Library Mall figure Tom Ryan might be feeling some heat soon, as downtown vendors at Wednesday's Vending Oversights Committee meeting expressed annoyance at his constant piccolo playing.
\It's one man monopolizing a block. It's a very desirable block because we pay extra fees to be on that block,"" said Beth Fatsis, who owns Athenian Gardens, which is situated close to Ryan's playing. ""I've seen other musicians get bullied away [when] they try to play down there. He'll sit right next to them and start to play so there's no chance for any kind of diverse musical selection.""
Further complaints also surfaced, including those of Rosemary Lee whose friends have to work near Ryan.
""They are [at the University Club building] eight hours a day, five days a week and they have headaches by the time they leave work at night because they cannot shut [the music] out. It goes right through a closed window,"" she said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he is very appreciative of the music and culture on State Street, but said he sees Ryan as one bad apple ruining the bunch.
""Unfortunately the fact of the matter is this one individual has caused a lot of problems for a lot of people,"" Verveer said.
He added Ryan's relationship with vendors and local employees became especially strained after Ryan became aware complaints were being made to the police against him. Ryan responded by passing out fliers encouraging passersby to boycott the vendors and by wearing placards on his hat stating his First Amendment rights. Verveer proposed having Madison police officers assigned to Library Mall continue to try and work proactively with Ryan in a cooperative fashion. Verveer also suggested to try to figure out some sort of compromise whereby Ryan can still play the piccolo and not harass the food court vendors and nearby office workers.
""If that doesn't work, the city, the Madison Police Department and the Madison City Attorney's Office will be ready willing and able to continue to prosecute him for unreasonable noise,"" Verveer said.
