From Picnic to Porn-in-the-Park
Edited 08/01/2010
A group of residents were at the May 2010 Village Board Meeting to ask the board to deny WPDH's request to use Mesier Park to hold their 3-day Roofathon event. Some residents expressed concern that the type of activity that Roofathon brings is not appropriate for a community to endorse and that it hurts the reputation of the village. One resident presented the Board with a petition signed by 40 village residents. The petition complained of the traffic, parking, general disruption and inconvenience that comes with Roofathon. Dispite the concerns the Board voted unanimously to allow the event. Should they really have been surprised with what happened at the event?
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At the recommendation of the Recreation Commission the Village Board voted to allow WPDH to have Roofathon in Mesier Park. It is relevant that both the Chairperson and Co-chairperson of the Recreation Commission are NOT village residents. Last year these non-resident appointees spent $17,333 in taxdollars for the Roofathon/PIP event last year. That was more than $7,000 (of your tax dollars) over their budget for the event.
Roofathon was held in conjunction with the Picnic-in-the-Park on July 9, 10 and 11, 2010. The kick off event was Biker Night. Outlaw motorcycle gangs were invited to display their colors in Mesier Park. A very scantly dressed Zombie drew attention at the "Dead Memories" booth set up in front of the gazebo. For a fee a family photo could be taken could with dad holding a knife to the throat of a zombie.
At 1:30 in the afternoon on Sunday WPDH interviewed a porn star live in Mesier Park. Then they sold her adult video's in the park for a $50 donation. This was done in Mesier Park while young children and families were attending the Village's Community Day . The interview and pornography sale was only stopped because the mayor and police received complaints.
The Sunday pornography promotion was not the only inappropriate incident of the weekend. A resident complained of the disk jockeys broadcasting that they were looking up the skirts of females in Mesier Park. A parent complained to WPDH about the DJ's making jokes about children with special needs.
The Board remained silent when complaints were made about WPDH at the July Village Board meeting. The Mayor did admit that WPDH interviewed the porn start and offered her DVD's for sale at Picnic in the Park. He also pointed out that the three-day event was poorly attended. NOT ONE TRUSTEE voiced objection or accepted responsibility for the promotion of pornography at our taxpayer funded Picnic-in-the-Park. Instead, excuses were offered.
- Trustee Calabrese pointed out that the interview was not amplified throughout the park.
- Trustee Visentin said he would have to speak to "Mr Verano" because it may not have been as bad as it sounds.
- Trustee Alfonso asked if the porn star had been invited or just showed up.
- Trustee Costa, a strong supporter of WPDH, was conspicuously absent.
- Trustees Chase and Kirstein remained silent
The Board was asked for a commitment that WPDH wold not be allowed back next year. No response. In fact it now appears that the Mayor and Village Board are positioning to allow WPDH back for a third year.
2009 - A parade float endorsing recreational drug use
2010 - Pornography promotion and sales
2011 - ?
Letter to Mayor and Village Board
