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Consents & Variances

Federation of Indian Associations - event in Madison Square Park combined with a street festival on Madison Avenue, between 23rd and 27th Streets

WHEREAS, The Federation of India Associations has applied for:

WHEREAS, This event is expected to draw approximately 50,000 people to the immediate Madison Square Park area; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has signed and agreed to adhere to the Community Board Guidelines (see attached), specifically the guideline that participation in the applicant’s events will not be denied to any group on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression; and

WHEREAS, In previous years, only through the application of pressure from elected officials has the applicant agreed to include participants regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five has asked that the stage be moved from 23rd Street and Madison Avenue northward to 26th Street; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to adequately increase the number of security personnel to handle the large amount of event participants as well as increase workers assigned to garbage collection during the event; and

WHEREAS, The event has far outgrown the Madison Square Park area’s capacity; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of both the Federation of India Association's application for a permit for a Street Activity on Madison Avenue, between 23rd and 25th Streets and application for a permit for the use of Madison Square Park to celebrate India Independence Day Sunday, August 21, 2005; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five urges the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, to uphold the integrity of its performance and cleanliness bond processes by consistently requiring such bonds and not returning them to applicants whose event causes extensive damage to public parkland or jeopardizes the safety of city workers, event participants and other members of the public; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five also urges the city to work with the applicant to find an alternative parade route and location.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 22 in favor, 5 opposed, 2 abstentions.

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