Burlington has been cancelled by the city for the reasons of "safety," and the fact that we had not yet paid a $500 dollar security deposit yet. We lost thousands of dollars because of this.
Like no other event organizers on the waterfront to my knowledge, we were forced to pay the Burlington Police Department up front nearly $3,000, and we don't care about safety?
Private Security is a given and it's yet another insult that the city doesn't think we're going to provide it.
This treatment needs to end, and we will take it to the supreme court if necessary.
We are working on the Burlington case, and plan to bring it before a judge next week. (this has been postponed because we are yet again trying to work with the city. They have claimed to be giving us another date in September)
To remain POSITIVE, Alburgh is still on and building everyday. the stage that Tom built is
when quoted saying, "the city has a bias against reggae," it was forgotten to include FESTIVAL!!!
The city officials, not the people, (parks and rec, the mayor, police, fire) associate us with the original Vermont Reggae Festival
they have actually started to host reggae shows of their own, and good for them, but guess what
this false association and discrimination will not be brushed away again
remember, this happened last year, when we had our investors waiting to pay
obviously there is a connection because we are connected in the roots
but the people on the board of directors of the past reggae festival
are not the same as Vermont Roots Reggae Festival
there are no legal connections
the festival had crowds of tens of thousands
it was a free show
people camped
in other people's backyards
parked their cars all over the place
a crime scene to some, a spiritual gathering
to others
for the burlington show
we are no different than any other concert
on the waterfront
yes, there have been a few problems
the last few years, but people trust
so long as we maintain love and positivity
it will happen for everybody
and amends will be made with all
as soon as we can
Show support by calling us or them
or both! let's bring the positive vibrations
music, art, meditation, and celebration
to Vermont all the time
here and now
and always
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4 comments:
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It strikes me as hypocritical that you would supposedly seek to distance yourself from the original Vermont Reggae Festival, yet as recently as a month ago (maybe still?) you featured THEIR logo on your site. In fact, wasn't it your organization which deceptively called themselves '18th Annual' last year or the year before, seeking to ride in on the 16 years of original VRF coattails? You also benefit when the news coverage shows scenes from the OTHER festival, not yours.
The original VRF didn't disband because of 'tax problems,' whatever that means, and it's pretty shitty that you wouldn't care enough to get the real story. If you really had a grasp on what the relationship between the original VRF and the cops was, you wouldn't be making the smears you are making. As it stands, you bring bad vibes to the table when you slur the good name of the non-profit free Vermont Reggae Festival.
jeff,
first. thanks for participating on here. your energy is pretty negative but it seems like you believe what youre saying so that's cool.
you seem to know the REAL history, so please lay out what you think happened to VRF. all i want is to get public discussion going about the issues.
let's always maintain respect.
we obviously have certain ties with the original vermont reggae festival. they had many wonderful events, and mike lee, the founder of vermont roots reggae festival, worked with vermont reggae festival, but was never on the board of directors, the ones who control all the funds. he helped out.
look at our logo, it was painted by mr. doubleday, the same guy who did the art for vrf, and is now officially retired.
we were the first reggae festival to come up in vt after they went under, and so it is an evolution of the old one, but it is not the same.
this is the whole reason the city of burlington/parks and recreation backed out on us. they don't trust us because of the old festival. they falsely associate us in terms of our financial history. they don't trust us even though the scale of our event was only looking to be about 300-400 people, maybe 5.
our only blunder was a rainy weekend in 2007. i wasn't a director then, but vrrf fully plans on paying back the couple of bands who were left hanging as soon as possible. it was a low turnout, but still a great weekend.
we do not bring bad vibes, and i actually don't appreciate that at all. vt roots reggae fest and gathering of the minds are looking to bridge all of these discrepancies, and hope to bring together the reggae community this year and every year.
the reason we featured the old logo is because of mr. doubleday, and because we have respect for the old show. tuna, my debate professor at uvm was a huge organizer, bobby hackney, andrew marks. these are the people i'd like to hear from.
i will tone down some of the stuff in the blog, because i'll admit that it might be too much my personal opinion when i only have a few different sides of the story.
all i know is that we received very little respect from wayne gross, chief higbee, and mayor kiss. 2 years in a row!! we had a security plan, and it was more than legitimate. the 500 dollar security deposit argument is a joke. we paid police up front like no other festival!!
i look forward to talking more. peace,
bill
Feel free to respond to my original 4-5 comments, since you didn't really seem to. (except the lame excuse that OUR logo was included because it is another Doubleday creation. Did you even think to get someone's permission?)
"Bad vibes" is you representing the history of Vermont Reggae Festival when you obviously don't know it well enough. It is NOT obvious that you are related to VRF. In fact, YOU'RE NOT.
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