One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
City Shuts Down Plans For Sold-Out Downtown Slip N Slide Event
So much for the plan to bring an epic slip n' slide to downtown. The organizers behind the event Slide The City just sent out an e-mail saying that the city has denied them permits for the event that was supposed to take place September 28, and they're pessimistic that a deal can be worked out in time:
After tirelessly working with the City over the past 2+ months we received word that our permit is being denied. We have been working even harder over the past few days to resolve any issues the City may have, but it appears there is no resolution. Whether this is a direct result of the drought or something else, we want to assure all of our participants and vendors that we have gone through every appropriate permitting step required. We have even jumped through many additional "hoops" the City has created in the hope that they would see that we were flexible and willing to work with them. Unfortunately they have still denied our permit.
The organizers had moved the location and date of the event and promised to recycle and reuse the water in negotiations with the city, but that wasn't enough. Thought there had been concerns from the beginning that this was an inappropriate event to hold during a drought, but the company says they aren't quite sure what the city's issue with the event is.
All 3,500 tickets for the event were already sold out. They're offering refunds and an apology, but they haven't given up and canceled the event altogether: "We are very hopeful that the City will work with us so that we can bring this great event to the streets of LA. Please know that we are at the city offices right now trying everything we can."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
