Discussions of the upcoming 2016 Dominican Festival took up a good part of the 4/13/16 Council Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – Residents from Madison Avenue, Lewis Street, First Street and Sadowski Parkway were in full force to let the Council know that they wanted this Festival moved from that area of the Waterfront.
On the Agenda under Communications was a petition from these residents asking for the Dominican Festival to be moved to a place where it can be celebrated without disturbing the peace of the citizens.
The first person who came up to speak who acted as a spokesperson was Maria Viera from Madison Avenue. Viera listed major issues about this Festival. “Garbage that is accumulated on the Waterfront and the sand from Friday – Sunday. We need to protect our species and environment. There’s no respect and there’s loud music which rattles our windows. There is an overload of vehicles. People sit on our porches and ring our doorbells asking for water and use our bathrooms. There is urinating on our property. Port-a-potties were not emptied and started to leak.”
She held a an aerial shot of the crowd taken during a performance by one of the musical acts. She remarked, “This is not a festival – it’s a concert! The City is building up. Why doesn’t the City build a complex like the PNC Arts Center (in Homdel) for concerts or venues like this? We’re just asking that the Festival be moved and not shut down.”
Resident Maria Garcia from Kearny Avenue said, “I sent a communication to the Festival Organizers congratulating them on our success with the Festival, but it’s grown too big. People are jumping on cars. We are prisoners and can’t get into our own driveways. We complain and the Police do not come when we call. I’m asking the Council to do what they’re elected to do. I’ve been to other festivals and some that were held in New York. They have shuttle service to their festivals. No other festivals have the same problems caused by the Dominican Festival.”
Another Resident from the area came to speak. “By allowing this to continue, it shows that you don’t care about us.”
Another Waterfront Resident, Larry Copland said, “Don’t take our word for it. I invite you to my place for a few hours while the Festival is going on to see how loud it is. One year, my wife and I decided to go to Atlantic City during the weekend of the Festival to escape the noise. That was a big mistake. When we got home, some of our outside ornaments were destroyed. We’re just asking the Council for a compromise. IT’S THREE DAYS OF HELL!”
The next speaker who lives on Madison Avenue stated, “We’re not asking to cancel the Festival – just to relocate it. This Festival has been moved to 3 different locations. If there is an emergency, vehicles will have a hard time getting down the street.”
Local Entertainer and William Franklin Re-enactor Kurt Epps said, “La-Playata (the Waterfront) is beautiful and a good spot for festivals, but not for this one. This Festival is a victim of its own success. When someone has to vacate their house because of a Festival – that is not right.”
A resident from Market Street came up to speak, “It’s a very simple solution – just move the Festival.”
Another Madison Avenue Resident said, “It’s a three-day festival and sometimes there’s music until midnight. Sometimes people sit on our porches, making phone calls and are disrespectful to us when we ask them to leave. One time there was a fight in front of our home. The Police came and just flashed their lights and left. People park in our driveways and we have to have them towed.”
Another Resident complained, “This was never like this before. The festival is getting bigger and there’s more problems. Even the dogs do their business on our property. They sell alcohol and maybe that’s a problem.
Resident Stanley Sierakowski added his thoughts, “I wonder why the Mayor is not here to comment. Is it because her former running mate is on the Festival Committee? This is a fundraiser.”
Resident Dorothy Daniel came up to speak, “This is advertised as a festival and as a family event. Alcohol should be eliminated. I sympathize with these residents.”
Dominican Festival Committee Members came up to speak. The first representative stated, “I thought this was a very diverse community. That’s (where our Festival is being held) a designated area for the Festival. I live on Convery Boulevard close to the Police Department Shooting Range. The Fire Department, Police Department and Public Works said we leave the area cleaner than before the Festival started. I don’t think it’s right to jeopardize the Festival. I’m asking the Council to abide by the agreement.”
Louis Cruz said, “I’m a life long Member and United Dominican Organizer. I understand where these citizens are coming from. Some of the comments made by these Residents had merits and some don’t. We are not all a bunch of crazy animals. We own a lot of businesses and pay taxes. Going to school here, we had a lot of diversity. The City does not spend any money for the off-duty Police. Maybe we need more Police. I’m on the security detail for the Festival. I will try to resolve any issues. A lot of people who complain attend our Festival. If we have to move, then all festivals should move.”
Resident David Caba came up to speak, “Let’s come together and find solutions. At the Puerto Rican Festival, someone was killed on the street. This room is packed. It affects people.”
Milady Tejada, who is also on the Dominican Festival Committee came up to speak, “Things were said here that were not true. The toilets are serviced every day. People should have talked to us beforehand about the parking issues. A person came to talk to us about the (loud)speakers (used during the concerts) and we came to a solution about that problem.”
Another Dominican Festival Representative came up to speak. Mr. Pena who is the treasurer of the United Dominicans said, “We are a non-profit. The Festival starts at 6 p.m. on Friday. Alcohol is not allowed. Crowds come a few hours after Festival start times. There’s no parking at Rudyk Park. I wish the Puerto Rican Festival was at the Waterfront. We are trying to showcase the best part of the City. We clean up everyday after the Festival. I don’t see the residents doing that. The residents should have come to us first.”
Another Resident came up to defend the Festival being held at the Waterfront. “These problems exist at other festivals. Plus people exhibit bad behavior year round. If you don’t like what’s going on during the festivals, why don’t you just sell your house and move?”
Resident Sharon Hubberman said, “This Festival draws 50,000 to a town of 65,000 people. The Council has to reevaluate ordinances dealing with safety, quality of life and trespassing. You must act as a mediator for viable solutions to the problems. You may need to get outside law enforcement to help. I understand that this organization wants to share their culture. That’s my solution for keeping the peace at both ends.”
Mr. Guzman who is a Committee Member of the United Dominicans came up to speak again during the public portion. “When I first came to the United States, it wasn’t the Statue of Liberty that impressed me. It was when I came into the City of Perth Amboy and saw the Waterfront and the diversity. I shop and buy property in Perth Amboy. I pay 25 percent more to live here. As the elected body, you should not just sit with one side. Our organization donated 5 trucks and other emergency vehicles and wheelchairs to poor towns in the Dominican Republic. We also run arts and crafts programs and a lot of other non-profit things. None of us makes a penny from this Festival. We’re not here for politics. Let’s get all departments together. We love and respect the City. We want solutions.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry was glad that he heard about what was said about this festival. “We need to find a common ground. Let’s have a meeting with all sides. I want to be a part of these meetings. Let’s look at Municipal Parking lots for shuttle services to festivals.”
“Councilman Joel Pabon was glad to hear both sides what people had to say about the Festival. “The Police, Administration and Fire Departments should get together to see about possible solutions. We should have been on top of this since October when the residents first submitted the letter”
Council President Lisa Nanton said, “We should be compassionate and have some sort of a compromise to reach a solution for the Dominican Festival.”
