NEWS
Mayor: city set for Halloween night
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by Megan Costello
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
The city of Madison is ready for the Halloween ball to roll, thanks to efforts by the police department, city officials, the University of Wisconsin, Associated Students of Madison and downtown businesses.
In a press conference Monday, Halloween planning figureheads highlighted their objectives for the upcoming weekend.
“We have come up with a very good plan, a very solid plan,” Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said.
The plans set last year worked until the last minute, when rioters started a disturbance early Sunday morning on State Street, according to Cieslewicz. But this year’s extensive planning has brought about changes including free food and costume contests on Library Mall, extended bar time, police officers on horses, increased city ordinances and police control of the University Inn.
“We hope the entire event will go smoothly. We want people to have fun, but we want them to be safe throughout the event. That is the overriding theme: treat the city with respect,” Cieslewicz said. “We want people to enjoy the weekend responsibly so that this Madison tradition can continue.”
Newly appointed police Chief Noble Wray discussed the increased police staffing from the Middleton Police Department, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Fire Department and the 911 communications center.
“All of our reputation is on the line,” Wray said. “University students will set the tone for students coming [into town].”
Wray highlighted the four objectives of the weekend: to maintain a safe and orderly event, to limit dangerous opportunities, to prevent property and street damage and also to hold people accountable for their actions. But the fate of the Halloween party will rest upon the partygoers themselves.
“This is up to those [people] attending the event to make sure it’s a safe event,” Wray said. “We are prepared to deal with [disturbances] this year.”
Wray thanked the university for its support and ASM for its involvement, but also the downtown community. Alcohol selling and serving establishments, restaurants and hotels have been helpful in getting the word out about the glass-free zones and increased fines.
According to Wray, police issued over 400 tickets during the 2003 Halloween weekend, while the city spent approximately $70,000 on the event.
LaMarr Billups, special assistant to Chancellor John Willey, described UW’s involvement in the Halloween weekend during the conference. UW is giving $15,000 to ASM for free food distributing beginning at 11 p.m. and lasting until 3 a.m. Another $2,000 will go toward publicizing the more family-centered events Saturday afternoon, including hay-rides and costume contests.
Billups said the university will review all criminal behavior during the festivities. UW students involved in disturbances will be subject to severe academic consequences.
“Students found guilty of criminal behavior on or off campus … will face sanctions up to suspension or expulsion,” Billups said sternly. “We will review all criminal behavior.”
Students from other UW schools system-wide and out-of-state students will similarly have their criminal reports sent to their schools for review. Information regarding the Madison Halloween disturbances has been sent to all Big Ten schools and other schools in the UW system, Billups added.
People involved in criminal behavior will be sent via a police car to the City County Building for processing and, if need be, Sheriff Gary Hamblin will secure cells in the Dane County Jail, according to Wray.
Kristina Mueller, ASM Halloween chair, said she is hopeful that UW students will get the word out to visiting students that State Street plays a major role in the Madison community.
“We need to take responsibility of our friends. State Street is part of our campus,” Mueller said.
Anonymous (October 26, 2004 @ 8:39am):
So I guess spot lights, longer hours to drink, and free food lead one to conclude that "We've come up with a very good plan..".
First off, I learned long ago in my old high school health class about "Alcohol Myth No. 1" - Food does not decrease the alcohol content in your body. Nice perk for this year's event, but hardly a "riot-deterrant". It may however get the "hungry few" out of harms way when the bottles start flying. Second, with "over 400" tickets issued last year, I'm not sure adding a few dollars to the fines will suddenly cause inebriated rioters to do a cost/benefit analysis on their behavior. Many have already come to the realization that much of those behaviors (which would automatically result in jail time in most cities), are simply overlooked. The same will go for the threat of expulsion. If no one was thrown out of school the last two years, you can be sure to expect the same going forward. There is simply no consistancy for enforcing alcohol related crimes in Madison. So, chow down and cross your fingers. Oh, and enjoy the hayride!
Anonymous (October 26, 2004 @ 10:05am):
Over 400 tickets issued last year...sounds like about a 1 in 100 chance of being ticketed if you did something wrong. The odds are still in favor of the people who would destroy our city.
