by: John Rodriguez
Due to recent budget struggles, the Queens Colombian Independence Celebration may feel the grunt of the struggles since it is facing cancellation. A 26 year old tradition within Queens, the Colombian Independence Festival may not be occurring in Corona-Flushing Meadow Park, which is one of the largest celebrations for Colombians residing in Queens.
The July 24th celebration faces cancellation after sponsors backed on supporting the festival. Adolfo Sanchez, the festival’s director, accredits the potential cancellation to the high cost of city permits to hold such an event and the lack of earning sponsors, “It has not been easy to cancel the festival at the Flushing Park, but we don’t have another option.”
The Colombian Civic Center, the organizer behind the festival faces financial burden itself since they are struggling to pay costs gathered from last year’s festival which left them $45,000 in debt. “It will cost us more than $100,000 to get permits from the Parks Department and $50,000 to pay for the basic logistics such as sound, stage, and transportation,” said Sanchez.
Despite their effort to try and make the festival happen for Colombians living in New York City, Sanchez relates that the festival does not get any financial support from the Colombian government nor local government officials. “We have been asking local elected officials to mediate with the Parks Department so we can get a lowest permit fee but we haven’t heard from them since last year.”
While no elected official seems to be aiding the efforts in securing the Colombian Independence festival does happen, the lack of sponsors may be due to an internal issue within the Colombian community. A Colombian travel agent based in Jackson Heights sees the issue in funding the festival is internal within the Colombian community. “This is consequences of years of internal fights at the Colombian Civic Center,” said Tobon, “In Montreal, Dallas, or Miami organizations and the community work together to prepare their festivals. In New York we are deeply divided.
For the chairman of Community Board 3’s Newest Americans Committee, Arturo Ignacio Sanchez the cancellation of the festival isn’t at all surprising but is hopeful the cancellation would prove useful. “I don’t see it as a total failure. This could contribute to finding a solution to the fights and the division in the Colombian community.”
While Flushing Meadows’ Corona Park is no longer a option after being so for the past 26 years, Adolfo Sanchez spoke on behalf of the Colombian Civic Center and claims they are finding another park to house the festival in order to give local Colombians something to celebrate. However, Sanchez and the Center declined to mention which parks they are looking into.
