Hmmm.
Matt Snyder is confident that his ever- expanding FREE use of Betty Virginia Park for his FOR PROFIT venture is a go despite the fact that the Shreveport City Council vote to approve is this next Tues (Feb.14).
Snyder was a close buddy of former mayor Adrian Perkins who authorized this precedent- setting sweetheart deal for Snyder.
Talk about bad government!!
What’s next--a for profit event at Ford Park, A.B. Palmer Park, Southern Hills Park or Bill Cockerel Park?
Snyder is advertising these event dates and times:
Fri., March 17 3 pm-8 pm
Sat., March 18 11 am-8 pm
Sun. March 19 11 am-7pm
CRAWFEST presents many problems that the Shreveport City Council should review:
1. Why allow a FOR PROFIT venture use a public park for FREE?
2. What normal uses of the park by citizens during these 3 days will be precluded by the event?
3. What inconveniences will be imposed within a one-mile radius for residents by the event with traffic, parking and loud music after 6 p.m.
4. What safety hazards will be created by the massive off-street parking by persons attending the event?
This council should give serious review of this request. And so should Mayor Tom Arceneaux.
WHY SHOULD CITY ALLOW A FOR PROFIT ENTITY USE BETTY VIRGINIA PARK FOR CRAWFEST FOR NO CHARGE?
Ok--before people start sending me ugly messages, throwing brickbats at me, and dumping debris at my front door after reading this column please note the following:
a. I live 2 blocks from Betty Virginia Park
b. I try to walk to the park and around the paved path twice a week
c. I have been to CRAWFEST, and I enjoy the event
d. I enjoy outdoor festivals that provide opportunities for families to attend.
But--there is always a butt somewhere and i have been called that and much worse many times.
Here are my problems with CRAWFEST at Betty Virginia Park:
1. The event is not free--a ticket must be purchased for entry
2. The sponsor of the event is a FOR PROFIT entity
3. The festival features live, loud music after sundown that can be heard for several blocks. The music drowns out a TV at normal volume and provides an unwelcome/unwanted opportunity to sing along to residents living within several blocks.
4. The festival occupies most of the park and thus interferes with the use by other citizens for normal park activities.
At its next meeting the Shreveport city council will vote to approve an Agreement with the festival sponsor for this event. The document attached to the agenda has multiple discretionary options for the mayor to determine when completing the agreement before execution.
The festival sponsor was a close political ally of former mayor Adrian Perkins. Perhaps that explains the sweetheart deal that he received for last year's CRAWFEST.
Hopefully new mayor Arceneaux will carefully review this festival and the impact both bad and good of providing the park and many city services in this instance. Providing public property for FREE to a For Profit entity is troubling to this author and seemingly sets a bad precedent.
Hopefully citizens will chime in and provide input to the mayor.