- Proposed West Thomas Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Overpass looking out toward Myrtle Edwards Park
The organizers of Hempfest filed suit against the City of Seattle yesterday, over its failure to issue a permit for their 20th anniversary “protestival.”
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
E-Mail: media2011@hempfest.orgThursday, February 17, 2011
— SEATTLE HEMPFEST FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF SEATTLE —
Seattle Hempfest has filed a lawsuit in United States District Court against the City of Seattle, as well as its mayor, director of the Seattle Department of Transportation, director of Seattle Center, and chairperson of the Seattle Special Events Committee. The suit seeks relief under the U.S. Constitution and the Washington Constitution, and was filed in an effort to obtain a 2011 permit to produce the annual free speech rally to reform America’s laws prohibiting cannabis.
The suit asks the city to issue an appropriate permit for Seattle Hempfest in August 2011 and, if necessary, to enjoin Seattle from implementing the “West Thomas Overpass project” in such fashion as to interfere with the use of Myrtle Edwards Park in August 2011. Planned summer construction of the sky-bridge in Myrtle Edwards Park, the location of Hempfest since 1995, has displaced the mammoth event which routinely draws more than 100,000 attendees annually.
At least, I think they filed suit yesterday. The official press release says that the suit was filed on “February 17, 2011” um, a week from now, but then, I’ve heard avid pot smokers claim that the drug can enhance their perception of time, so perhaps there’s something about the timing of this I just don’t get? Which also might explain why the media contact email address they provided (will provide?) doesn’t seem to exist yet, at least, when emailed from my reality.
(Hey, sorry about the cheap stoner jokes, but when the Hempfest organizers act like stoners, it’s hard to resist.)
The sticking point in all this appears to be the long planned construction of the West Thomas Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Overpass, which will span Elliott Ave. and the railroad tracks, connecting lower Queen Anne to Myrtle Edwards and the adjacent bike trail. Hempfest organizers say the project hasn’t even been put out to bid yet, and are asking for construction to be delayed until after August. I’m waiting on calls back from both SDOT and Hempfest… assuming the latter has even received my queries.
As for other venues, Hempfest attempted to find a slot at the Seattle Center, but Mayor Mike McGinn’s spokesperson Aaron Pickus says that the Center is heavily booked in the summer, often years in advance. “The Mayor supports Hempfest,” Pickus insists, and is committed to working with the organizers to find a suitable time and location.
And if that doesn’t work, perhaps the Mayor and Hempfest could try a little enhanced time perception.
Can there be an article about cannabis, pot legalization, marijuana prohibition laws, the legalization movement, hempfest, ANYTHING without the cheap stoner jokes? For fucks sake. Its tired.
Hee hee! The court says Hempfest’s lawyer Fred Diamondstone did file the complaint and request for a restraining order yesterday, but since the complaint had a wrong year and forgot a verb at the end Hempfest had to file a corrected version this morning…no joke needed…
Anyhoo, the court says yesterday the City filed a request claiming the judge shouldn’t grant a TRO since they’re trying to change the construction work schedule to accommodate the fest.
Never forget that Hempfest brings many thousands of taxpaying tourists to the area and fills the commercial coffers of this city.
Lots of hotels and B&Bs, lots of sales of gas to build roads with, and all with very low policing costs.
Not to mention all the feds.
@1- When your press release is dated from the future and you’re contact email is wrong, people are going to laugh at you.
@4 unless you’re at CPAC.
being a weed smoker, pedestrain & bicycle rider who likes over passes & new Seattle infrastructure I think I can reasonably say that Hempfest can suck a dick.
i agree with #6……..i don’t think stinky hippies and juggalos are a good face for pot legalization in WA state anyhow..
Hmmm…needed bike & pedestrian infrastructure or a hippie stoner festival that lost relevance years ago?
Dipshits. Don’t they realize a mid-point entrance to the park will allow for increased access to future Hempfests?
I’m with @6.
I’ve never seen much more at Hempfest than blatant dirt weed smoking and littering. I’ll take the overpass.
Jesus Hempfest, get a real venue and be done with it. If it isn’t viable to do so, then your festival—in it’s current form—isn’t viable. How many times have they threatened legal action since moving to Myrtle Edwards Park?
Why not try Magnuson Park?
Seems fair, Hempfest has disrupted bike commuting through Myrtle Edwards for years.
It’s all about the timing and notification. Communication from the city by their own deadlines would be AWESOME!! You think stoners procrastinate? Try getting something from the city on time.
They should sue the city to finish it BEFORE Hempfest.
@ Andy-Squirrel
As a stoner, I assume you prefer to be a pedestrian instead of an inmate. You can be a relaxed stoner in this town because of those who stood up to the pot laws way back in the day. This town is very forward in it’s dealing with marijuana and it aint by chance. Hempfest in particular has helped to educate the people, police and public officials to the point that you can an out of the closet smoker and not be incarcerated. I think we owe the festival a little support because of what it has given us over 20 years.
Myrtle Edwards is way too small, anyway. Why don’t they consider moving it to Discovery Park, or Volunteer Park, somewhere where there is more room?