Indignant with the Western Festival cancellation, Elk Grove residents organizing people to pack Wednesday's CCSD meeting
This week's announcement of the cancellation of Elk Grove's beloved Western Festival has generated indignation in many community quarters. That indignation has spurred an effort for the public to attend next Wednesday's Cosumnes Community Service District Director's meeting and express their thoughts. The CCSD is the main sponsor of the festival.
Last Monday, CCSD general manager Phil Lewis sent a letter to the all-volunteer organization notifying them that the event scheduled for next weekend had been canceled. As seen in Lewis' letter below, the organizers had not met paper work requirements.
Western Festival's Lynden King composed a letter expressing dismay and suggesting the five CCSC directors were puppets of district administrators. Since King's letter was revealed, several people have used social media to organize an effort for people to speak at the next meeting.
Yesterday, Elk Grove resident Brian Coulson (see video below of Coulson's comments to the Elk Grove City Council) sent Elk Grove News the message seen below on Randy Bekker's Facebook page. Over the last several years, Mr. Bekker has developed a reputation as a policy influencer and informal spokesperson for Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, the city council, and the city's professional staff.
Not surprisingly, social media reaction has been mixed. A slight majority directs blame at the CCSD, saying they should have helped the all-volunteer group meet requirements and claiming administrators changed standards several times.
Those defending the CCSD say the Western Festival organizers had been put on notice for months and had ample time and opportunity to correct the situation.
A staple of the Elk Grove community for over 60 years, the festival was to resume at Elk Grove Regional Park after a four-year absence. The festival was last held in 2019 and was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wednesday's CCSD meeting starts at 5 p.m. Participants can speak during public comment on non-agenda items, as the meeting's agenda does not include the cancellation.
Aside from a TV news interview, the CCSD has not further commented on the controversy.
Like many families who have lived in the community for any length of time, we have fond memories of the Western Festival of days gone by. In particular, we enjoyed going to Elk Grove Boulevard BelAir (now the Smart and Final) for a bowl of Friday night chili or, for our children as they aged, going to Suicide Night.
ReplyDeleteAside from recruiting volunteers in an increasingly fast-paced community, the other problem in the future years will be contracting vendors. Given the late cancellation notice, the amusement vendors might be apprehensive about booking in the future. Will they commit only to having the rug pulled out at the last minute? Same goes for vendors, etc.
That uncertainty alone, along with the changing demographics and proliferation of other festivals, means the Western Festival will fade like a cowboy on their horse riding into the sunset, like at the end of a John Ford western.