Members of the student government Legislative Affairs Committee met with Madison Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf to discuss a policy intended to prevent “nuisance” parties Monday.
According to Woulf, the policy would allow police to fine landlords if their residents threw parties deemed “nuisances.”
In order to qualify as a nuisance, the party must violate a specified number of city ordinances.
“We’re trying to drive down the size and scope of private parties by getting at landlords,” Woulf said. “We’re giving police a tool to hold landlords more accountable by fining nuisance house parties that are posing threats.”
Woulf said by encouraging more entertainment downtown, city officials hope to offer a safer alternative to house parties. He said the legislation is intended to turn “out of control” parties into smaller ones.
UW-Madison junior Damon Terrell said the policy “sets up a power dynamic” between the landlord and the resident.
“Already students are kind of at a disadvantage going into a relationship with their landlord,” Terrell said. “I think it sets ups a paternalistic relationship with the landlord and the leasee.”
Other students said they were concerned landlords would add stipulations into their leases allowing them to pass the fines onto the residents.
Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers said she fears the policy could make residents uncomfortable approaching their landlords.
“I just think that this legislation can have consequences that are reaching further than we’re thinking,” Somers said.
Also at the meeting, members discussed the results of a survey about the Mifflin Street Block Party that received over 7,000 student responses.
The recommendations made to improve the party included limiting the number of visitors staying in the dorms and eliminating the open beverage policy implemented last year.
According to ASM Rep. Maria Giannopolous, a majority of the respondents said Mifflin is “necessary” and plan to attend this year.
