Update: 7/15/09:
The saga that has become the Richmond Fair continues. CBS 6 has learned Wednesday that the fair has been called off or at least, postponed.
CBS 6's Angela Pellerano spoke with Richmond Fair operator Philip Downing who says the fair has been canceled because the company that was providing the rides re-booked itself for an upcoming event in Maryland.
Downing says the ride company pulled into Richmond, Friday (in the softball field parking lot across from the Diamond), but Downing says they were told by Richmond Police that they had to leave the area because the Richmond Fair had not obtained the proper permits.
That ride company was supposed to bring 40 rides to the event.
Downing says after much back and forth with Richmond Police he was granted the permits and said he was getting them Wednesday at noon. As of our conversation with Downing - he still had not received the permits.
Downing says he's hoping to still bring the Fair to the Diamond, in the next couple of weeks.
Original 7/14/09:
The Richmond Fair will go on, but not as originally planned.
CBS 6 was first to tell you about Richmond Police telling the fair's operator that they were not going to give him a permit. This, after he'd already paid to lease the Diamond and spent thousands of dollars on advertising.
But RPD has now changed their position, partially, after Fair Operator, Phillip Downing says he rangled with RPD all afternoon.
Downing says he drove 12 hours to Richmond to resolve the issue. He says he waited at police headquarters for Chief Bryan Norwood for three hours, then negotiated with him for two hours to get permits for the Richmond Fair scheduled to open on Friday. This, after he claims the police department had agreed to do it, then backed out at the last minute telling CBS 6 "they needed more time to talk [to Downing], and the timing wasn't right".
The event was supposed to open on Friday, but today Norwood said he wouldn't be able to provide them with security permits until Sunday. "That will affect the fair drastically", said Downing. He says Friday and Saturday are when most people come to the fair. What's more, Downing says spent $100,000 advertising that the fair would start on Friday. Advertisments that he says are now worthless. "And, I'm not sure how we'll overcome that, but hopefully, we can overcome that. I don't know".
Norwood said his concern was public safety and talking face to face with Downing help him arrive at a decision.
Update - 7/12/09: Richmond Fair Back on. Organizer gets approval from Richmond Police for security for eight days instead of ten. That means the event will go on Sunday to Sunday instead of Friday to Sunday as originally planned. Watch video for additional details.
Update 7/11/09 1:20 p.m.:
Fair organizer Philip Downing tells CBS 6 he's been getting the runaround. He claims to have filed all the necessary paperwork with the police department, but so far hasn't found the response he wants.
Downing has already spent $30,000 to lease the Diamond, but the RMA won't let anything happen there without the proper permits.
CBS 6 contacted the Richmond Police Department to get their side of the story. A spokesperson released the following statement : "This issue is a work in progress, and a final decision has not been made."
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is planning an event right next door at the Arthur Ashe Center during the same time as the fair. Downing claims he's worked out an agreement to handle parking issues for both events.
Original Post 7/11/09:
The Richmond Fair is set to begin at the Diamond on Friday. But now, it doesn't look like that will be happening.
We're told it's because the Richmond Police Department won't sign off on the permit. CBS 6 did some digging after the organizer of the event contacted us, saying he originally got permission from police and the R.M.A, but that R.P.D. changed their mind and he's not quite sure why. The organizer tells CBS 6 he provided R.P.D. with everything they needed.
Originally, the Richmond Fair was set to be held at the Raceway Complex in Henrico, but county leaders would not sign off on the plan, so it was moved to the Diamond.
We contacted the Mayor's office and they referred us to the Richmond Police Department. Assistant Police Chief David McCoy tells us " the department has been in touch with the fair organizers several times...and that a formal letter from the department is being sent to them on Monday".
The saga that has become the Richmond Fair continues. CBS 6 has learned Wednesday that the fair has been called off or at least, postponed.
CBS 6's Angela Pellerano spoke with Richmond Fair operator Philip Downing who says the fair has been canceled because the company that was providing the rides re-booked itself for an upcoming event in Maryland.
Downing says the ride company pulled into Richmond, Friday (in the softball field parking lot across from the Diamond), but Downing says they were told by Richmond Police that they had to leave the area because the Richmond Fair had not obtained the proper permits.
That ride company was supposed to bring 40 rides to the event.
Downing says after much back and forth with Richmond Police he was granted the permits and said he was getting them Wednesday at noon. As of our conversation with Downing - he still had not received the permits.
Downing says he's hoping to still bring the Fair to the Diamond, in the next couple of weeks.
Original 7/14/09:
The Richmond Fair will go on, but not as originally planned.
CBS 6 was first to tell you about Richmond Police telling the fair's operator that they were not going to give him a permit. This, after he'd already paid to lease the Diamond and spent thousands of dollars on advertising.
But RPD has now changed their position, partially, after Fair Operator, Phillip Downing says he rangled with RPD all afternoon.
Downing says he drove 12 hours to Richmond to resolve the issue. He says he waited at police headquarters for Chief Bryan Norwood for three hours, then negotiated with him for two hours to get permits for the Richmond Fair scheduled to open on Friday. This, after he claims the police department had agreed to do it, then backed out at the last minute telling CBS 6 "they needed more time to talk [to Downing], and the timing wasn't right".
The event was supposed to open on Friday, but today Norwood said he wouldn't be able to provide them with security permits until Sunday. "That will affect the fair drastically", said Downing. He says Friday and Saturday are when most people come to the fair. What's more, Downing says spent $100,000 advertising that the fair would start on Friday. Advertisments that he says are now worthless. "And, I'm not sure how we'll overcome that, but hopefully, we can overcome that. I don't know".
Norwood said his concern was public safety and talking face to face with Downing help him arrive at a decision.
Update - 7/12/09: Richmond Fair Back on. Organizer gets approval from Richmond Police for security for eight days instead of ten. That means the event will go on Sunday to Sunday instead of Friday to Sunday as originally planned. Watch video for additional details.
Update 7/11/09 1:20 p.m.:
Fair organizer Philip Downing tells CBS 6 he's been getting the runaround. He claims to have filed all the necessary paperwork with the police department, but so far hasn't found the response he wants.
Downing has already spent $30,000 to lease the Diamond, but the RMA won't let anything happen there without the proper permits.
CBS 6 contacted the Richmond Police Department to get their side of the story. A spokesperson released the following statement : "This issue is a work in progress, and a final decision has not been made."
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is planning an event right next door at the Arthur Ashe Center during the same time as the fair. Downing claims he's worked out an agreement to handle parking issues for both events.
Original Post 7/11/09:
The Richmond Fair is set to begin at the Diamond on Friday. But now, it doesn't look like that will be happening.
We're told it's because the Richmond Police Department won't sign off on the permit. CBS 6 did some digging after the organizer of the event contacted us, saying he originally got permission from police and the R.M.A, but that R.P.D. changed their mind and he's not quite sure why. The organizer tells CBS 6 he provided R.P.D. with everything they needed.
Originally, the Richmond Fair was set to be held at the Raceway Complex in Henrico, but county leaders would not sign off on the plan, so it was moved to the Diamond.
We contacted the Mayor's office and they referred us to the Richmond Police Department. Assistant Police Chief David McCoy tells us " the department has been in touch with the fair organizers several times...and that a formal letter from the department is being sent to them on Monday".
