The resolutions are on Monday's agenda and if a council consensus approves, will be up for a vote on March 9. The meeting is 7:30 p.m. in Municipal Court.
Nightclub owner Edison Garcia is seeking use of city parking lots on two holiday weekends, one in July celebrating U.S. Independence Day and the other in September billed as "Outdoor Fiesta," but on a weekend traditionally marking Central American Independence.
Garcia began the fiestas in 2009 on parking lots 8 and 8A behind stores on East Front Street between Somerset Street and Watchung Avenue. Another night club owner followed suit with fiestas in a city parking lot across Watchung Avenue and even proposed a downtown rodeo, which was denied. The two nightclub owners began competing for favored weekends in September.
While the events attracted thousands of visitors to Plainfield, they also displaced shopper parking and included amplified music that residents said could be heard a mile away.
Over the years, the council approved the fiestas only with increasing restrictions on noise, imposition of fees, demands for police presence and rules for beer sales. For 2015, the events will begin at 1 p.m., with music to cease at 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 6 p.m. on Sundays, in contrast to 11 p.m. closings in the past. The City Council approved a $2,500 per day fee for the fiestas in 2012 and also began requiring greater police presence due to the size of the crowds. The proposed resolutions for Garcia's fiestas stipulate that all equipment debris and litter must be removed, and all vendors must obtain city permits..
Garcia wants to hold his first fiesta on July 4, 5 and 6 and the second on Sept.11, 12 and 13.
--Bernice
Hold it in cook school park. In the second ward.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly I have some sharp hunger pains.
ReplyDeleteNot a good way to make business with city property!! $2500 is nothing for all the money made!
ReplyDeleteLast checked Mr. Garcia (Los Faraones) nor Mr. Maree (Chez Maree) live in Plainfield. They don’t care how residents of Plainfield are affected by all the noise and chaos. Like the majority of their client base they come to Plainfield to make their money and then go back home (read between the lines).
ReplyDeleteAs much as members of this Administration and City Council want residents to believe that these events are good for Plainfield, there is no real value or contribution to the City of Plainfield made by either of these operators or their events. These are CASH businesses which, I can bet, don’t significantly impact the city’s coffers. If they were gone tomorrow, would anyone really notice other than their unique clientele?
I would encourage you to look at the Facebook Page for Los Faraones and Chez Maree to gain better understanding of the type of business each of these men bring to Plainfield – reminiscent of 1970s-42nd’Street-life.
Considering the make-up of the City Council, comprised of a Reverend, couple of Educators, and other professionals, I am surprised there is such minimal regulation and such ardent support for these events which ultimately support the daily operations of these 2 men.
The more "esteemed" members of our city council are only concerned about how much those individuals have given "their boss"...not the quality of life in Plainfield
DeleteEdison Garcia certainly has. Year in and year out, many $1000s.
DeleteHe makes sure that council president gets her share of the spoils to ensure his events are allowed to take place . All the money he pays the powers that be on the Assembly, City Council and Administration he should get a waiver on the fees darn, talk about robbing a person blind.
DeleteThe music needs to be scaled down. Could hear it miles away!
ReplyDeleteYou could hear the loud music all the way to cedarbrook park! The police had to go several times to get them to turn it down,and they left a mess to clean up by the local merchants who did not get any new business from these events.
ReplyDeleteThe merchants are not paying off the right people. Edison needs to school them on what he has to pay out just to even think about having his event.
DeleteThanks for the warning. I will make sure I take my vacations around those dates even though I don't live that close to where all the noise will be taking place. . Ghetto activities for a ghetto city. Let's face it, the closest Plainfield will ever come to Westfield is the "field" in both their names!!!
ReplyDeleteI can understand why taxpayers might be hesitant to see public resources go into what appears to be a private profit making enterprise. But I also think its important for Plainfield to come together in celebration of the cultures of our growing Hispanic community. Why not create a nonprofit organization to organize and run such an event(s)? Proceeds in excess of costs could be invested back into the community through the nonprofit's support of things like scholarships for Hispanic students at the high school or legal assistance that helps individuals and families with their documentation or citizenship.
ReplyDelete