Enjoyed PrideFest Downtown
Last month the annual LGBT PrideFest was held downtown, previously it has been held in Tower Grove Park & Forest Park.
On Saturday June 29th I heard a guy across the street with a bullhorn quoting what I presume were bible passages. He was alone and largely ignored. Sunday, following the parade, there were more protestors. This time they weren’t ignored.
I guess protestors are to be expected, it’s a free country.
I’m thankful PrideFest is now downtown, good move. In a future post I’ll look at the problems of using the area around Soldier’s Memorial for large events.
— Steve Patterson
Ironic picture of the guy holding the “Jesus” poster standing right next to the “No Right Turn” street sign.
With a record crowd, the prestige of our historic civic center and on the grounds of Soldiers Memorial, what was the amount of the check the vendors cut for restoration and maintenance of the Memorial? What was the amount of the check the powerful CBS radio stations and their vendors at Uncorked cut for the Memorial? What has Taste of St .Louis and its vendors, drawing tens of thousands to Soldiers Memorial and the Plaza,contributed to Soldiers Memorial and its grounds? ZERO. Takers.
You’re wrong, the space isn’t free.
Bull…tax dollars bud. It may not be as much as you think it should be or perhaps not delegated to your liking, but take it up with the City leaders. On top of that, each organization pays for the use. Again, if the fee isn’t to your liking, then take it up with City leaders.
But as a tax payer of the City….I think it is a very appropriate use of the Memorial and the Plaza, not only for Pride, but for Taste of St. Louis, Musicfest, and a host of other events that draw people downtown.
As a tax payer of the City, I get tired of St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, the Metro East citizens coming into the City and using our facilities without paying for them…i.e.Forest Park (no….the taxing district only covers the institutions therein), leaving their trash, then going back home and complaining about how dirty the City is or how unsafe it supposedly is. Especially since it doesn’t cost them anything.
So if you are a City resident, then bring it up to your Alderman or the Mayor. Maybe there are others out there that feel the same way you do and change my happen (though I don’t think the complainers are in the majority). If you are a resident of elsewhere, then what does it matter to you since it’s not costing you anything?
Ed’s a county boy, don’t worry