This article fails to address the effect of the economic climate on small donations from event attendees. Big donars aren’t the only people affected by the downturn. With some 55% of Americans unemployed, or forced to accept wage and hour cuts, people are pressed to feed themselves, let alone be generous.

It’s easy to ignore or forget this if you’re in the 45% thusfar unaffected, but the rest of us are hurting.
It’s not pubic apathy causing reduced donations- it’s tightened belts and empty wallets.

Sometimes, just reading Exit133 comments for the typos is worth the time in and of itself.

How can people afford to be generous and donate? Pierce County focuses on “retail” this generates a lot of minimum wage part time jobs.

I also question if the number of 100,000 people who attend Freedom Fair is realistic? Do that many people pass the only donation point on 30th and McCarver? Or does that the estimate include the many other thousands of people who don’t actually go down to the waterfront, but rather watch the air show and fireworks from vantage points on the hillside above?

i do believe if some investigative, or fact finding was actually done in regards to any comment i made that you would find the same resources i did. i also do believe she has opening admitted to this during a members meeting when she was questioned about it, as it was going on for months before anyone there caught on. i appreciate your concern for “Proof”, but why not just investigate it yourself if you find it questionable. have a great day!

The writer has found the trouble. Many of the daytime attendees (like myself) are drawn by the festival-like atmosphere… includeing the overpriced concessions. When we have to choose between lunch on the wwatefront and a “voluntary” donation, it’s not a hard choice.

On the other hand, I have attended (and enjoyed) the freedom fair for nearly a decade, but the last couple of years the atmosphere – especially in the evening – has deteriorated. That plus the challenges of parking for the night shows has converted me from an all day attender to early morning only. This is a factor that must be addressed as well if the event is to be successful.

I’ve had to work the last 2 years on the 4th, and haven’t been able to attend, so I can’t judge the quality of the Freedom Fair.
However, from my vantage point 175 feet above the Port of Tacoma, I will say the fireworks did look more impressive last year.

Also, @ Colin:
the burden of proof always lies on the accuser. Hearsay carries no weight.
I was not at any time a member of the Speakeasy, so honestly I have next to no incentive to investigate this.

after reading the two newspaper articles linked here we should change the name to Tacoma’s

FREEDOM TO LITTER FAIR

what better way to celebrate endless death-screams from Iraq, Afghanistan, gulf of Mexico etc. than rampant consumption and littering.

Many festivals sell some kind of a trinket on a lanyard at many local businesses to finance the event. Businesses can use the lanyards as a premium (or give a discount) to attract new business.

If the trinket is something like a Chihuly glass thing-a-ma-jig which changes yearly, it becomes a collectible that people can use to prove their support for local events.

Check out Burlington VT’s “First Night.” You buy the lanyards in advance of the event and use it to gain access to the various venues. Add VIP treatment to lanyard holders and you’ve created a much sought after item.

/$1 Million is a lot of money for a party, especially considering that the South Lake Union event in Seattle only cost $500 K; and, when asked, the Seattle Community donated every cent of the cost. How much of the $1 million goes to fund salaries, etc? IF Tacoma wants the July 4th event to continue, then people and businesses in Tacoma need to pony up.

Frankly, expenses can be culled by really looking at what we are being asked to pay for and the event can be slicked up. Can the fair be a draw without an air show? I think so. Can you do a family package deal that includes transportation, entry, 1 meal and and 1 snack and pre-sell that? How about adding music and performance stages as well as “street performers”? Or here is a radical thought: Why don’t we go back to the days when we only had the fireworks at night that everyone came to watch and skip the day party.

Why not roll back the clock to simpler July 4 celebrations in Tacoma?

When I was a kid in Tacoma (cough, cough) July 4 was always sunshine and blue skies.

My friends and me would be out riding our bicycles and then one of us would hear a familiar humming and whirring motor and then we’d all look to the sky and yell out, “The Goodyear Blimp!” What an awesome sight that was…

By around 3 in the afternoon two or three biplanes would perform loops and barrels over Commencement Bay. After that, the roar of jet fighters would dominate the skies.

Everybody in Tacoma would just carry on their usual business. Ruston Way had no barricades blocking access. The whole scene in Tacoma was like “Goodyear blimp, airplanes, jets—-must be Fourth of July.”

Around 10 at night the bang and boom and sparkles of the big waterfront fireworks show would draw crowds of people to the surrounding hillsides. Some of us would climb up on our house roofs to watch the free light show.

Free. Free afternoon air show. Free evening fireworks show.

We all never spent a dime to look at the Goodyear blimp or air show or fireworks. Yeah, those times in Tacoma…

It’s great to see so many ideas flowing about Freedom Fair, and I invite anyone interested to attend one of our planning meetings to learn more about how Freedom Fair is managed. I’d like to address some of the points made here. The TEC is contracted to produce Freedom Fair by the city of Tacoma; it is their desire to keep this event free, so charging admission is not an option. The $1 mil figure covers fireworks, air show, ten entertainments stages, portapotties, land & marine security, rental equipment, permits, and 76% of that sum is covered by in-kind donations of goods and services. There has never been a time when the TEC has NOT paid our bills, and this year is no different. We have 1 paid employee and 1 part-time contractor. The group that puts on the Seattle 4th of July that was mentioned has a large paid staff, and the $500,000 sum mentioned was not the cost of the entire event by a long stretch. This year, there were 3 admission areas that were manned from 6 am until 10 pm — perhaps those volunteers were lost in the crowds of people entering, but they were there. We don’t feature any “national” acts at our stages; but those national acts can cost upwards of $20,000 plus associated fees, and most people seem to enjoy the variety of local entertainment we schedule. At a time when a 2-hour movie might cost $50 for two (tickets, popcorn & soda), asking $1-5 per person for an all-day event doesn’t seem prohibitive, but we understand that not everyone can afford even that, and don’t pressure anyone to donate. We use attendance figures provided by law enforcement based on people actually on the venue, not in the surrounding neighborhoods, and average 100,000 – 150,000 people. We approach the business community on a year-round basis trying to develop sponsorships, with varying results. After 31 years producing Freedom Fair, we are still committed to providing the community with a family-oriented celebration; and can only hope that those who attend and value it will help out in any way they can — by volunteering, donating, helping us find other financial support, or helping with the planning process.

Admission is Free. This week’s sponsor: Tacoma Atheists. Remember your sunhats!