Decompression: Mandatory donation?

[brochick]

just a quick unedited version of some things I recently discovered... wanted to post today as it is SF Decompression street fair.
hello fello information gurus.

Recently my friend had the inspiration to throw a block party, get the permit to shut off a street, and charge people to come in. He was direct to speak with Cindy Shamban at the SF DPT, who when he told her openly that he would charge, said, “You can’t do that! It is public Property (of course)”. Inquiring about the costs and fees for closing off a couple blocks for an event he is planning. When he asked if he could come to find out that he cannot charge anyone for this event, as it is on public space. He can ask for donations. Yes, but no admission fee.

Now, granted, it is not cheap to arrange a street faire, time money blood sweat tear Beyond the Public Health issues, Emergency Services, bicycle parking (?) that must be provided for numbers over 2000, and all the other hidden fees I probably know nothing about… the salaries to pay the people who are arranging the freakishly necessary event in my life...

To offset this cost, which may be the only reason one would charge against normal policy, asking attendees for donations would be adequately cover the fees, if any. From my, perspective, and I am just one BRC note takers here, but I find the BRC citizens to be pretty generous in nature. And there may be those folks who never have been to the playa or have not gone in years, and going to this event with a mandated of course I am going by what I know of this community, which is to say, no matter what, if were have it to give, we give. (Not just financially here I mean, it is not lie we are spending money really there anyways, and especially with the numbers of BRC folk that have been attending Decompression (what happened to Heat the Street? aren’t we already Decompressed!!!) over the last 2-3 years. It has grown!!! Do the costs go up? I am sure the donations would come. People value their community.

So why the obligatory admission fee as stated as a charge on the Decompression page at the org website, happening?
http://burningman.com/blackrockcity_yea ... m2005.html

Here’s my point, Cindy Shamban was very curious about this obligatory admission fee, once she found out about it, is it even disguised as a donation? Or do you have to just know, the way when you go to an IN and OUT burger and order animal style, you just have to know. Like a code, Like, "Oh I have to pay to get in, gee I remember a few years back you were just asking for donations?" or " gee I never had to pay to go to any other street fair in this city?" Didn't they have Ticket booths last year before you got to the gate where you gave a ticket? That is pretty much charging a

Is this an oversight? Am I off track? Is my info wrong? Is Cindy's? Is it the economy? I blame Bush all over again!!! HA

I am not trying to be cheap here, I am more than willing to give 5 bucks or have a SLIDING SCALE, just like tickets for the burn.... playa gear or not

Just more FYI about me: I barely made it this year to BRC as it was this year! I happily and with determination worked the entire months July and August with a total of 6 days off so I could go to my home, a Virgo birthday present to myself, because my tribe is there… and burning man is so WORTH working for. I bought tickets from a friend who told me she would wait to cash the check until the appropriate time. (A good friend). AM I alone in this? Am I just paying too much for gas and it is driving me crazy????

I can tell you dozens scenarios about friends and acquaintances who overcame the many various hardships and challenge before going, and are still feeling the repercussions (financially I mean, all other default re-entry issues excluded). I know I am not the only one. If I show up today in playa gear, and I am obligated to feel like I have to pay an admission fee of $10 or $20, not just a donation of my choosing, Ms Shamban will be hot on the trail.

[theCryptofishist]

I've paid admission to Folsom Street Fair.

[brochick]

It is supposed to be a donation only as well, all the street fair's in SF...even Folsom