The Westheimer Art Festival / Westheimer Street Festival / WestFest / “That thing in Montrose with all the bands and art stuff” has been around in one form or another since the late ‘70s, changing and evolving and eventually growing into this past November’s two-day Westheimer Block Party. Free Press Houston has been shepherding the event’s current incarnation in recent years, but the logistics of running an ever-ballooning music and arts festival in the middle of Montrose without city cooperation became insurmountable, and FPH editor Omar Afra announced that WestFest would not be returning unless the City of Houston agreed to shut down the streets.
That’s where you, the local music and art-loving proletariat of Houston, come in. Afra got then-mayoral candidate Annise Parker to pledge her support on video, but recognizing the road to blocking the roads is a bit more involved than securing a campaign promise, the Free Press has set up this petition. Parker’s backing was contingent on a “demonstrated support from within the community,” so if you’re interested in the return of a genuine Houston cultural institution and you have forty seconds, feel free to demonstrate some support.
What is the real value of an online petition? Do they ever really accomplish anything? Is this really the way to go about the process?
While I typically agree that online petitions are strictly SWPL (Awareness!), in this case Mayor Parker set community support as a contingency for action. As evidence to demonstrate that support, I think it is useful. She opened the door, and I'm glad to see FPH walking through it. The next reasonable step would be to hold a rally/party at City Hall to further demonstrate support for WestFest.
I'd be willing to help with a door to door petition.
That was easy! Hope more people do it!
Thanks Joe! Showing community support for this event is priority #1 in order to get the streets shut down. It was a vocal group of residents who got the street closure refused in the first place. So the way to go about doing this is to address residents concerns AND show the large scope of support in the neighborhood.
We really need to come up with more ideas for this. Online petitions usually don't go anywhere. It's a start and I signed it, but there really has to be more. I like the idea of a sort of rally. Maybe the upcoming FPH anniversary show could partially serve for that? Or something similar at least.
I'm part of the group that is trying to pull this off. This is a real effort that goes beyond FPH, and it has a great chance of succeeding. I can promise you that the on-line petition will make a difference. We need to show that the community supports the return of the festival, and the on-line petition is the best way to do that.
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