OPINION & EDITORIAL
Mayors in Madison
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:
- Madison's annual hip-hop conference falters (April 14, 2003)
- Dear Dave: Post this near your desk (April 17, 2003)
- Politicking destroyed opt-out's proponents (April 14, 2003)
- Don't Cut Historical Society Funds (April 29, 2003)
- Redirecting control (April 23, 2003)
Related Stories:
- Mayor speaks out on mayoral conference (April 19, 2002)
- Celebrate Madison's birthday (April 12, 2006)
- Letters to the editor 4/23/02 (April 23, 2002)
- Soglin's liberal record speaks for itself (March 10, 2003)
- Miracle on Mifflin Street? (May 5, 2003)
by Badger Herald Editorial Board
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
The mayors from every major American city and hundreds of small American cities will meet at the Monona Terrace Convention Center June 13 for the annual Conference of U.S. Mayors. Thanks in large part to the wooing of former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, this is the first time the important conference will be held in a medium-sized city. The one-time shot to the city’s economy should be substantial, but even more important is the widespread exposure for the city and the resultant tourism.
Unfortunately the city is poised to sacrifice some of the more lucrative portions of the conference, including the usual presidential or vice presidential visit. Such visits require high levels of security, an area where Madison may fall short.
Originally, the city set aside $92,000 for extra police costs. However, that figure was set before Sept. 11 and the MPD said it needs another $150,000 to provide proper security. Madison cops are already being told to cancel vacations and plan on extra-long shifts during the conference. The city is also relying heavily on the UW-Madison Police, Capitol Police, Dane County Sheriffs, FBI, Secret Service and, in a worst case scenario, the National Guard and Milwaukee Police. MPD Assistant Police Chief Noble Wray said the total security cost for all the law enforcement agencies could reach $1.5 million.
These security costs are inflated by the expectation that Madison’s extreme left will be unable to behave itself. Already the UW Greens and their left-leaning compatriots are promising “direct action” to disrupt the mayors. A group billing itself “Creative People’s Resistance” is promising protesters will make the mayors pay attention to “real people” (i.e. people who riot, loot and plunder in the name of the environment). Their website encourages people traveling to protest the G8 conference or “going to the North American Anarchist Convention” to “stop on in Madison and join the fun.” It is past time for these kids to grow up. We celebrate their right to protest and encourage them to make their feelings known in a legal manner. What is unacceptable is planning to sabotage a city that so willingly entertains their ideas. As for Madison, clearly every effort must be made to preserve the full slate of planned activities while avoiding Seattle-like protests — the city, state and local businesses should see to it security funding is not an issue. The national spotlight on a peaceful, productive mayor’s meeting in Madison will indeed be a boon to the city. A conference plagued by violent protesters and under-funded security would not.
