Oct. 8, covering a range of community concerns. A second session is tentatively planned for November, though the mayor said they’ll assess how the first round goes before moving forward. The conversation then turned to the closures of Burns and Cameron parks. We talked at length about homelessness in the city, what led to the shutdowns and what needs to happen before the parks can safely reopen. Ended things discussing the city’s projected $3 million budget shortfall, and how officials are approaching potential cuts as they work to finalize next year’s spending plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.