Bonnaroo and Field Day Festival may have some problems on their hand:
The greatest problem is this: With the first concert less than two weeks away, the town has yet to receive the necessary permit from Suffolk County. That won’t happen without an intermunicipal agreement, allowing Suffolk police to supplement the town’s tiny force. The promoters will pay the bill for this policing, but they can’t cut the check until the two governments reach agreement. That requires action by the town board and the county legislature, but the legislature is not scheduled to meet again until after the June event. Riverhead signed the contract for the June event on Feb. 20. So it should have moved the permit process much farther along by now. (full story)
Sounds like a disaster in the making. I’m still going to the Siren Fest, for those keeping track at home.
[thanks for the link, chip!]
UPDATE UPDATE!
The Field Day Festival permit was denied:
County health officials denied the permit today after Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said his force wouldn’t be able to handle the expected crowd of 50,000. On Friday, county officials informed the town they wouldn’t be able to help with extra police officers because doing so would require an agreement between the Riverhead town board and the Suffolk county legislature. This wouldn’t have been possible, since the legislature doesn’t meet until after the June 7 and 8 concert. (full story)
All hope is not lost, yet. Stay tuned.