Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2001
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Selicia Kennedy-Ross
Note: News from Pomona in the Times Community Newspapers
LA Times URL:
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

HEMP FESTIVAL PLANNER DEFIES LACK OF PERMIT

Organizer Of La Fiesta De Las Cucarachas Says Event Will Go On As Planned 
Despite Pomona's Denial Of Application.

POMONA -- Organizers of a controversial festival celebrating hemp say the 
show will go on this weekend despite the fact they were denied a city permit.

The La Fiesta de las Cucarachas, a two-day music and cultural event, was 
scheduled to start Friday in the downtown's Arts Colony, but city officials 
would not grant a permit. The vow to hold the festival without it has 
Pomona police planning an increased presence downtown this weekend.

The festival has been advertised in fliers throughout downtown and is being 
touted as a multistage concert on Pomona's streets coupled with an outdoor 
marketplace for food and crafts.

Hemp Shak owner Mark Hornaday, who organized the two-day event, was turned 
down by the city earlier this week. He had submitted an earlier application 
that was rejected because it was incomplete. Hornaday hasn't obtained 
insurance for the festival and the city says he hasn't organized enough 
security for it.

Hornaday said he is appealing the city's denial. City officials said 
Tuesday that Hornaday had not submitted an application for a new permit.

"He's been notified that if he tries to proceed with his festival, he will 
be in violation of city code," Police Chef Fred Sanchez said. "He would 
then be subject to being cited and financial penalties attached to that and 
it could lead to possible arrests."

City officials said the festival would be shut down if necessary. People 
who show up for the festival will be informed that the event is not 
authorized and is not taking place.

The festival has also drawn fire from some critics who take issue with the 
name of the event -- "las Cucarachas" (cockroaches) is a pun on "roach" 
clips used to smoke marijuana, organizers say. But critics take offense to 
the timing of the event, which coincides with the Cinco de Mayo holiday and 
because the title of the festival is in Spanish.

Hornaday said the festival is not meant to offend any groups and is being 
staged May 5 because it coincides with International Hemp Awareness Week.

"I'm not trying to compare it with any other groups in some way that is 
derogatory," Hornaday said.

"The reality is that the promotions are out there and the people are coming 
to enjoy a peaceful festival, if that's OK with the authorities. Are they 
going to bill me because people came to Pomona and supported the 
community." Both the Pomona Central Business District, a downtown business 
association, and city officials opposed the festival because it focuses 
largely on the use of hemp -- or cannabis. City leaders say it gives Pomona 
a bad name.

Taco Nazo owner Marisa Nunez said she originally supported the hemp 
festival for environmental reasons, because hemp can be used as a 
substitute for wood in paper products. But she changed her mind after 
Hornaday refused to change the name of the event and did not get the city's 
approval.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart