Sunset Junction Again Denied Permit; Festival Likely To Be Canceled

Avision

Sad. After 31 years that some LA City officials with the support of some complainers in the community have brought down the Sunset Junction Street Fair. Argueably the most successful ongoing community event in the history of Los Angeles, the Fair brought people together in the neighborhood, brought outsiders and vendors into the community, and treated everyone to great music, great food, and great fun...for 31 years. Were there some problems, of course. You try putting on an event of this magnitude for so many years without offending someones feelings.

But, Michael McKinley, who always knew that the Fair was bigger than any one individual, including himself, always saw the bigger picture, that of helping disparate parts of the community work together, and helping at-risk youth improve their lives. I have seen young confused children grew over the years through their participation in the Fair and in the Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance into confident and functional young men and women. I have seen hard core gang affiliated youth become responsible adults because the Junction believed in their potential and offered them an alternative. I, and many others, have been introduced to neighborhood businesses and restaurants that are then supported thoroughout the rest of the year. There is a huge invisble economy supported year round that is connected to this Fair. So, even though some locals will post here and elsewhere to complain, the bottom line is that in the long run everyone actually benefited from the Fair, and now, everyone loses. Sad.

I shall not forget the names of the City officials who caused this travesty. They will never get my votes for any position in the future and I will lobby others to vote them out of office. Actions do indeed have consequences. Hopefully new officials will again see the magnificent miracle that was the Sunset Junction Street Fair and support it again, even help subsidize it as the City treasure that it is, or was. Sad.

Hopefully we can collectively dream and support Sunset Junction back into a healthy existence in the future by all becoming "our better angels" and not continue to descend into the pettiness that many of the comments posted here display. Quoting Rodney King during a previous City crisis: "Can't we all just get along?"

mark

McKinley was asked many times to list exactly what youth programs were supported by this fair. He never gave one example. And then at City Hall he said that "working at the fair itself as unpaid volunteers" was one of the programs for these kids. And then was unable/unwilling to detail ANY OTHER PROGRAMS!

Ruby

Thank you and well said. I'd like to see an end to the pettiness....it makes me want to stay inside...or move!

We are losing a very important part of our neighborhood and everyone wants to know what's in it for them.

guest

If SJ was not cancelled would the $20 entry fee have allowed me to see all the bands?

Phuck

let the organizers take what money they have now and set the festival at LA State Historical Park...oh wait that defeats the "purpose" of getting the Silverlake community together...yeah right

Michael Higby

The City and connected stakeholders want to take over these events. Tom LaBonge did the same thing with the NoHo Festival and the Hollywood Christmas Parade. Follow the money

mag

Well maybe if the city would take it over, move it to Griffith Park then it will not affect our community the way it has. The event can then be free. The reason that he owes that kind of money is because if its a non profit free event the city picks up the tab, but greedy Michael started at $1.00 and now is up to $25.00 to get in, so where is the money he has been collecting all these years. La Weekly has done several pieces on this fair about 9-10 years ago. Michael stuck his nose up in the air and refused to answer any questions, always dancing around the issue. WE figured back then it was over 200K people that came through at $15.00 about 300K just from entrance fees. Then there are the booths he sells, a cut form the liquor, bands etc. Oh by the way is mostly CASH. Yet one of his income tax showed only a fraction of the income. But as soon the event was over, he would take off on a month long vacation to Asia. There has been absolutely nothing that he contributes to the community, what he does is for his own gain. I have been a member of this community for 45 years and he has been a thorn in everyone's side. Disrespectful at community meetings, aggressive towards community members, intimidating those that disagree with him, and a liar. This situation, he will never own up to it, It will never be his fault, now is the Bureau of Public Works. I would not be surprised if he starts to ask for donations now for next year.

Steve C

That's the biggest mess of hogwash I've read around this issue. I'm a local citizen who has attended the even for years. I've also attended countless city council and neighborhood meetings where the even organizer has repeatedly thumbed his nose at the community and local businesses that are effected by the event. NONE of this would be happening if he had only taken a different approach. ALSO - it's OUR TAX MONEY that has been paying for this over the last two years since he has not paid back the city for the cops and other services he rents from the city. This hasn't been a community or even community-minded festival for many years now. The fact that he's actually gone out of his way in past years to shut out the local businesses and community that the festival is supposedly helping only adds fuel to the fire. NO ONE is to blame for this but Michael McKinley.

Deep Throat

Okay, let's follow the money...$25 to walk on Sunset Boulevard? I think that's following the money far enough.

Paulkulak

If SJ was not cancelled would the $20 entry fee have allowed me to see all the bands?

zota

Nope. It would have been more like $50 to get in to both days.

And with 40,000 attendees, you would have probably needed a VIP pass to actually "see" any popular bands, which I believe was around $100.

So glad this crap is behind us.

MfNikki

The criticism is not about the journalism. It's about the unanswered questions.

How is it that an entertainment organization can sell you tickets to an event you know you owe $$$$$ to and not have crucial permits to and yet a retailer wouldn't be able to sell something in a store they knew they didn't have, or a craisglister can't sell goods for goods that don't exist, or a restaurant can't sell a meal they know the ingredients are spoiled.

Think about it:

-Those who got hotel rooms.-Those merchants/restaurants who planned over shipment.- Those who bought tickets-Those who planned on being there working.etc etc///

It's a lot of little people that are involved, who's been benefiting all this time? Are permits given days before the event?.....

I'm curious how that works, so that the festival enthusiast can make wise decisions. Maybe there should be new standards that people are informed about before they make these decisions.

Stevenedelson@aol.com

WE are still on at the El Cid stage and want to use Los Globos to accommodate any displaced acts

mag

I say lets go to the cancelled fair and really support our own businesses. Enjoy the fine restaurants, stores, take your pets for a walk and enjoy the day. it will be absolutely FREE!

West Coast Sound

Thanks El Cid. We've made note of that at the below page, where we're doing our updates: http://blogs.laweekly.com/west...

Illdelphia2001

"...lack of info?" The news broke within the hour. All that stuff is coming, I'm sure.

Man, people *really* don't understand that journalists do not have magic powers.

MfNikki

Drama, People would like to know more important things:

To those who bought pre-sale tickets, will they be refunded their full dollars including service charges?

To those who were planning to be a vendor: Will they be refunded their full dollars including any deposits that were made?

Also: Did the department of public works take their money and deny them the permit? A fair compromise would of been a huge deposit for the 2011 permit.

Dept. Of Public Works speaks of being apart of the people but it actually just put many of those who rely on SJ for some stimulant income. (Meaning those who planned on making some money working it.)

LA is turning into a city of the dog eat dog world and it's sad to know that neighborhoods are denying opportune moments to bring others together to express, tolerate, liberate their being based on being a huge nuisance and $$$, a) It's just & weekend (2 days)s? I'm assuming setup is early morning and breakdown is late into the hours. These are probably the same people who have never experienced SJ EVER! Because if they really did, they would see how much inside the community comes together, how merchants prepare for the event and handle the bite if the choose to be closed.

It's a shame to read this and be questioning the journalist for lack of info....SJ is not about the music or corporation it's about an annual event that everyone knows about and enjoys. Regardless of the hardship and it's failures. Everything has its shortcomings.

-MfNikki.

zota

This isn't a problem with LA. It's a problem with Sunset Junction.

Ciclavia shuts down miles of streets, displaces parking, and costs a lot of money. And the city of LA happily pays for it so that we can all come out in the hundreds of thousands to enjoy each other's company. For free.

Sunset Junction fences off our streets, and charges me for the privilege of crossing. They demand non-refundable deposits, but stiff us for a quarter million. They charge real non-profits $250 just to set up an info table while collecting tens of thousands in corporate sponsorships. Good riddance.

irked

You've obviously never been to Sunset Junction, or seen how it's run or been a business affected by it. This guy McKinley treated the neighborhood and businesses with contempt, and this is the result of that.

mag

I live in the sunset junction epicenter and its no fun to be woken up at 2 am from trucks, dropped metal from putting up and tearing down of the event. There is no parking for residents let alone the 100K that trample through everything in their path. So for us that live and have businesses there no it doesn't do anything for us. ALL the food, bands etc are not local, they are the same people that travel from fair to fair. Its no longer a community event its all about Michael Mickenly making money for himself. Its about time this event ended the way it did, it shows how greedy, unethical and unprofessional he really is. Its not the Bureaus fault, its the organizers lack of respect for the community that has been forced to host this event year after year. So some of us are happy that its finaly over. This is the nail that will shut that coffin! Further more he should be investigated for fraud, income tax evasion and abuse.

MfNikki

Irked- no personal attacks. I'm trying to be of many (voice and reason) who have no idea of the businesses affected. Not to be ignorant or naive but it's painted up to be a good time inside & out. I've been a patron for what seems forever. You'd be surprised that hearing this also breaks my heart. I'm curious why these things aren't covered, even if it's not a hot topic or socially norm. See my questions below maybe direct those to search related answers. I'll do my bit of researching as well and get informed.