News (Media Awareness Project) - US WI: Weedstock Coming To Beaver Dam |
| Title: | US WI: Weedstock Coming To Beaver Dam |
| Published On: | 2002-05-17 |
| Source: | Daily Citizen (WI) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-23 07:10:27 |
WEEDSTOCK COMING TO BEAVER DAM
The city of Beaver Dam will reluctantly host Weedstock, a political rally
promoting hemp and the legalization of marijuana, at Swan City Park on May
27 beginning at noon. City officials, at first reluctant to rent the
facilities at Swan City Park to Weedstock organizer Ben Masel, relented
after consulting with legal counsel.
Masel had announced earlier this month he was searching for a Dodge County
site to hold the event. On Thursday he was in Beaver Dam and tried to
reserve the park facilities at Swan City Park.
Mayor Tom Olson wanted to block the rental, but said after a meeting late
on Thursday the city staff had determined that such action would violate
Masel's constitutional right to assemble.
Masel has been involved with litigation in Sauk County after officials
there shut down Weedstock for violating the county's Open Air Assembly
ordinance.
Masel describes Weedstock as a political rally. He said that invitations to
speak are being sent to Wisconsin's candidates for governor and attorney
general and that other candidates are welcome. Musical entertainment will
include The First Liberation Saxaphone Choir featuring Hanah Jon Taylor.
On the Web site www.weedstock.com, Masel estimates that up to 2,500 people
could attend. A lower estimate of 450 people was provided to the city.
"We are going to make this lower-key, not over 18 hours, not overnight,"
Masel said.
It cost Masel about $225 to rent the park facilities.
"He will have to comply with the other requirements for this type of event
such as providing Porta-Potties and cleaning up afterwards," Olson said.
Olson also said the appropriate police presence would be on hand for a
crowd. Swan City Park will be a busy place that weekend as the Beaver Dam
Area Chamber of Commerce, Race Into Summer is scheduled for the day before.
A check of the chat room on the Weedstock Web site indicates that there is
interest in an alternative event planned for a park in New Lisbon. Chat
room participants expressed disappointment in Beaver Dam as the choice for
Weedstock.
The city of Beaver Dam will reluctantly host Weedstock, a political rally
promoting hemp and the legalization of marijuana, at Swan City Park on May
27 beginning at noon. City officials, at first reluctant to rent the
facilities at Swan City Park to Weedstock organizer Ben Masel, relented
after consulting with legal counsel.
Masel had announced earlier this month he was searching for a Dodge County
site to hold the event. On Thursday he was in Beaver Dam and tried to
reserve the park facilities at Swan City Park.
Mayor Tom Olson wanted to block the rental, but said after a meeting late
on Thursday the city staff had determined that such action would violate
Masel's constitutional right to assemble.
Masel has been involved with litigation in Sauk County after officials
there shut down Weedstock for violating the county's Open Air Assembly
ordinance.
Masel describes Weedstock as a political rally. He said that invitations to
speak are being sent to Wisconsin's candidates for governor and attorney
general and that other candidates are welcome. Musical entertainment will
include The First Liberation Saxaphone Choir featuring Hanah Jon Taylor.
On the Web site www.weedstock.com, Masel estimates that up to 2,500 people
could attend. A lower estimate of 450 people was provided to the city.
"We are going to make this lower-key, not over 18 hours, not overnight,"
Masel said.
It cost Masel about $225 to rent the park facilities.
"He will have to comply with the other requirements for this type of event
such as providing Porta-Potties and cleaning up afterwards," Olson said.
Olson also said the appropriate police presence would be on hand for a
crowd. Swan City Park will be a busy place that weekend as the Beaver Dam
Area Chamber of Commerce, Race Into Summer is scheduled for the day before.
A check of the chat room on the Weedstock Web site indicates that there is
interest in an alternative event planned for a park in New Lisbon. Chat
room participants expressed disappointment in Beaver Dam as the choice for
Weedstock.
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