Should Events Be Banned in Five Points Park?

Update May 21 8:13 p.m.: The city commission has canceled Thursday's special meeting because of a scheduling conflict. 

The memorial and funeral for Longboat Key Police Chief and former Sarasota Mayor Al Hogle is scheduled for Thursday at Robarts Arena and Sarasota National Cemetery, and commission members and staff attending would not be able to get back to the meeting in time.

Commissioner Terry Turner also stressed at Monday's meeting that the commission and staff does not have any proposal or recommendation to eliminate events at Five Points Park.

Earlier: Sarasota’s City Commission will debate at a special meeting Thursday whether Selby Five Points Park should be as quiet as

The commission will consider the space’s use for events as well as a separate topic, zoning enclaves, at the 3 p.m. meeting, Thursday inside the Commission Chambers at City Hall. 

Not so coincidentally, the meeting comes just for three days. It was the first time the festival was held at the park before being hosted in the Rosemay District for its first two years.

Music from the festival might have irked some residents, but at least two businesses liked the foot traffic, including Ivory Lounge, according to ThisWeekInSarasota.com:

Diego Malatesta of Ivory Lounge states that events like Harvey Milk Festival keep downtown merchants in business. “It was a perfect event. I absolutely want it held in Five Points Park again,” Malatesta said. “I opened the doors early and had a lot of costumers.” 

The festival attracted 4,500 people and contributes to the city’s economy, festival vice president Turner C. Moore wrote in a letter to the editor on SarasotaDay.com: 

"Last weekend, 4,500 people gathered at Five Points to celebrate Harvey Milk’s legacy including young, old, gay, straight, tourists, locals, families, kids, activists with many from Tampa, St. Pete, Ft. Myers, Miami and beyond without incident. 

The attendance shows HMF’s economic impact, with revenues returning to the area to pay for hotels, equipment, police, permits, stages, lighting, printing, etc. Without use of the park, the Festival couldn’t have attracted the larger crowd or paid the bills. Five Points is a natural venue, benefitting downtown and our broader economy."

To counter the complaints, ThisWeekInSarasota started a petition on iPetitions.com to keep Five Points Park open.

Jennifer Edelson wrote on the petition that events embrace creativity:

"In these changing times we must look at the growth of our community . Our long term residents have to be ready for change and growth. We have enormous outlets of creativity that are currently being stifled . It is essential for the future and growth of our city that we embrace the creatives and youth . That we support , promote and encourage businesses and our society to participate so that we may all thrive and enjoy a beautiful successful community."

Brian Wigelsworth writes: 

"Public properties are for the public, not to be controlled by a privileged few who may just happen to live nearby. Our downtown is meant to be a gathering place, it has strived to be a gathering place. If activities like this are stopped we can just sit back and watch downtown die all over again."

 

The petition lists that 336 have signed, but some listed are duplicate and anonymous. 

A recycled Internet meme encourages people to sign the petition by comparing downtown condo associations to Hitler (subtitles contain Not Suitable For Work language) and Nazis through the use of the of Hitler’s breakdown during the 2004 film Der Untergang.

 (You can read more about that meme and its own controversy, called Downfall, on KnowYourMeme.com) 

Which side will win? Stay with Patch to find out Thursday.

CHIME IN: In the meantime, what’s your take on outdoor downtown events — both in Five Points Park and elsewhere?