Mayor Dave Cieslewicz delivered an emphatic announcement promising to restrain and subdue revelry on the upcoming 2005 Halloween weekend.
\I am as angry about this event today as I was on the morning of Nov. 1,"" Cieslewicz said. ""I want to deploy every tactic we can to substantially reduce and change this event because this kind of outrageous behavior is not happening again in the city of Madison.""
Capt. Mary Schauf, Madison Police Department Central District commander recounted the events of Oct. 30, 2004, with a police video depicting events on the 500 block of State Street. She described how the crowd on State Street rapidly swelled to an estimated 85,000 around 10:30 p.m. and shortly thereafter, officers observed the crowd's mood shift from a generally jovial tone to an aggressive and excessively intoxicated one.
The rooftop police command center recorded mosh-pit behavior as revelers threw objects at officers, started a fire and struck police horses.
""I think we have to be reminded about how bad this was,"" Cieslewicz said after viewing the video of the event. ""This was horrible.""
Schauf said there were 252 arrests for open alcohol containers, 199 for underage drinking, 74 for disorderly conduct and 23 for resisting arrest.
""We will do what we can in our power to fundamentally discourage and change this event,"" Cieslewicz said. ""If we can make it go away entirely, that would be wonderful. I would be for that.""
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he shares Cieslewicz's frustration but disagrees with his response.
""I'm nowhere near as sour on this event as the mayor is,"" he said. ""We are improving each year. We're just not there yet. We have to try new things.""
Verveer??-whose motto on the event has been ""Mend it, don't end it""-warned of economic backlash for business owners who may be denied access to the tremendous market influx that Halloween weekend promises. ""It means a lot to so many downtown stakeholders.""
The community group is considering several options used by other cities to control large crowds, including calling an end to Halloween altogether, barricading entrances to State Street, limiting transportation into problem areas, closing businesses and especially liquor stores early, limiting kegs sold 48 days prior to the event, and making the party a gated event requiring UW identification. Madison Police Chief Noble Wray explained that city and police goals are to increase ownership and accountability and reduce anonymity and alcohol consumption.
""I'm optimistic that we will come up with good solutions that will work for us,"" Verveer added.
