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Parks & Public Spaces
Application from Google to hold “Geek Street Fair,” a special event to promote STEM education, in the North Plaza of Union Square Park on September 27, 2016.
WHEREAS, MAS Event + Design, LLC on behalf of Google ("Applicant") has submitted an application to hold "Geek Street Fair," a special event to promote STEM education, in the North Plaza of Union Square Park on September 27, 2016 ("event"); and
WHEREAS, The event would take place between the hours of 12:00PM to 5:00PM, with setup from 12:30AM, and breakdown by 10PM; and
WHEREAS, There will be approximately twenty-three tents, each 10' x 10', that will be occupied by different organizations featuring different aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, a 20' x 20' stage for announcements and musical elements, five food trucks, and a production trailer; and
WHEREAS, The focus of the event is teaching and describing different aspects of STEM education to middle-school aged children and families, with hands-on crafts and games, and the event would be open to the public and free of charge; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant shall not be advertising the event, nor will the event be broadcasted live on the Internet; and
WHEREAS, The event would have amplified sound in the form of speakers and subwoofers to play music and for speeches and presentation on the stage; and
WHEREAS; The Applicant proposes to use a biodiesel generator; and
WHEREAS; Union Square Partnership has indicated that it supports the event; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five is encouraged by the participation of local businesses and organizations in a previous iteration of this event, and encourages the Applicant to feature local businesses and organizations; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five is encouraged by preliminary sketches of signage that do not feature corporate sponsorship, logos, or trademarks; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five has concerns regarding proper signage, use of sound, sanitation, and various other unknown features of the event; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application from Google to hold "Geek Street Fair," a special event to promote STEM education, in the North Plaza of Union Square Park on September 27, 2016, unless Applicant provides diagrams and proposals for signage, makes efforts to include local businesses and organizations, chooses an environmental conscious and quiet generator, provides proper sanitation services, and further advises Community Board Five regarding details of the event.