Q-Seattle Events: Tacky Tourist Clubs: Seattle Pride public meeting on move to Seattle Center

If you've wanted to talk with Seattle Pride Committee about their proposed move of pride actvities from Capitol Hill to downtown and Seattle Center, you'll get your chance on Sunday, July 17 when the group hosts a public meeting to discuss the issues.

Here is the full text of a press release sent to their public mailing list:

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Pride Committee will hold a community forum Sunday, July 17, to receive community input regarding the plans to relocate the Seattle Pride festival and parade starting next year.
The forum is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, at the Lifelong AIDS Alliance conference room, 1002 E. Seneca St. Please check the SPC Web site for any last minute announcements. Anyone who may require interpretive services or other assistance in order to attend the meeting is asked to contact the Seattle Pride Committee no later than the close of business day on Wednesday, July 13. Please send an e-mail with your request to info@seattlepride.org. Include a day and nighttime phone number for someone at SPC to contact you and please be sure to say ACCOMODATION REQUEST in the subject line.
Last month, the SPC announced its plans to move the two-day festival from Volunteer Park to the Seattle Center and the parade route from Broadway on Capitol Hill to Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle. The committee also plans to extend the festival from two days to four. Although the SPC has reserved the Seattle Center and received approval from the city of Seattle to move the parade route to Fourth Avenue starting in 2006, a final decision has not been made.
The July 17 community forum will allow the community an opportunity to hear from board members as to the reasons for these proposals. The SPC board also wants to give community members the opportunity to address their concerns and questions before a final decision is made.
"We know a lot of emotions are involved here," Frank Leonzal, President of the SPC, said. "We understand and appreciate that for a lot of people in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, particularly business owners on Broadway, these proposals represent a dramatic change. We want everyone to better understand our reasons for them."
"Board members are open to hearing alternatives or efforts the SPC can make to lessen the negative impacts people feel these proposals may have on the Capitol Hill neighborhood," Leonzal said. "Still, board members are committed to doing what they believe is in the best interest of Seattle Pride and the entire lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
"We strongly believe that over the years Seattle Pride has grown to such an extent that continuing to hold the festival at Volunteer Park and the parade on Broadway represents not only a hindrance to the event's natural growth, but also a greater potential risk to those who attend and to the city's facilities at Volunteer Park," Leonzal said. "We think Fourth Avenue and the Seattle Center are better suited to handle Seattle Pride's record-setting crowds."
SPC board members will give a short presentation and then open the floor to questions and comments. Because the committee expects the meeting to be well attended with many people wanting to ask questions and give input, the moderator will ask everyone to sign a list at the beginning of the meeting if they want to speak.
After the board's presentation, speakers will go in the order they have signed up. The moderator will announce breaks, if needed, and time limits to questions and comments based on the number of people who sign up.
"We ask that everyone come prepared to hear and respect each other's opinions and ideas and not to expect to monopolize each other's time," Leonzal said.
Board members will also accept written and prepared testimony until the end of the meeting for those who cannot attend or would rather not speak publicly. Courteous written comments should be limited to 300 words and written legibly or typed and can be sent to the SPC by e-mail or regular mail or presented to board members at the forum.