The Madison Police Department will be prepared Saturday, May 7th for a potential second block party on Mifflin Street and will have officers on call during the day to potentially handle the event.
“They are holding some staffing in the event that something does come up on Mifflin Street,” MPD Sgt. John Patterson said. “They did scale back numbers in total but the Special Events Team will be on call in the event that we have a Mifflin: Part Two occur.”
Officers scheduled to work Saturday may have a chance for a vacation day, according to Ald. Zach Brandon, District 7.
“As long as there isn’t a situation that develops … there is a good chance the police department will allow their officers to take their time as vacation time,” Brandon said.
Last week’s party will cost between $83,000 and $93,000 he said, adding the final costs will depend on whether there is a party this weekend or not. Brandon said the city will plan better next year so that a date conflict does not arise.
“The students have [it] solely within their power and ability to keep the costs down,” he added.
George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said students understand there should be only one block party.
“It would really cost the community even more money if anyone were to go forward with parties on the 7th as well. Hopefully that won’t happen. We don’t expect it to,” Twigg said, adding he believes the students will “honor their commitment.”
According to Patterson, the police department feels confident Mifflin Street residents will be studying for finals and not partying.
“The feeling is that if there are parties on Saturday, that they will be scaled back from last weekend,” Patterson said. Enforcement of any parties would be similar to that of April 30th, he added.
University of Wisconsin junior and Mifflin Street resident Jessie Kosinski said she does not think there will be a second block party this weekend.
“I haven’t heard that and I think that everyone is way too worn out,” Kosinski said. “No one is going to want to host another block party. We’re definitely not planning on it.”
Brandon has already been in touch with the Associated Students of Madison in ensuring next year’s block party runs smoothly and next year’s party will not fall on the university’s official study day again.
“If we are all on the same page, on the same table working together … I think next year will be better,” Brandon said.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz turned down Brandon and ten other alderpersons’ request to bill ASM with the additional costs of the block party due to the date change last week. Brandon said he a saw a small decrease in his business, Laundry 101, after he made the request but he said he believed it was because students were partying on Mifflin Street and not doing their laundry.
