The current hassle over festivals has its origins in new rules passed last year for carnivals and other events.
As noted in this blog post, the council took measures to tighten up on carnivals and other events after several residents complained about a "carnival" the mayor held on her own authority on short notice. The new rules call for application 45 days in advance for carnivals and other events, council approval in addition to mayoral approval and an increase in fees from $500 per day to $2,500 per day for carnivals.
It may be that the council forgot its own rules in excusing night club owner Edison Garcia from paying the full fee for a three-day event in July. Because there is now a full-blown rivalry between Garcia and Rodney Maree of Chez Maree, controversy over fees and dates is overshadowing the stated goals of celebrating Central American independence and fostering community togetherness for September events.
Garcia started out with one September event five years ago. He later added a July weekend celebration of American independence and expanded the September event to three days. Last year, Maree applied early for the September weekend traditionally associated with Central American independence. In a compromise, the council approved Maree's use of the city parking lot behind the former Strand Theater and granted Garcia use of Lots 8 and 8A between Somerset Street and Watchung Avenue.The double-header event attracted thousands of people, but the amplified music, open-air beer consumption and crowds milling between the two venues rubbed some people the wrong way and the council decided not to allow two on the same weekend in the future.
This year, Garcia applied in May for the July and September dates, but unbeknownst to him, Maree had also asked for the second weekend in September (see here). In June, the council approved the applications of Voluntad Productions, Maree's organizer, for the 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival on Sept. 14, 15 and 16, as well as Voluntad's application for its "1st Annual El Salvadorian Heritage Festival" on Aug. 9, 10 and 11.
While these weekend events no doubt garnered fee revenues for the city, they also multiplied the impact of noise and crowds on nearby residents. In addition, the application for the August event fell short of the 45-day rule.
Garcia applied this month for use of Lots 8 and 8A on Sept. 6, 7 and 8, but at the Aug. 12 agenda-fixing session, a business owner complained that he had to shut down for several days due to Garcia's July use of the venue and said his workers had to clean up trash and human waste after the event. The council also received a petition from other business owners objecting to the proposed event. On Aug. 19, Garcia's application was rejected.
But on Wednesday (Aug. 21), a special City Council meeting was called with only two topics: A layoff plan and Garcia's application. The layoff plan had also failed to get council approval on Aug. 19. The special meeting is 7 p.m. Monday in City Hall Library.
The 45-day rule seemed to have faded away, as two council members also received approval on Aug. 19 for a "Community Appreciation Day" today (Aug. 24, since postponed).
Garcia will also be short of the rule, if his application is approved. The proposed do-over is also raising cries of political machinations, as Garcia has been a contributor to local office-holders.
What began in 2009 with two days of celebrating Hispanic heritage is now a tangled web of intrigue and possibly twelve days this summer of downtown festivals. Garcia, the innovator in 2009, is now accused by Maree of trying to spoil his September celebration by holding one a week earlier. Speakers on Aug 19 deplored the shift from a celebration of Latino heritage to sprawling, commercial events featuring beer-drinking around young children.
Amidst all this, blogger Dan Damon alleges the mayor has again signed off on an event she wants to hold today, disregarding the council.
It may be too late for this season, but perhaps a review of procedures for council approval of events is in order. On Monday, Dr. Harold Yood objected to having two approvals on the consent agenda, while others required a voice vote. Inconsistency again!
If the legislators pay no mind to legislation they themselves passed, what does it say about the city? Either enforce the rules or just admit what one of my old City Hall tipsters used to say: "This is a lawless city."
--Bernice
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Oh there are laws... Laws for you, me and lots of other common people.. Not for the Elitist Democrats passing judgement from on high though.
ReplyDeleteYou people keep putting the same shameless bums in office that Jerry deems worthy of your adulation and you keep thinking somehow this will be the year they give a damn about you. Laughable, simply laughable.
Thank Goodness the Downtown Art Festival is no longer held by the Chamber of Commerces. All those Fuddy-Duds talking about colors and dimensions really crowded downtown and no one was able to flag lounging day workers from the sidewalks.
ReplyDeleteYes GB those were the days when Plainfield was a vibrant community and people came into the city.
DeleteIf you think the Democrats are "elitist", then take a close look at the Republicans and the George Bush years.
ReplyDeleteMembers of the council have no clue. Why do these people keep voting them in?
ReplyDeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteI have nothing to say, I guess, except that Mr. Garcia, as the unelected "8th councilor," is able to negate my vote. As it is, yes, we ignore our own legislation. The city council gave Mr. Garcia a $5,000 GIFT for his July event (2 of the 3 days waived)--a gift not extended to others, who have to pay the entire fee--this is foul play and unfair. I had mentioned at our last council meeting that I would be meeting with the City Clerk, Public Safety, and Corporation Counsel to review the permit process, as it doesn't make sense to have the council sign off before others (such as public safety, traffic committee, etc.) can review the events so that we can have an informed vote. I am wondering whether it is even worth the effort to make legislative recommendations if they are to be ignored. I am sure we all have better things to do with our time.
Rebecca
I wonder what NYC does about the many events that they have. Do they up the fees after seeing successful community events.
ReplyDeleteMaree has the nerve to complain about Garcia running an event the week before his after Maree ran his 1st ever event last year on the same weekend as Garcia. Garcia was the leader and produced a successful events and now Maree wants to complain and the council ups the fees.
The city council did not "up" the fees based on any complaints by Mr. Maree. The fees were raised when the council took a close look at how much money the city was LOSING based on the old fees, which had not been raised in perhaps decades. Mr. Garcia charges his vendors (all of whom are out-of-towners) upwards of $800 for the privilege of being a part of his beer/liquor fest. This is patently unfair to local business owners, who lose business because of the crowds in the municipal parking lots and entire area. 15 or so local businesses that pay taxes to the city of Plainfield have complained about the loss of business. Why should they pay Mr. Garcia so much money to operate? It is an outrage, and I am certain that the city council will not approve Mr. Garcia charging outside vendors hundreds of dollars to participate in his "cultural" beer event while locking out the business of our local tax-paying businesses--which lose TWICE.
ReplyDeleteRebecca