Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
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.
Goodbye Sunset Junction Street Festival?
()
Gareth Kantner looks over an empty Sunset Blvd. from his office during the Sunset Junction Festival back in August, 2008 | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
"It's like your invited to the party but you have to stay in the bathroom," explained Gareth Kanter, owner of Cafe Stella and the properties at Sunset Junction (the red ones like Intelligentsia and The CheeseStore of Silver Lake). As the festival was in progress north of Sanborn St., south of it, where Kantner's and a plethora of other businesses are located, was empty with no booths, stages or any kind of festivity, even though it was blocked off and considered festival grounds. Kantner compared his side of the festival to the movie "I Am Legend."
Problems over the past seven years have persisted with the now infamous Sunset Junction Festival. From suggested donation entry prices that no one knew were supposed to be donations to leaving out local businesses, this year the complaints hit a tipping point. One big problem: despite a city document signed by the head festival organizer that said admission could not be charged and people were not to be denied access to the street in exchange for a street closure, the exact opposite happened. Even worse, merchants and employees trying to get to their jobs were told they had to pay to get to work.
Support for LAist comes from
A festival debrief meeting held by Councilman Eric Garcetti's office at the end of September was attended by 49 community members along with city officials to meet with festival organizers. Guess who didn't show up? "It is unfortunate that [festival organizers, Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance,] could not send representatives despite being strongly encouraged to do so," wrote Garcetti in a follow up letter obtained by The Eastsider LA (kudos to Jesus Sanchez for the sleuth work). The letter continues:
Most community members voiced negative experiences with the Sunset Junction Street Fair and a frustration that they could not voice them to you, the organizers. The consensus was that the event was valuable to the community but that planning and execution of the event should be done by someone other than the SJNA. In addition, the majority of these businesses and residents, by show of hands, indicated that they would like to have an event that is reflective of its original community atmosphere: particularly one that is free of charge and returning to its original location. The Sunset Junction Street Fair has changed throughout the years but your responsibility remains the same; build strong support for the event within the community. Closing any public right of way is a privilege and must not be taken for granted. I was disappointed to learn that up to the start of this year's event, there was an effort to exclude businesses along Sunset between Sanbom and Edgecliffe. Furthermore, merchants and employees within the festival area were told they would have to pay an entrance fee to get to their jobs. That is simply unacceptable under any circumstance. I have heard the outcry of the community, and the experience of my office in working with you has not been positive.
My staff looks forward to discussing these matters with you at your earliest convenience. Until that time, support from me for next year's event is far from certain. [Emphasis Added]
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist