Madison WI city council rejects its once progressive mayor's move against homeless

WPR, Madison, WI - The chants of protestors outside the City County Building carried upstairs into the Madison Common Council meeting Tuesday night as members voted down a controversial ordinance affecting the city's homeless.

Mayor Paul Soglin unveiled the Downtown Pedestrian Protection Ordinance in late July. It would have banned sitting on downtown sidewalks from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and using public benches to store property for more than an hour. First time violators would have received a $100 ticket. Strike two would be $250.

The council voted down the proposed ordinance 15-1.

"This ordinance targets individuals experiencing homelessness who are limited to be indoors in certain times of the day and year due to our basic shelter inadequacies," said Karen Andrew of the First United Methodist Church in Madison. "We need not punish those who have nothing by decision makers who have a home and a place to be."

Many of the voices against the ordinance at the meeting stressed the need for more shelter space and affordable housing in Madison.