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City Council to unofficially set date for Mifflin party
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by Nick Penzenstadler
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Madison City Council is expected to pass a temporary ordinance against glass containers tonight in preparation for one of the biggest block parties in the United States on the first Saturday of May.
What began as a street dance in 1969 and ended in a wild confrontation between anti-war minded students and police has evolved into a controlled gathering of thousands on the 500 block of Mifflin Street.
In 2006 city officials clashed with students who insisted the block party remain on its traditional early May date even though it landed on a “study day” before finals began.
According to City Council President Mike Verveer, District 4, the date to be set for this year will again avoid the conflict since finals begin May 11 instead of May 4.
Verveer said although the city council does not specifically “set” the date for Mifflin, they acknowledge the plans by voting on a glass free ordinance for safety reasons.
“We’ll be sponsoring a glass free zone in the West Mifflin Street area, and that by default sets the date with the cops in the neighborhood,” Verveer said. “Before this, there was glass everywhere that became kind of hazardous with people in flip flops.”
In the past few years, Madison Police Department officials have beefed up police presence including mounted patrols and have slowly decreased tickets issued for noise complaints.
Verveer said although police were more lenient last year on noise, he thinks they could still cut students more slack during the daytime hours.
“Cops did become more laid back with music but it still wasn’t good enough last year,” Verveer said. “In a perfect world they wouldn’t write any noise violations during the day; at night I can understand it.”
Last year According to the MPD, 366 arrests were made Saturday, most of which were alcohol-related, up from 263 arrests at the 2006 celebration. The MPD also estimates approximately 10,000 people attended this year’s party, which is down from last year’s estimated 15,000 in attendance.
Verveer said he will once again be holding a neighborhood meeting the last week of April with students and police to help understand each others expectations for the party.
