The Madison Common Council voted overwhelmingly against a proposed ordinance to limit the amount of time people can spend lying down on public benches downtown.
The final vote of 15-1 strikes a proposal made by Madison Mayor Paul Soglin in July to impose a one-hour time limit on benches or else face a fine.
“It’s clear to me that what we should have done in making these proposed fines was making the fine a penny,” Soglin said before the vote. “The purpose is not to impose financial burden.”
Soglin said he “did not appreciate the national attention” the proposal got, along with an earlier measure to prohibit loitering outside the City-County Building.
Despite the opposition to the proposal, Soglin stressed the ban is a public safety issue.
“It’s a public safety issue when there are hypodermic needles in grassy areas where children play,” Soglin noted.
“What we’re talking about is being driven by approximately 80 people,” he said. “Interestingly enough, these 80 people dominate the conversation, when it really should be focused on women and children.”
Soglin noted Ironman fans and promoters complained to the city earlier this year about homeless people engaging in lewd behavior on the day of the race.
Ald. Amanda Hall, District 3, criticized the concerns from Ironman even though she is an avid supporter of the race.
“It’s my favorite week, but it was a special kind of first-world problem to hear people who participate in the race and have the financial resources to do so complain about having to look at people who don’t have homes,” she said.
