We’ve probably asked these questions before, but while memories are fresh, let’s have another go at them. Consider this my evolving worksheet, and note that the concerns described yesterday have been relayed to the Floyd County Health Department for comment. Also, note that I continue to believe that the event can be reformed to bring it into line with current realities. But unless the discussion begins, there can be no solution.
For city government and the police department: Can there be clear and public clarification of the open container laws, or absence thereof? Those of us who did our level best to comply with ATC regulations governing alcoholic beverages being carried in and out of our licensed space continue to find it disconcerting that there is inconsistent open container enforcement, if any at all. If this state of affairs owes to ambiguities in state law, I’m happy to take the case to higher authorities. If it owes to local indifference, then we have accidents just waiting to happen during Harvest Homecoming.
For the Board of Public Works: You are charged with managing the city’s properties, which customarily include our streets and sidewalks. The traditional Harvest Homecoming festival business model is reliant on being granted permission to charge booths a fee for temporary street set-up space, which has had the consequence of blocking the entrances of businesses that operate year-round – and there are far more of these now than in the past, when the festival’s business model was developed. Harvest Homecoming’s grudging compromise solution in recent years has been to give existing businesses a first chance to purchase booth space for $300, and using the purchased space to function as de facto entry to their front doors. How does the Board of Public Works justify this practice of compelling year-round businesses to pay for entry into their own buildings? Is there a statutory precedent for this practice sufficient to dissuade legal action? Is this something the Board intends to address when it arises, and not before?
For Harvest Homecoming: Is there a credible economic impact study, one conducted since downtown’s began revitalization, that charts the festival’s belief that its presence is a boon for the area in which it is held? Such an impact study must seek to document where the money spent during the festival actually goes, and if there is benefit or detriment to existing businesses, which are forced to alter their modes of operation to suit the needs of the festival. If there is not such a study, how can such positive economic impact claims possibly be verified?
For the city’s elected officials: It should be obvious by now that the economic interests of our 365-days-a-year revitalizing downtown business district clash with the traditional Harvest Homecoming business model, which was devised during a time when downtown was in decline. This clash can only get worse without some form of intervention. While it is clear that numerous people come to the city’s center each year during the festival’s run, it is far from clear whether their presence is a good thing for those existing businesses that have invested heavily in their own business models. Isn’t it the city’s job to help answer the questions I’m asking here? Isn’t it the city’s job to arbitrate and mediate the ongoing conflicts of interest? After all, each year the city approves the festival’s increasingly outdated business model. It needn’t proffer approval without active participation in discussions and exercised aimed at greater festival transparency and a more inclusive approach.
It seems that it wouldn't be too difficult to simply shift Harvest closer to the river which would, it seems, free up traffic to existing businesses and not impede or change the crowds attending Harvest at present. That way when I ride the Ferris Wheel with my daughter I can have a view of the river as well as downtown while I'm nearly peeing my pants.
ReplyDeleteThe calculus is simple. Put HH booths blocking the entrance to any business outside downtown and see how quickly the lawyers become involved.
ReplyDeleteAs a fan of both Harvest Homecoming (insomuch as our local indie business, artisan, and civic group booths are concerned- traveling imported junk dealers excluded) AND our year round indie downtown businesses, I'd love to see this addressed with all parties in an honest conversation. I still see no reason why we can't have a successful Harvest Homecoming that includes, encourages, and builds up our year round local, indie businesses, but all have to be willing to discuss.
ReplyDeleteI for one have been asking the same question about the blocking of our most important business storefronts when it would be more appropriate to showcase these businesses. Why not simply move the booths to the center of the street? I think that a single line of booths with a gap every 5th space for crossing sides would look nice. The problems of electricity and water can be dealt with. The streets involved can be expanded to meet the demands of booth space.
ReplyDeleteThe official position of HH is that the fire code precludes moving booths to the middle of the street.
ReplyDeleteI would support moving the whole shabang to some vacant ground then. Or possibly place booths only in front of buildings that are not active retail operations.
DeleteAfter 7 years of dealing with Harvest Homecoming, both as a business owner and now as a resident of downtown, allow me to chime in.
ReplyDeleteIn the first couple of years I was excited about opening a business downtown simply to have another light on downtown.
I opened right before Harvest Homecoming, which was not intentional. It just worked out that way. It was my first experience with the orange shirt Gestapo, and it's shaped my opinion ever since.
My honest opinion is unless the "good 'ol boy" mentality changes quickly, move the debauchery to the 4H fairgrounds where it belongs.
Do the bars generate good revenue? Absolutely. Do the other businesses lose money? Absolutely.
Personally, after the 3rd year of fighting to even get access to my front door, I, like other businesses, threw in the towel and made decision to close the shop down. Customers refused to come out, vendors refused to deliver. The work load prior to Harvest was to meet deliveries was overwhelming.
To address some of the questions you've posed, the open container law is one that you have more knowledge than most, but sound biting Vicki (Good Times) and Jake at Hugh E's, the enforcement is completely unjust, where the bars are blamed for open containers. The reality is, especially on setup night, cases of beer are brought in by the vendors.
Here are some points that I would like to mention, some may overlap with yours.
Why do business owners have to pay a booth fee? Can I bill Harvest for the thousands of dollars of lost revenue?
Are all the food vendors "serv safe certified" like the legitimate food establishments downtown? or do we just ignore health code for a few days?
Other than a bar, I've yet to hear that the type of people that visit harvest are actually the type of client a downtown business would want. I've always heard the line about "you can't beat this kind of exposure for your business". If another business has positive statistics, would love to hear about them. There's a big difference between "traffic" and "sales".
I'm still puzzled why the booth agreement says you must keep everything within your booth space, but there are still those who insist on taking over the sidewalk. My favorite is central christian church, who love their God but could care less for the neighbors. Two years ago they practically blocked the entrance to Thorpe, and after repeatedly asked to clear the sidewalk, a HHC official "made an exception". This year, it was the front of the Grand that they took over.
Parking: as a resident, it's absurd that HHC officials have their own parking lot and residents/business owners have to fend for themselves. There needs to reserved parking for those that are there year round, not the 3 day wonders.
I think it's time for Harvest Homecoming to understand it's not 1970, and they and their vendors are guest of downtown, and unless it can police itself by its own guidelines and be a better guest, it needs to find another home.