City Hall needn’t be a roadblock to cultural events

It’s one thing if first-time cultural event organizers trip up trying to get through the permit process at City Hall. But when multiple groups — including an event as venerable as the 37-year-old Wichita Black Arts Festival — are fighting their way through City Hall, that’s a problem. At least city staffers seem to understand that the permit process needs to be streamlined. A single application site and single form are in the works, a reform that could go to the City Council early next year. The idea of a collaborative committee of cultural event planners could have multiple benefits, too. These cultural celebrations are part of what keeps life in Wichita diverse and interesting. The city needs to help them not only happen but succeed.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

4 Comments

  1. JUSTA GUY
    Posted October 4, 2005 at 6:03 am | Permalink

    There is culture at city hall. It is called bureaucracy. Single source permits is a great idea, it will give bureaucrats an extra coffee break. Anyone remember,”what’s big and blue and sleeps two”.

  2. Ray Thomas
    Posted October 4, 2005 at 7:08 am | Permalink

    Why is it that just the ‘culturally diverse’ groups are the ones complaining about the permit process? Other groups have to go thru the same thing, and they are not complaining about it. Why is that? Could it be that certain groups just feel more “entitled” to special treatment?Can hardly wait to see Mark McCormick’s racial view of this one.

  3. Joe Williams
    Posted October 4, 2005 at 8:36 am | Permalink

    Ray! I think most people just tolerate it. It’s like filling out our tax forms, most people tolerate and don’t speak out, but everybody knows it is a pain in the butt.

  4. mrcontroversy
    Posted October 4, 2005 at 10:38 am | Permalink

    It’s a good idea; ergo, nobody on the 13th floor could possibly have come up with it.