Friday, August 17, 2012

Dual Events Raise Questions

City officials are still weighing the pros and cons of having two downtown events on the same September weekend. Nightclub owner Edison Garcia will find out Monday whether he can hold his fourth annual Central American Independence celebration, while Rodney Maree has already received City Council permission for his first outdoor event.

Garcia has been holding events in July and September in Municipal Parking Lots 8 and 8A between Somerset Street and Watchung Avenue (lower left on Google image above). Maree is planning his event for Municipal Lot 1, behind the Chez Maree nightclub and the Strand Theater, with an entrance off Watchung Avenue (top, center). Garcia's events have drawn huge crowds and Maree said Monday he has spent $25,000 on advertising and also expects a large crowd. Both events are planned for Sept. 15 and 16.

Public safety and parking were the two major concerns voiced by officials at Monday's City Council agenda-fixing session. Garcia said he hires city police and also has his own security. His July 7 event this year went off without a single incident, he said.

Maree said he understands that he will have to pay for police coverage. But he also complained that he submitted his paperwork and had received no response from Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig, who has to sign off on the event. Hellwig said Maree applied earlier for another event and was told to "touch base with me," but never did. For the September event, Hellwig said, he had received Maree's paperwork "within the last week or to," but was holding it pending what he understood to be some discussion between Maree and Garcia about alternate dates.

Maree said he just wanted the same opportunity as Garcia.

Councilman William Reid asked Hellwig whether he thought police would need county or state assistance to handle public safety for the dual events, but Hellwig said he did not normally request help. He said the situation would strain police, but added, "I believe this is the last time we have to do this."

Hellwig then said police will be able to handle the events.

Councilwoman Annie McWilliams questioned the approval procedures, saying the decision should rest on who applied first, not on the basis of whether an individual had "history" on using a date. Council President Adrian Mapp said he would agree if two individuals wanted the same location, but two different parking lots were involved.

"Quite frankly, I think it's great to have two events," Mapp said, noting they will bring different cultures to the city.

Councilman Cory Storch asked whether both would have amplified outdoor music that might conflict. but Maree said, "The problem will be parking."

Maree said when he tried to get approvals for his initial event, featuring nationally-known musicians such as Chris Brown and Drake, parking issues led to his request being denied.

The events will prevent use of 152 spaces on Lot 1 and 145 on Lots 8 and 8A. Visitors will have to seek alternative places to park, but the city does not have signage directing people to other lots. See Plaintalker's parking lot survey here.

Despite the concerns, Mapp said, "I say to both of you, make us proud."

Mapp said he will ask Special Improvement District officials to report back on the impact the events may have on downtown business.

The regular meeting at which Garcia's request will be voted on is 8 p.m. Monday (Aug. 20) in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice

1 comment:

  1. Chris Brown, Drake sued again over NYC club brawl

    By MEGHAN BARR | Associated Press – NEW YORK (AP) — A model who was injured during a bottle-throwing nightclub brawl between Chris Brown and Drake sued both singers and the owners of the New York City nightclub on Monday.

    Romain Julien, who was sitting at a nearby table during the brawl, suffered a severed tendon in his right hand during the June 14 melee, according to a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court. Julien also alleged that he endured lacerations from broken glass, cosmetic deformity and mental distress as a result of the fight.

    The complaint accused Brown of having a "hot temper" and inciting the altercation with Drake.

    The operators of the club Greenhouse and its basement lounge, W.i.P., are also named in the suit. Julien claimed the operators created a public nuisance by failing to provide adequate security in the club and serving liquor to intoxicated patrons.

    Julien, a model with Re:Quest Model Management, is seeking actual and punitive damages. Representatives for Brown and Drake had no immediate comment.

    A representative for Greenhouse and W.i.P. said they will "respond appropriately" after evaluating the lawsuit.

    Last week, a company with ties to the club sought to hold Drake and Brown responsible for the melee in a $16 million lawsuit.

    The suit filed by Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. faulted the artists for — at a minimum — doing nothing to stop the June 14 melee and said it sullied the chic Manhattan nightspot's name. The company owns the trademark for Greenhouse.

    No criminal charges have been filed in the fight, which left Brown, NBA star Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and others injured. Police say the fracas started after members of Drake's entourage confronted Brown on the dance floor as he was leaving W.i.P. Drake's representatives have said he was on his way out and didn't injure anyone.

    Both lawsuits point to news accounts of bad blood between Brown and Drake, both of whom have dated singer Rihanna.

    ReplyDelete