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Showcasing a sponsor for the first time since 1995, the 40th anniversary of the Mifflin Street Block Party Saturday proved to be an overwhelming success according to partygoers, sponsors and the Madison Police Department.
For the first time in five years, the number of arrests during the event declined, hitting its lowest mark since 2003.
As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, approximately 140 individuals had been arrested and cited for minor offenses, mostly alcohol-related, and only two partygoers were taken to the
Last year about 440 people were arrested at the block party and of those arrested, 63 were sent to the
“We were very pleased with the [
DeSpain also said, with the exception of a few minor batteries and one UW student falling down a flight of stairs, rowdy behavior was minimal.
Although no estimated number of attendees was released by the police, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he guesses between 15,000 and 20,000 were present at the block party due to the weather and music.
Last year an estimated 10,000 people were at the event.
Verveer said he thinks DCNY PRO’s sponsorship contributed to the police’s tolerance of behavior at the event. Instead of arresting people who held plastic cups or cans on sidewalks or open grass areas, Verveer said police warned Mifflin attendees to move onto private territory instead of immediately issuing a citation.
“I’m thrilled with the party and how everything went [Saturday] from really beginning to end,” Verveer said. “Having a music stage and vendors and porta-potties in the streets for the first time since 1995 did make a big difference and really contributed to a chill party.”
DCNY PRO Co-owner Ny Bass said he has attended the Mifflin Street Block Party for 10 years, and this was the best Mifflin he has been to. Bass added he has received only good feedback from people about the food vendors and music.
Jenny Underwood, station manager for WSUM 91.7, said DJs were a great asset to the party because so many people were in front of the soundstage dancing.
Joel Plant, assistant to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said the city was actively pursuing a sponsor for the past four to five years and having DCNY PRO and WSUM involved with the block party really enhanced the event.
He said though the crowd was larger, they were more jovial and had a more positive attitude than previous years.
Dan Randolph, a UW sophomore, said he has been attending the Mifflin Street Block Party since high school and has never seen the cops as “cool” as they were this year.
“This is 100 percent party to the max,”
However, despite the overwhelming support of the newly sponsored event, some Mifflin attendees preferred the event of years earlier.
“I liked [Mifflin] before when there was more freedom. It wasn’t as regulated,” UW senior Brett Statema said. “I’m saying when I first started here, my first year, everything was … a lot more fun. Now there’s so many vendors, sponsors, it’s not the same.”
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Dan Randolph is a man among boys. To the max.
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Of my five mifflins, this was by far the most relaxed, enjoyable weekend. This was the first year no one saw the police as an opposition. I saw one guy bring a bottle of liquor on the street and, where last year a cop would have cuffed him on the spot, this year the cop simply asked him to step back up on his lawn. He said “oh, sorry” and everyone was happy. Peace, love, mifflin.
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I have to question Statema’s statement. In what way was it much more regulated? The only real difference I saw was that there was a central stage, and a few more stands, most of which sold food and some sold merchandise. There were also more port-a-potties. You still don’t have to pay to get in, and all the rules have remained the same. So I’m not quite sure that Mifflin was any more regulated, I just think he didn’t have as much fun this year.
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Brett Statema… Chill. Less arrests means more fun for everyone.
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Dan Randolph = tool “to the max”
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“I liked [Mifflin] before when there was more freedom. It wasn�t as regulated,” UW senior Brett Statema said. “I�m saying when I first started here, my first year, everything was � a lot more fun. Now there�s so many vendors, sponsors, it�s not the same.”
Why do seniors always say this? Seniors in 1990 said this. Seniors in 2000 said this. And now seniors in 2009 are saying it. Of course it’s different. Things change. Look at the world around you.
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I wish I had been so lucky…I was visiting from the University of Michigan, walking down the street with an unopened bottle of wine still in the bag, headed to a buddy’s and was arrested on the spot. Absolutely ridiculous… a $300 fine. The cops aren’t even that ridiculous at Michigan State….and they have actual riots at MSU.
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I had a good time, but it wasn’t the same. My biggest complaint was the music. The DJ’s sucked. One part of Mifflin that I always enjoyed was hearing the college bands, but this year the cops threatened bands that wanted to play with noise violations. Grant it some of the bands are pretty bad, but that’s what made the experience. Next year they need to book bands on several stages on each end of the road. We were at least expecting some band for the “special guest” that was to play, but we never even knew who they were! … some special guest
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Why should we assume that the arrests were down because of sponsorship, and not just because the police did a better job. I don’t see the connection.
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To 12:05
Grant it or Granted. You are a joke.
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Ooo la la, actual riots at MSU. UW never had riots, so I can see where you’re coming from.
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Mifflin has jumped the shark. So has Halloween.
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Dan Randolph is a fucking legend
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“I wish I had been so lucky…I was visiting from the University of Michigan, walking down the street with an unopened bottle of wine still in the bag, headed to a buddy’s and was arrested on the spot. Absolutely ridiculous… a $300 fine. The cops aren’t even that ridiculous at Michigan State….and they have actual riots at MSU.”
Yeah they have a no glass policy on the street, its a sucky rule but its there for the same reason they serve plastic beer bottles at sporting games if they give bottles at all…glass is dangerous I guess.
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The sponsor had NOTHING to do with less arrests. Less aressts had to do with the fact police nicely told people to get off the streets when drinking an open beverage. They could have arrested just as many people as last year if they wanted to. I didn’t see the difference in a sponsor.. dont even know what the contributed
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Ill just say it, this is Statema. I dont remember this interview, and i was probly just rambling because i was one of those to recieve an open intoxicant ticket. So i suppose it was as good a time as any other year, besides the ticket part. Fairwell UW!! its been fun.