Monday, July 31, 2000
Arrests down, sales good at huge downtown festivals
By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Despite the sometimes dreary weather this weekend, two words sum up the huge festivals that took place downtown: calm and successful.
Festivalgoers, vendors, police and event organizers agree that the three-day Ujima Cinci-bration and 38th annual 2000 Coors Light Festival brought in good crowds without the trouble.
“I think it was a great success,” said Lajuana Miller, the Ujima Cinci-bration event coordinator. “The police were extra pleased with the lower number of arrests from previous years; the vendors were happy with sales. It's been a smoother year.”
Last year, oppressive heat overshadowed the celebration and this year it was the rain, but that didn't keep people away from the celebrations of African-American culture, food and music. Ms. Miller said estimates pegged the crowd at about 150,000 over the weekend.
Crowds for the Coors Light Festival were up an estimated 10 to 15 percent over last year, said Joe Santangelo, the event's general manager.
But arrests because of festival-related crime were few.
Police enforced the juvenile curfew, nabbing more than 200 curfew violators on the first two nights, said Cincinnati Police Lt. Steve Wilger.
In 1997, the juvenile curfew was not enforced. Ninety-seven arrests were made that year and one man was shot to death.
On Saturday and Sunday this year, police made 18 adult arrests, Lt. Wilger said.
The festivals bring an estimated $15 million to $20 million to the local economy, Ujima coordinator Ms. Miller said.
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