As Madison considers what to do about future Downtown Halloween parties, the city should recognize that the celebration is fun for some and good business for others. But it’s also a huge expense for our community.
Combine the event with the Mifflin Street block party, a similar blend of chaotic celebration and destruction, and the most conservative estimate of direct costs for police are sobering enough:
About $350,000 for Halloween and $97,000 for Mifflin Street.