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Sorry Huizy, Jay Z Is Bringing His Festival To Grand Park
Grand Park (Mash-up of photo by Shawn Park via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr and photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
It sounds like Jay Z is going to be bringing his "Made In America" festival to downtown Los Angeles this August whether councilman Jose Huizar likes it or not.
Mayor Eric Garcetti, Jay Z and L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina stood in front of City Hall today to announce that the rapper would be teaming up with Budweiser to bring his festival to Grand Park over Labor Day weekend. Huizar has said that he feels steamrolled by this decision, and he has continued to voice concerns, releasing a statement yesterday:
"Since this is a for-profit, ticketed concert with an alcoholic beverage company as the main sponsor, we have questions over whether that is the best use for Grand Park, the so-called 'people’s park.' If it is, what is the public - that is the city and downtown Los Angeles community - getting in return?"
Huizar, who was notably absent from today's press conference, is concerned that the festival itself as well as preparations could tie up traffic for 10 days, and the crowds of 50,000 could strain city resources (especially considering there will be beer gardens, too.) Huizar didn't ask that the event be cancelled altogether—just that the permitting for the festival would be put on hold until the city understand the full implications of the festival. Garcetti told KPCC that none of the street closures have been finalized just yet.
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Tickets are now on sale (a cool $155, which includes fees for both days) and the line-up will be coming later. Today's press conference wasn't so much about answering any of those questions as much as pumping up the crowd and making plenty of references to Jay lyrics:
Mayor @ericgarcetti says concert will celebrate Golden State of Mind. pic.twitter.com/IOy6u680gm
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) April 16, 2014
Gloria Molina: "LA has 99 problems but Jay Z and Made in America ain't one."
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) April 16, 2014
Pols acknowledge there will be "intrusion" in setting up concert. But no details ... This is basically a rally to make everyone feel good.
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) April 16, 2014
CM Jose Huizar, who voiced concerns about security and street closures, isn't here.
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) April 16, 2014
Jay Z: "look how beautiful this park is. It's open to everyone." Except the weekend of the concert.
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) April 16, 2014
Presser over. There's no Q&A on the festival. Again, basically a big PR event with no details or questions.
— Alice M. Walton (@TheCityMaven) April 16, 2014
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