Since Lifelight is considered a ‘religious’ and ‘non-profit’ organization if they are using public property there should be some kind of compensation to taxpayers for cleanup, traffic control and general safety. Not to mention the buckets WILL be passed in the park.
When Jazzfest was in full operation I do believe they paid the city each year thousands of dollars for those services (the fees varied each year by how much the council and mayor liked the event 🙁
I don’t take issue with Lifelight using the park, I also don’t take issue with people who want to worship in a park. The Levitt, a facility owned by taxpayers, is rented frequently for worship events.
But Lifelight should NOT be using the park rent FREE because they are friends with the mayor.
“Damn!…. I miss the JazzFest!” (….”Although, I still don’t know what Sheryl Crow had to do with jazz (?) …” ) …..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikjmz_SlGhg
The sales tax from McDonalds should cover the rent. The big problem with free events is security and sanitation. There’s pickpockets and dirty diapers. When an impoverished unruly mass worships God (i.e. Trump), it’s gonna be nasty and ignorant.
give proof of your jazz fest claim.
I wish I could, but I don’t have access to JF financials. I was a sponsor on and off for a few years, and I know from sitting in strategy meetings with the JF board and others the payout for traffic control to the city varied each year. I think it was as low as $10K and as high as $40K, it was even discussed publicly in a city council meeting about 5-6 years ago. But JF isn’t the only one to pay the fee, other non-profits have to. I could certainly get a hold of Rob Joyce and ask him, he would probably have a recollection.