Story Published:
Aug 6, 2009 at 2:46 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Aug 6, 2009 at 2:46 PM PDT
HUNTINGTON PARK — The ninth annual El Grito (The Shout) ceremony in connection with Mexican Independence Day Sept. 16, has moved from the city, but residents won’t have far to go to find it.
The popular event, put on by META 2000, a group of local Latino merchants and professional people in the area, has relocated to La Alameda Plaza, a new shopping center just southwest of the city borders at Florence Avenue and Alameda Street in the community of Walnut Park, an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County.
“It’s a win-win situation,” said Huntington Park Mayor Mario Gomez, noting that META 2000 would not have to pay fees to use the site and local residents won’t have far to go.
META 2000 officials made the move after the City Council, in a special budget study meeting July 29, decided on a 3-0 vote that it could not afford to waive about $111,500 in fees for city services, such as police protection, public works and recreation department efforts.
Gomez and Council members Elba Guerrero and Andy Molina voted for the decision. Vice Mayor Juan Noguez and Councilwoman Ofelia Hernandez were absent from the meeting.
It is expected that META will conduct a similar program in Walnut Park to the one planned for Sept. 12-16 at Salt Lake Park in Huntington Park.
That includes a three- or four-day carnival, vendors, free entertainment and probably free admission to the site.
Asked July 20 if a one-day event, which would cost about $37,400 in city services would be acceptable, Eloy Jordan, representing META 2000, said most of the vendors, who pay to set up sales and display booths and exhibits, said crowds are too light on a Monday and Tuesday and they want the weekend, when more people come out.
Traditionally, the El Grito ceremony takes place the evening of Sept. 15, which this year falls on a Tuesday.
El Grito was issued by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on Sept. 16, 1810. It began a revolution which eventually freed Mexico from Spain’s rule.
Jordan said META can’t afford to lose its vendors as the ceremony event, usually costs $400,000 to put on and the organization often loses money on it.
He also asked city permission for a beer garden, another chief source of revenue.
META said it could obtain a nonprofit status and conduct beer sales in a building at Salt Lake Park, but Hernandez said she opposed alcoholic beverages at a family event and voiced fears of drunken drivers getting into accidents on their way home.
Jordan could not be reached for comment Tuesday on details of the Walnut Park program.
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