The iconic street festival’s future is uncertain because of police fees, according to reporting by NBC Bay Area.
Before the pandemic, Telegraph Avenue would get closed off on the first Friday of every month and thousands of people would peruse food vendors and artists selling their crafts.
The festival was a huge boon to local food businesses and artists. One such vendor was Mierra Marah, owner of Mi Granny’s Kitchen, who on average would make $3,000 that day alone.
"That was our money maker," she said. "It really gave us a platform."
First Fridays were a casualty of the pandemic, but organizers recently submitted a special event permit to bring the festival back this summer.
"We were told that the city of Oakland will no longer cover the police and fire costs for this event, which they have done from the beginning," said Shari Godinez, executive director of the Koreatown Northgate Community Benefit District.
Those fees were drawn from taxes on hotels and motels in the city. With travel depleted over the last year and a half, that funding has vanished.
In order to receive a permit, the festival has to come up with $24,000 to pay for the 45 police officers needed for security, said Godinez, the event’s organizer.
More money for outdoor festivals is coming, but not soon enough. A committee will come up with an equitable plan for the funds in October.
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