The public should review the press release below with some concerns because if is not totally accurate and leaves out many important details:
1. The city DOES have a policy on the use of public parks for events. The permit application has in bold type on the first line “NO ADMISSION FEES ARE ALLOWED IN CITY PARKS”.
2. This permit was approved by 2 SPAR employees—it did not require the approval of Mayor Tom or CAO Tom Dark—in Jan. of this year.
3. This event is the FIRST event that has begun allowed in a Shreveport city park by a FOR PROFIT entity that charges an admission fee.
4. The event organizer is NOT paying any rental fee to the city of Shreveport. Thus, the city is in effect subsidizing a FOR PROFIT venture by allowing the free use of this park for three days.
5. It is unknown if Crawfest crashers—those that will step over the temporary fencing—and enter without paying the admission fee will be cited by law enforcement. These crashers may just want to sit on the grass for a picnic, play soccer with kids or walk on the paved walkway.
6. The festival organizer is required by the permit application to pay for security, clean up, provide insurance, etc. So, no favors are being granted to the city as the release implies.
7. The mayor lives four miles away from the festival so it will have NO impact on him unless he chooses to attend.
8. This event will not only inconvenience residents within a mile area, but also residents throughout the city who flock to this park on weekends for family events.
9. Subsidizing a FOR PROFIT event is bad government, pure and simple. How does the Mayor rationalize this with his comments that the city may be required to use surplus funds to pay the city bills this year.
