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Madison gives Social Justice Center time to address neighborhood complaints before suing

Madison is postponing a threatened lawsuit after the Social Justice Center agreed to take steps aimed at resolving city concerns. Officials plan to review the center’s progress this week, amid a history of hundreds of police calls in the area.

Madison gives Social Justice Center time to address neighborhood complaints before suing
MADISON, Wis. — The city is holding off on suing the Social Justice Center after the organization committed to steps intended to address ongoing concerns, City Attorney Michael Haas said. Madison plans to review the center’s progress this week. The decision comes after a reported fight outside the Williamson Street building Saturday night. Madison police have not released details about the incident or said whether it was connected to the center. The city first warned in September that it could take legal action over what it called persistent nuisance activity at and around the property. A city memo said police received more than 300 calls for service in the area from January 2025 through August 2026. Those calls led to 20 arrests and 50 charges, including allegations involving methamphetamine possession, battery and depositing human waste. Haas previously said the city had spent more than a year working with the property owners to respond to neighbors’ complaints. He said the city wanted the owners to follow the law and take steps to reduce or eliminate the behavior at issue. The Social Justice Center did not respond to a request for comment. The city’s review will determine whether the agreed-upon steps address its concerns; the available information does not specify what those steps are.

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