WSF2001 - May 5 and 6, 2001

Westheimer Street Festival 2001: An E.T. Odyssey?

A Production

The Spring 2001 event has been announced: May 5 and 6, 2001, ET Park. This just came in after I received the following e-mail below:

From: westfest@wt.net | Block address
Reply-to: John Florez <westfest@wt.net>
To: "DON SERIBUTRA" <seributra_d@yahoo.com>
CC: westfest@wt.net
Subject: Where was every body ?????
Date: 02 Dec 2000 12:17:36 -0600
The WSFC spend thousands of dollars and countless hours trying to keep
the WSF on Westheimer. We did not get much support from the community at the
hearings (9 1/2 hours) or at rallies or at city council. Where was everybody when we
needed them ???
Hope you join us on the parkway on May 5 the 6, 2001.
John Florez Pres. WSF in EXIL

The above e-mail was about John Florez' opinion about the change of venue; not only did it reveal a non-cohesive community, but a reference to a minority of the anti-WestFest 14. My perspective was that pro-WestFest supporters (e.g. fans and musicians) weren't a part of the hearings, and if there was some representation from the fans, partygoers, and musicians that flock twice a year to the Montrose, there should have been a street closure permit, and a compromise. Much like the SOB hearings in 1997, where exotic dancers voice their opinions on SOB regulation, there is clear-cut evidence that conservatism is a conclusion drawn from reading COH public meetings (minutes).

The content of the public hearings was that the non-intervenors were gagged and/or silenced, where they weren't given the chance to voice their opinions about the WSF. All that I know was that 14 anti-festival people walked away with a victory, and relating to a quasi-apartheid system of dissassociation with the WSFC. Why a reference to quasi-apartheidism? The following link(s) below has more evidence:

http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/departme/city_sec/agenda/2000/index.html
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/departme/city_sec/agenda/2000/20000222.html
http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/departme/city_sec/agenda/2000/20000215.html

3/14/01 update: a month ago, I managed to drop by 524-B Westheimer, where I met briefly with John Flores, where he stated that there was a lot of evidence, detailed in a binder the size of the Manhattan Yellow Pages, that the WSFC was not in violation of any municipal ordinance or state law. To add more fuel to the quasi-apartheidism, the Houston City Councilmembers refused to look at the evidence brought forth by the WSFC, and due to their conservative nature of siding with a minority of 14 antifestival people, some might state several issues ranging from a conspiracy to political correctness. Another agenda being considered is the WSFC going political this year, where CIty Council At-Large #1 and #2 are the main targets for endorsing political candidates. It may be likely that the WestFest will return to the Montrose, if their efforts of going political this year works out for them, and I wish the WSFC the best...

Another note: another distribution of Armageddon and WSF2000 flyers (with the WFPO banner) at the Bob Marley Festival (3/10-11/01) was another success, where the same results were noted. Much like the Fall 2000 WestFest, the overall analysis was similar, except for burnin' $15 for 2 tickets.

After browsing the 2/00 minutes, there are several references to the WSF, especially the pro and anti-WSF statements from several citizens. Since Halloween 2000, an online club, the WestFest Purists Organization, was born, as a reminder that "purists" of the WSF, old or new, should drop by and have a look. Click on the marquee below to enter.

The marquee above is the official logo, created on 11/7/00 (re-edited 12/2/00). As the designer of the banner, future plans include turning the above banner into a decal for distribution at the Spring 2001 WSF.