There are rumors circulating that the city of Long Beach “targeted” an unpermitted event that was scheduled for this past weekend, but city officials say that is not the case.
A media release from the city of Long Beach states that two separate notices to cease and desist were issued for the event that was to be held on Saturday. The event, a “F— ICE, Free Palestine” rally, was advertised as a music festival with several performers and was supposed to be held at Toxic Toast Records, a record shop located at 8th and Pine streets.
That location was selected after the city sent a cease and desist letter to organizers, who originally wanted to stage the event at the beach, officials say.
“A cease and desist letter was initially issued because the organization failed to obtain the required event and charitable solicitation permits for a planned music event and fundraiser at the beach,” city officials explained. “When the organizers moved the event to a retail business location that also lacked the necessary entertainment permit, a second cease and desist letter was sent.”
The city further elaborated that they are required to ensure that all public events and entertainment activities are properly permitted, and that the permit process is necessary for the safety and well-being of all involved and those who want to enjoy adjacent spaces or live nearby.
“The permitting process can take several days to finalize and issue depending on the scope and complexity of the event. The city does not ‘target’ unpermitted events,” the media release says. “Notices and other communications are issued when the city becomes aware of illegal event or entertainment activity through public complaints, word-of-mouth or advertising.”
“In this case, advance planning is appropriate for an event that promoted a musical lineup with fundraising on public property that already had heavy public use and nearby homes,” the release continues. “Advanced planning for this event would include conditions to strike a balance between all users of the space, and address parking and safety concerns created from potential power-related equipment utilized to amplify the music and other issues that are regularly considered by experienced city staff.”
Per the release, officials are engaged with organizers of the rally and festival; they say they provided options to hold the event at the beach after obtaining a Special Event Permit. Organizers were also given the option of filing for an Occasional Event Permit for an indoor event, the city said.
Despite this, organizers have taken to social media and accused the city of “clearly work[ing] overtime…with the goal of shutting [the event] down” even after they followed a recommendation to move it to what they called a permitted venue.
“We moved the event indoors by securing a nearby permitted venue at Toxic Toast Theater, just a mile away. The city of Long Beach then contacted the venue threatening another cease and desist notice naming Stopice.net [and its founder, Long Beach native] Sherman Austin directly, threatening enforcement remedies if the event moved forward,” an Instagram post by the organizers read. “Keep in mind, this venue regularly holds live music shows without incident from the city.. up until our event [Saturday].”
“This type of selective enforcement is a violation of our First Amendment and we will be following up shortly,” the post claims.
The post also says that the organizers will be setting up another event in Long Beach, but details surrounding it aren’t known.
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