LAist: Goodbye Sunset Junction Street Festival?

breal

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:53:22 -0800

>>The majority of the money from the festival goes to programs for underpriliviged youth in the surounding neighborhoods,>> Is that what Michael tells you? Why is it then, that he pays everyone in cash and doesn't keep reciepts? If he's so concerned with helping the community, why does he shut out all the area businesses and (in the last two years) go out of his way to screw them, like using the main business block as a parking lot for the trailer trucks? He promises a lot of charity money and doesn't deliver. THere's a TON of money that he pulls in for this festival that he won't account for. He does just enough to LOOK like he's putting it back into the community. The local bands get a few hundred bucks to play this thing -- and they should for playing at noon in front of no one in the 90 degree heat. The money goes to non-local bands that pull a lot of people into the festival, so that they're money can go in this douchebag's pocket. Yeah, you're right, the ORIGINAL intention of the festival was to unify the residents of the neighborhood with newcomers. Now that the original residents can't afford it (and even the people who live in the neihborhood can't get into the festival -- or out of the neighborhood, thanks to the traffic and parking nightmare it causes) -- the original intention doesn't mean squat. It's become a greed-fest that does nothing but screw the local businesses and community while Michael McKinley laughs his way to the bank and puts a little change into his "charities."

SUPREME333

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:02:37 -0800

I've worked with the Festival for the last 5 years, and have lived in the neighborhood for 10 years. The Festival has been around for 29 years next year. The majority of the money from the festival goes to programs for underpriliviged youth in the surounding neighborhoods, after school programs employing hundreds of kids at the Festival and maintaining Silverlake's Farmers Market as well as rebuilding local landmarks. Any and all of this is very public record. The Money from the Festival also goes to paying for the Bands and performers. Three quaters of which which are local acts. Who frequently enough see no compensation at Festival's such as Eagle Rock. It's nostalgic to think that we should go back almost 30 years to when only 20 people attended the original fair. The community has grown is an understatement. What about the overpriced rent that has evicted the majority Latino, Armenian, Gay and Artist communites? The original intention of the Festival was to unify the people who lived in the neighborhood with the new comers. Maybe Sunset Junction's public relations is something left to be desired but Its hard to understand how 20 bones out of your pocket and one weekend out of 52 can add up to such anger? Similar festivals like San Diego's Street Scene cost $40 and Up.

Hindinwood

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:02:50 -0800

The Eagle Rock fest was everything SJ used to be and should try to recapture. I for one am very pleased with the stance Garcetti's office is taking with these assholes. Nice to see elected officials reflecting the concerns of their constituants!

benjamin

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:15:19 -0800

sunset junction needs to take some cues from the eagle rock music festival. now that's a good street festival.

lahipster

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:44:32 -0800

i never paid to get into sunset junction festival never will never pay to get into coachella

lahipster

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:43:05 -0800

its all about carpet baggers who move in trying to take control of the neighborhood like its happing in venice get a sponser to underwrite the entire junst junction open the books to the irs on that non profit that curently runs the festival

BingosDingo

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:07:57 -0800

> maybe they need someone else to run it who isn't so greedy There ya go!!!

Cos

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:56:00 -0800

Good riddance. I haven't been in three years. I actually moved into the neighborhood about a month before this year's event. I didn't attend and didn't hear ANYTHING positive about it. No outreach for any kind of pass for living in the neighborhood either. Parking was hell.... Make it about local bands and local businesses. And make it FREE.

caliking01

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:46:41 -0800

and the ticket nazies let you in?

Los Angeles

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:30:49 -0800

I always declined to pay the the [[suggested donation]] ENTRY FEE. I feel good about more people speaking up and Eric Garcetti's office paying attention.

PeggyArcher

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:39:56 -0800

I'd also like to see this go back to what it used to be; a neighborhood street fair that included everyone - residents, local merchants, visitors, parents, kids, etc.. I haven't bothered to show up to this thing since the liberal application of 'tude started. Good for Eric Garcetti's office for actually taking action about the complaints.

los angelista

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:34:05 -0800

It's about time!!! $20 to get into that ridiculousness was a price I was absolutely unwilling to pay. Take it back to the vibe and free cost that existed ten years ago and get it out of the hands of the so-called SJNA. They are hardly working in favor of the neighborhood.

CityofDodgers

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:28:02 -0800

If new organizers do indeed take this over, I'd love it if Sean Carlson had a part in it...

polaroidgirl

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:15:14 -0800

That things been dead since they put a fence around it and you couldn't pay me to go there nowadays. They should try to go back to the old style street fair (no fences, no admissions and, if possible, let people out of those lame beer garden areas) or just put the last nail in the coffin already.

weston deboer

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:13:14 -0800

maybe they need someone else to run it who isn't so greedy

Jedi of Hollywood

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:03:37 -0800

There are still signs up in East Hollywood directing people where to park. Sad

djpinklady

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:43:11 -0800

dare i say, typical la promoters?

Will Campbell

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:42:34 -0800

Whoa. Can you say Sunset Injunction?