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Parks & Public Spaces
Passport to Taiwan - Cultural Festival in Union Square, May 24th, 12-5pm
WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and
WHEREAS, Passport to Taiwan has submitted an application seeking permission for a Cultural Festival event to be conducted in the South Plaza of Union Square Park on Sunday May 24, 2009 between the hours of 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, requiring set-up to begin at 9:00 AM, and dismantling and clean-up to be completed by 7:00 PM; and
WHEREAS, The festival will feature performances, presentations, arts and crafts, foods, children's workshops and installation art celebrating Taiwan American heritage in conjunction with Asian Pacific Heritage Month and Taiwanese American Heritage Week; and
WHEREAS, The festival site will include a stage truss and several canopied booths; and
WHEREAS, There will be signage on the booths advertising the event, but there will be no commercial signage; and
WHEREAS, The Festival costs approximately $40,000 to produce and is primarily supported by small private donations; and
WHEREAS, Taiwanese food and arts and crafts will be sold at the festival, and the proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization Passport to Taiwan to cover some (less than 25%) of the costs of the festival; and
WHEREAS, The festival will be free of charge; and
WHEREAS, Amplified sound will be used sporadically throughout the festival, and all appropriate sound permits will be obtained from the Police Department; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has arranged for their own clean up personnel and will pay Parks Department overtime to assist with clean up; and
WHEREAS, 2009 will mark the festival's eighth year in New York, and the applicant represents that no past complaints have been received; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board 5 recommends approval of the application by Passport to Taiwan to conduct a Cultural Festival in the South Plaza of Union Square Park on Sunday May 24, 2008.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 37 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.