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Today's Letters: Jazz Holiday is now drunk fest

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published October 23, 2007


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My name is Justin Palyswiat and I'm 16 years old. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday has been a tradition in my family for years now, but unfortunately, thanks to the events that took place Saturday night, I believe that traditional has just been obliterated.

My family and I arrived at the festival around 1 p.m. Saturday for what we hoped to be a fun day. The festival started off great with terrific entertainment and a group of happy people, but as the day progressed you could sense that the younger audience was taking it to another level. By the time the final band took its place on stage, drunken idiots came surging to the front of the crowd, not even slightly worried about who they had to step on to get there.

I personally had beer spilled all over me. My aunt was flipped off several times for asking people who hadn't been there all day like we had to move back to where they were originally. I saw two elderly women who asked kids to sit down being pushed and cussed at.

After storming out of the mess, we confronted not one cop, but a whole line of cops nonchalantly standing there talking amongst themselves. My aunt decided to voice her opinion to them, and they laughed at her.

What is wrong with people today?

Justin Palyswiat, Dunedin

Let us bring in water, not buy it

Overzealous security and outrageous capitalism have combined forces to make it difficult, if not impossible, to bring personal drinking water to public events and places. Authorities make no effort to insure individual hydration requirements are met, let alone freely and conveniently.

Water bottles and canteens are not a danger to anyone and are not a luxury. Forcing people to buy "unopened" containers is usurious. Water is life itself and these officials have no right to restrict our access to it. Distributing water this way instead of allowing reusable containers and traditional fountains is an absurd waste of resources, only benefiting a greedy minority.

Chris Clement, Palm Harbor

Dunedin needs a Hooters, too!

Now that we may be getting an international coffee company like Starbucks in downtown Dunedin, how about our very own Hooters, a Florida original?

Yes, Dunedin, you can have hot, juicy wings, too. Hooters with its scantily dressed waitresses, awesome wings and cold beer.

Can't wait to see you here, too! I love this town. Congratulations Dunedin, keep thinking international.

Manny Bizanos, Dunedin

[Last modified October 22, 2007, 21:33:32]


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Comments on this article
by Flatted Fifth 10/30/07 10:07 PM
It's amazing what little a low-life person needs to "party". The ironic thing is that these party people would choose a jazz venue for tailgating, or whatever -- Folks it's not a rock n roll concert, it's jazz!
by KZ 10/24/07 09:30 AM
I knew there was going to be a party Saturday nite in the park. I am dissappointed it was cut short. MMW is known in the hippie world for putting on great shows. So when they booked the band in Coachman park, my friends and I were a little surprised.
by Huh? 10/23/07 04:37 PM
And to think that the Mayor of Clw insulted a paying concert organization for being to rowdy- when there were no complaints by concert attendees. Way to go Clw!
by BJ 10/23/07 04:20 PM
Justin, sorry your Jazz Holiday experience was not as pleasent as those in year's past. It's important to understand this is a FREE music festival in an outdoor park, not a concert hall or auditorium. Beer and Water sales (Chris) help keep this free.
by mark 10/23/07 02:10 PM
justin, i am sorry u had to put up with the yahoos, i only made it there thursday night and everyone i met was wonderful. chris, i agree new orleans has been successfully sued in the past for dehydration cases. thanks
by Dee 10/23/07 11:01 AM
I agree with Debbie. When I moved here 22 years ago, the Jazz Festival was just getting started and was wonderful. I have watched it evolve into a drunken brawl and no longer attend. Maybe beer sales should be banned and a small admission charged.
by kbd 10/23/07 09:21 AM
I remember when the Jazz fest was a wonderful way to experience the great night air with fabulous music. Parking wasn't an issue, nor was the croud. Jazz fest has gotten to big and the venue corrupted. NO FUN ANYMORE.
by Dean 10/23/07 08:49 AM
Manny--Hooters food stinks and is more expensive than it's worth so that dolts and drunken frat boys can pretend that they might actually make it with one of the chubby, silicone-filled waitresses.
by Dean 10/23/07 08:46 AM
I'm sorry Justin. This is America where any event is an excuse to get sloppy drunk. Believe it or not, those idiots you witnessed actually believe they are cool and not just another drunken moron annoying everyone.
by Lisa 10/23/07 08:46 AM
Jazz Fest on Fri was good music and good fans. On Sat it was a drunken nightmare. Plus, sound engineers changed the mix - pumped up the bass drum so it drowned out the other instruments. Boom-boom-boom and rowdy punks, just like a hip hop show. SAD.
by Debbie 10/23/07 07:52 AM
When I first moved to FL, I loved the Jazz Fest. I don't go anymore. With the chain link fences, security searches, and all the other restrictions, they make you feel like a criminal. I'd rather pay to see a concert at Ruth Eckerd and be treated well
by DB 10/23/07 04:46 AM
Dunedin - Thinking Oxymoron - a figure of speech which yokes two contradictory terms
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