MADISON (WKOW) -- Night after night, you'll find several cars parked on Winnebago Street. It's become a place for people with nowhere else to go.
For one woman, it was a last resort for a place to sleep. "I'm just parking here for a place to park," said Tina Sobek. She joins about a dozen others and has been sleeping in her car on Winnebago St. for about two months. "More and more everyday seem to show up from Occupy Madison," Sobek said. She stayed at the Occupy Madison camp on East Washington Ave. for nine months before it was shut down by the city.
Mayor Paul Soglin said the long-term parking on Winnebago St. is legal, as long as there isn't any illegal activity going on and the cars are moved every couple of days pursuant to city ordinance. "This is one instance where I have no intention of doing anything unless there are specific complaints and we have clear violations of the law," Soglin said.
Those who live nearby have mixed feelings about the overnight cars and the people who live inside. "They've been kind of leaving their trash and loud and obnoxious," said Johnny Buckbee, who lives on Azinger Ct. He also said he's nervous there may be illegal drug activity occurring.
Julie Melton's backyard overlooks Winnebago Street. "I think first of all that it's a shame that people don't have a place to go," the La Follette Ave. resident said. Melton said she's concerned about any trash that could be left behind, but the cars don't bother her overall.
Sobek said most of the people sleeping there can no longer stay at local shelters for various reasons. Some people have started sleeping next to the cars in make-shift tents.
