Madison Police Chief Noble Wray informally announced his opposition to the Mifflin Street Block Party and his desire to eventually shut the party down permanently on Monday.

Wray told the Wisconsin State Journal of his wishes in an interview this week. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said while this announcement is not far removed from what Wray and the Madison Police Department have been saying for many years concerning the party, many officials acknowledge that the event is somewhat inevitable.

“The party started in 1969 by neighborhood residents, most of whom were [University of Wisconsin] students,” Verveer said. “If this party was mainly for and by UW students, I don’t think we would have anywhere near the amount of problems we saw at last year’s event.”

However, Verveer said Wray acknowledged Mifflin is an “inevitable annual event,” and it would be very difficult to end the popular block party.

Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said he believes it would be easier said than done to shut down the block party permanently due to the negative feedback that would arise from students.

“After the hard work that’s been put in by [Associated Students of Madison] students and neighborhood leaders and the mayor’s office, I’m disappointed [Wray] is not looking toward these grassroots groups for guidance in where this event is going,” Resnick said.

He said MPD is still largely concerned with the substantial instances of underage drinking, large crowds and the generally unsafe environment that pervade the block party.

ASM Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers said she does not want to jump to conclusions about Mifflin’s future.

“I think it’s too early to say such a thing,” Somers said. “I definitely understand that last year was not the kind of block party we want to see happen again, but there is a group of students, city staff and police working together to make the party better.”

Somers said the success or failure of this year’s block party would be a major indication of what happens in the future regarding the event.

He also said he does not think the party would be shut down without alternatives first being considered.

“With these changes in place and a more active role of students and the neighborhood association, a more positive thing can come out of this event in light of this new leadership,” Resnick said.

Verveer said there will be another meeting of the block party planning committee tonight at 7 p.m. at the Madison Senior Center.