Re: Festivals: Fun until money is divvied out, Editor's Letter, The Record, Feb. 21.
I too love festivals! But look again, who will pay for it. $48,000 in tax dollars for one festival? Have the mayor and his five labour-friendly councillors lost their minds? Do they not realize that is one-third of the cost of Hyack's yearly stipend to put on several events throughout the year?
As founding and past president of the West End Business Association, we organized very successful music festivals beginning in 2009. With plenty of hard work, a huge volunteer effort, a yearly grant of $1,500 and minimal "in kind" services, we produced the greatest 12th Street Music Festival (2011) this city has ever experienced. The street was packed with five stages of entertainers and over 100 vendors (not 30, as Chuck Puchmayr reports each year since). 2011 also included a huge Caribbean proponent who not only performed on stage but put on a parade within the festival, a true crowd pleaser.
Uptown Live was born out of the efforts of Hyack volunteers long before the hiring of Douglas Smith. 2013 was a good event, however, to say there was 25,000 attending is false! Visitors were there as a result of the famous Hyack Parade, a parade drawing crowds from B.C. and the Pacific Northwest.
I fail to see the necessity of any association requiring $28,000 when others, putting on a comparable show, get by on $1,500. I certainly do not see the need for $20,000 for in-kind service. Unless, of course, like the Santa Claus Parade which was organized by staff in promotion of the city follows the same mandate. This event certainly incurred considerable cost, a cost not yet made public. The previous yearly Hyack "Parade of lights" had
Christmas spirit; this one did not. Thank you to River Market and the Discovery Centre for creating some true Christmas spirit.
The motion by Coun. Bill Harper and strong support by Coun. Chuck Puchmayr to fund this event has the many event organizers and volunteers in this city shaking their heads.
The new Uptown Business Association includes members with successful businesses, and to expect taxpayers to fund this is ridiculous. Particularly when the plan to employ Douglas Smith at $10,000 jumps out at other organizers. Does this mean the city is now setting a precedent to include a salary to pay event coordinators (like Mr. Smith) to organize festivals?
My advice to the mayor and city council who are advocating for this grant, give your heads a shake. Taxpayers will not support this grant. Transparency and openness has truly diminished from this council over the past three years. This, and some of the other money-wasting plans, certainly do not impress me as a voter.
My advice to Uptown Business Association is to put your businesses and volunteers to work to raise funds and seek paid vendor participation. Your grant should not be more than what others receive for a one-shot festival. A festival that benefits your businesses and out-of-town vendors who pay to participate.
John Ashdown, New Westminster
