City to Vote Monday on Sunset Junction Fair

On Monday morning, Los Angeles’ Board of Public Works will hear public comment, before voting on whether to permit this year’s Sunset Junction Street Fair.

An Appeal in Court Is Likely

An attorney for the fair said that if board denies the permit, fair organizers will appeal in court.

Late last week, the board received a recommendation to deny the permit.

The city wants the fair to pay for police and other security costs from the 2010 event—as much as $267,000--before issuing this year's permit.

So far the city has resisted efforts to re-negotiate that amount, which the fair claims is inflated and discriminatory.

Street Fair Is Not A For-Profit Promoter

Attorney Jerry Neuman said arguments Monday will center on the not-for-profit nature of the fair and the $700,00 annually it spends on programs serving the community.

"People forget that this is a not-for-profit organization,” said Neuman. “They’re taking it away from kids after school programs and other stuff they’d be funding.”

Here’s a link to a description of Sunset Junction’s community projects.

Fair Claims Fees Are Burdensome

Neuman also said the unexpectedly large size of the 2010 security expenses—and a similarly large bill predicted for this year—are not something the fair can support.

"The Eagle Rock Festival only paid $12,000 last year in police and related expenses, “ he said, “and the festival hosted almost 100,000 people in one day.”

Estimated attendance at Sunset Junction is between 30,000 and 50,000 a day.

Many who live nearby complain about the noise and traffic caused by the event, which started out as a small, free community festival three decades ago.

“If the community doesn’t want the festival any more,” said Neuman, "they should show up the hearing and say we don’t want it anymore. They shouldn’t hide behind these fees.”