This issue has been discuissed on this very blog in the Newsletter about the City Council meeting of May 3, 2011 -- Addendum on "The Future of Hickory Alive". The below presentation is from the City Council meeting of May 3, 2011. The item was discussed at the behest of Alder Sally Fox and her point of contention is that the city doesn't need events that "so heavily focus on alcohol" and "that we need more family friendly events." Alderman Hank Guess stated that as a matter of principal that he can not support any function on City property that publicly endorses alcohol. Alder Patton wants to look into the costs associated with alcohol and Staff being utilized in association with the event and she doesn't know that this necessarily needs to continue. Alder Fox stated that this is the city's front porch and we need to be aware of better events. The Mayor asked if the Jaycees were still involved with this. Aldermen Meisner and Lail agreed to monitor the event over the summer. The Mayor added that this seems to be an event that many people seem to enjoy and we are trying to accommodate 40,000 people and he isn't sure that this is broke. Alder Fox stated that there are ramifications that many don't see and that is the reason she has brought the issue up. The Mayor then went into a diatribe related to the event called "Hickory Hops" and there not being food available during the first six hours of the event. Alder Fox then added about negative consequences associated with over drinking and that it may be few and it may be many.
And then, I also discussed this issue in an article and a Youtube presentation of Mayor Wright's Monday Morning Meeting on the subject. That article is entitled Hal Row Show - The Mayor - Hickory Alive - A lack of tolerance for Younger Generations and it is from June 27, 2011. This was the second public discussion of this event and the Mayor described concerns associated with a mob of kids that he labeled as being 11 year olds and a lady called in to state that she was scared of these kids and inferred that they were keeping her from turning her car and another lady stated that she was deadset against the city "promoting" drinking on City property.
The Mayor stated that he wasn't pointing his concerns at the Hickory Jaycees or the Downtown Development Association, because he has no reason to think that they are doing anything wrong. A lot of underaged people are gathering there without adult supervision. They are not inside the ropes where the adult beverages are, but they are in alleys, streets, and corners. He stated that these children numbered in the hundreds. He stated that the city shouldn't be child sitting. He was distraught about how afraid he was about the potential risks of something bad happening. He talked about what a shame it would be if we couldn't have outdoor activities, because we couldn't keep children away.
The Hound's Mindset: I called the Mayor up, because I have honestly had it with the Aged Control Freak mindset that has permeated every crack and crevice of this city over the last several years as the city puts the foot to the floorboard in trying to turn Hickory into an Assisted Living Community. I labeled what he said as diatribe and asked what are kids supposed to do. He talked about the YMCA teen center, which is a fee based organization, and movies and things that cost money. In this economy, people are going places to gather that are cheap, because they don't have a lot of money. The Council doesn't seem to care for poor people. As far as his statement, one man's mob is another social gathering. I do not recall anyone starting a riot in any recent time in Hickory. Maybe someone could figure a way to create some atmosphere for these kids and make a few bucks off of them.
If there are gang related activities, then of course that needs to be addressed, but gangs have zero to do with this event. That would be like attempting to stop High school sports, because a gang member might be at the game. Are you naive enough to not logically understand that gang members can be anywhere at any time in this community? You really want to lock down this city to that level?
In further discussions related to this issue, I have read Julia Rush's rant about her front yard and how Hickory Alive isn't classy. I have had several discussions with colleagues and the general public where people are getting frosted when looking at the City Powers That Shouldn't Be's swath of destruction. How much infrastructure and events have they destroyed in this generation? What is their legacy? Their legacy is that they want to be busy bodies who enter your life based upon the whims and fancies of their personal preference. I don't drink alcohol, but I support the right of those who enjoy an adult beverage to do so and what I see as hypocritical is that the vast majority of the people who have spoken against the alcohol drink themselves. Does that even make sense.
If they are drinking a beer or wine at the Tap Room or Lake Hickory Country Club it is supposedly alright, because it is "Classy" I guess.
Now I have been told that my rantings are negative. What power do I have? I don't create city policies of governance. I have not instituted one ordinance. I have not created an Alcohol Ordinance to impose exactly where Drinking Establishments will be located and whether I choose to allow them to have a permit to open. I have not made attempts to shut down local businesses or keep them from being established, because my crowd doesn't hang there. I have not gone around throwing ultimatums at business owners in this city. I have not attempted to shut down the traditional events that have gone on for years in this city. I constantly talk about things we should do and I am considered a destructive force, while others talk about what we can't do, attempt to control the social aspects of the city, and create a climate of intolerance; and they are construed as being positive? Let's get real!
Joanna has stated that the group has attempted to make contact and have discussions with City Officials about the event, but the City has turned a deaf ear towards the Jaycees concerns, while gladhanding them and stating that they are not saying that the Jaycees and the HDDA are a problem. Well, one needs to understand that the HDDA is not a part of this fight. They aren't selling the beer and Sally Fox and Julia Rush are stakeholders in the HDDA. So, the bottom line is that the Jaycees have been sold out and they are standing alone.
Joanna stated that although it is against their personal desire, the Jaycees are already looking into alternative venues to hold this event. I already know that she is being approached by two other communities to move the event to their area. Hickory officials seem to think that they hold all of the cards and they are going to have things exactly as they wish, but what they fail to realize is that people are becoming so frustrated by City officials who constantly display a propensity towards tone deafness.
If Hickory continues down this path, they are going to start losing a lot of social events to other communities who understand and care about economics and want to grow their communities. Once again we come back to the old saying, "You never know a good thing 'til it's gone." The question is are the people of Hickory going to sit back and allow the vocal minority of Controllers, who make decisions based upon their personal preferences, without account towards the general welfare of this community, or are they going to say enough is enough?
To those who may not think this issue is real. You have no clue about the high stakes game of poker you have been entered into.
Please show your support for Hickory Events on Union Square by joining the Facebook page - Keep Hickory Alive.
Chamber "Future Economy Council" meeting at Conover Tavern, Conover, NC - 07-28-11
Photos by Pat Appleson of Pat Appleson Studios - ©2011 Pat Appleson Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Used By Permission - Check out the 30+ people who attended this event.
