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MPD, Mifflin residents discuss 4-keg limit
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by Megan Costello
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Students and residents around the West Mifflin Street area met to discuss this year’s Mifflin Street Block Party with Madison Police officers, members from the Fire Department and City Council president Mike Verveer. The largest concern for students is a limit allowing only four kegs per residence during the block party event.
Police said this rule was set to battle over-consumption of alcohol and also the illegal sale of alcohol without a license. Last year’s 40,000 partygoers hit the maximum capacity for the 400 and 500 blocks of Mifflin Street, according to Capt. John Davenport.
Officers present at the meeting agreed both overcrowding on the streets and porches, as well as parties with more than four kegs affects public safety and is an issue that needs to be dealt with.
“You cannot sell large amounts of alcohol and turn it into a profit-making venture,” Capt. Luis Yudice said. “The unregulated sale of beer is going to lead to problems at your party and this impacts public safety.”
Still, police say the four keg limit is an effort to help control the estimated 35,000 people that will take to the streets during the event. Despite the keg limit, all officers at the meeting stressed the police force at the block party will be just as laid back as last year because they received numerous compliments from the city and students regarding their handling of the situation.
Yudice said safety during the event will rest on the residents because overcrowding has led to fights, stabbings and sexual assaults in the past.
“Keep a well-balanced view,” Yudice said. “We have no intent to go [into your residence] unless you draw us in.”
Yudice stressed there will be no undercover officers during the event that will enter residences and ticket residents for having more than four kegs.
Students voiced their opinions regarding the poor timing of the keg limit because many Mifflin residents had ordered their kegs weeks in advance. Davenport agreed the flyer announcing the limit was distributed late and that next year the city will consider possible changes to the limit as well as its timing.
“We’re trying to do the right thing,” Yudice said. “We all need to work together for a safe event, and there is room for re-evaluations; there may be room for change.”
In light of the 1996 riots on Mifflin Street and the past two years of Halloween riots, Davenport said partygoers should remember how the Madison Police Department has been viewed after such crises.
“Remember, we are criticized for acting too slow and criticized for acting too fast,” Davenport said. “We’re trying to send the message that this is not a free for all, just party responsibly and have a good time.”
The officers present agreed safety is their No. 1 issue because of the overcrowding and over-consumption, but like the students, officers also expect to have a good time.
“Believe us, we like to have our pictures taken with you as much as you like to have your pictures taken with us,” Davenport said.
