Fate of Funfest?

The future is not looking too bright for Hazleton’s Funfest and many other special events. What it comes down to is money. The City’s Police Chief, Frank Deandrea, drew up an ordinance that would require events like Funfest and the Downtown Chamber Car Cruise to pay for a permit and to cover the cost of paying every City employee that would be a part of the event. From the Police to the Fire Department to Streets Workers. Funfest officials estimate it would cost about 25-thousand dollars, a cost that could cancel the long standing street fair for good. News 13 spoke with Chief Frank DeAndrea who says, he considers it a luxury when Police provide services for special events. He expects his officers to handle anywhere from 30 to 40 of these events this year. The price tag that follows can reach $20-thousand-dollars in salaries! Even though many Funfest volunteers and workers showed up at Thursday night’s City Council meeting to try and convince council to vote no, the ordinance passed 3 to 2 on its first reading. It was not the outcome many were hoping for, including Donna Palermo, President of the Chamber of Commerce. Palermo says it’s a great disappointment for the entire City. Joe Scarcella a founder of Funfest, said he expects an “uproar in the City.” Funfest supporters plan on teaming up for next Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Council is expected to cast their final votes on the ordinance. Funfest workers and volunteers are already preparing for the worst by throwing out ideas of moving Funfest to a different area or possibly downsizing the event.