The Mifflin Street Block Party is one step closer to officially taking place April 30 due to three Mifflin Street residents who took the initiative to organize their neighbors.
Three UW-Madison seniors posted over 150 surveys to Mifflin Street doors Friday. Of the 36 surveys returned by Tuesday night, 33 declared a determination to celebrate April 30 rather than the official May 7 date.
\We ... think that it is up to residents to decide the date,"" the survey said. ""Ultimately, the police will have to respect our decision if we are all celebrating on the 30th.""
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said city officials will meet with Madison Police Chief Noble Wray Thursday to respond to the residents' action.
""It's now becoming quite clear to the powers that be that everybody is planning to party on the 30th regardless of what the official date is and whatever the police strategies are,"" he said.
Verveer said he is optimistic the groups will be flexible with the party date.
Like other Mifflin Street residents who sell T-shirts and beer for the party, UW-Madison senior Colleen Neilsen, who helped create the survey, said she just wanted to plan appropriately.
""No one seemed to know what was going on,"" Neilsen said.
The Mifflin Street roommates said their survey was partially in response to a push from the Madison Police Department to get residents to comply with the May 7 date.
""We have already made extensive commitments for the May 7 date that cannot be undone at this point,"" a recent MPD letter to Mifflin Street residents said.
Recently, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz estimated having the party April 30 would cost $96,000 while policing a May 7 party would cost $80,000. Although he said the $16,000 difference would be financially possible for the city, he said policing parties both weekends would strain city funds considerably.
Verveer said an additional community meeting will be held Tuesday.
