I've given myself two days to ponder Madison's annual Halloween bash over the weekend. I seem to support all the views except the Mayor's:
"What does it cost us, literally, as a city?" (He estimated that the weekend will cost Madison $350,000.) "Neither does it take into account the tremendous drain on his time, Police Chief Noble Wray's time and that of their assistants. The cost is one thing. The other thing, For what? What does all this money go for? It goes for a huge public drunk and I'm really concerned about the impact on young people."
The mayor wants to shut down the entire street, businesses and all for next year's Halloween. Businesses claim their best business over this weekend. The Mayor would, in effect, be canceling Christmas for these business owners. This is after the City enacted a stricter ventilation ordinance, prohibited weekend drink specials, and finally outlawed smoking in public buildings. I would have to believe that the Tavern League's collective heads would blow up.
The Capitol Times today summed up the collective thoughts of everyone: Chill Out Mr. Mayor. It basically says that for any other event, the cost to the City is worth the sold-out hotels, crowded streets, and 100,000 people from all over the world spreading the good word about Madison.
I'm thinking about printing that out and sending that to his office, just to make sure he gets the message. I would add the fact that a controlled party with gates, a private security company and a entrance fee would solve most of the Mayor's problems.
$350,000 or not, something should be done about the horse shit. I would not miss the putrid smell of the horse shit that covered the street under the lights. The mass stomped through the piles, dragging across the entire street, preventing any step hitting clean pavement. I purposely ran down State Street the next morning to see the aftermath. Kids were dazed, clutching their overnight and sleeping bags as they found breakfast and rides home. The street itself was still covered in a layer of horse shit. All the cracks were filled with it, and there was a faint hue of greenish-brown that glistened in the sun. It's great to know that will all wash into the lakes with the next rainfall. So, thanks for that, Mr. Mayor.