Citing increased violence and cost to the city, Madison police say the annual Mifflin Street block party “simply cannot continue.” The statement, made in a Madison Police Department report on the 2011 event, echoes the call Mayor Paul Soglin has made to end the annual bacchanal. The 42-year-old event occurs annually near the end of the UW-Madison school year ? with or without official sanctioning. This year?s block party in April was marred by a large, drunken crowd and violence that included two stabbings, three sexual assaults, three substantial batteries, four strong-armed robberies and numerous reports of property damage during and after the event, according to the report. Police arrested 162 people, including 37 UW-Madison students. Soglin said he wants the event to occur on its traditional date ? the first Saturday in May ? when students will be studying for final exams. Ald. Scott Resnick, who represents the student-dominated 8th District near UW-Madison, said he believes the party needs to be more “Madison-centric.” He said he would like to see less advertising of the party on social media sites to people outside of Madison.
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