My brother Matt and Michael from Michael's Cafe helped start the Downtown "Jazz" Concert Series (or whatever you want to call it). The event was held in Curtin Mall for the past 6 years. They allowed the public to use our former building's restrooms, provided power, and put in considerable work for EVERY event. My brother even bartended at every event in addition to providing ALL the signage for the sponsors/event for free from the sign store in which he works for.
The other interested parties swooped the event away from them last year so Matt and Michael coordinated a new event (Downtown Jams). They pulled all the proper permits, and paperwork.
Some of the important paperwork sat on Altoona City "Manager" Joe Weakland's desk for the better part of two weeks. Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art placed their non-profit status on the line for the liquor license.
You see, the City is pissed about the new event stealing thunder from the old event held now at Heritage Plaza. The liquor license from the old event is held by the Altoona Public Library for which the City "Manager" Joe Weakland's wife works. Very interesting.
My family owns Curtin Mall. It is attached to a building that we once occupied, but do not own. The building's roof on the opposite side collapsed about 3 weeks ago, and the City of Altoona went on the record at the time to say that they did NOT have any safety concerns because the roof fell in on itself as a result of standing water, and that the walls were structurally intact. They "condemned" that building and a 120' perimeter was "roped off" surrounding it on Thursday except for the front sidewalk, and the back parking lot. Convenient.
Here is a video of that statement from WTAJ (around 1:27 on the video):
http://wearecentralpa.com/content/fulltext/?cid=92421
Thursday's Mirror article (they called us an "oldies cover group" lol):
http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/conte ... ml?nav=742
Friday's Mirror Article (no reply from the City "Manager"):
http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/conte ... ml?nav=742
We also had a little snippet in Lehigh Valley Live Friday(lots of press today;):
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/music/i ... d_and.html
Media DOES Control the World, JP!
This event was an attempt to grow an already HUGE event even bigger. Last year, there were up to 4,000 people in and out of each event. They used to close 11th ave from 15th street to Heritage Plaza. They aren't doing that anymore because the City told the Mirror that State Liquor Control Board open-container law was a factor. They've closed the road for the past 4 years, why change now? Then they "condemn" the bulding adjacent to Curtin Mall the day before Downtown Jams. Many other regions hold events like the one we were hoping for with multiple stages, and an entire block laden with people.
We can and have played with NO electricity at full capacity so I'm taking the Stanley Street Band to the streets of downtown tonight, and making Michael's Cafe's front patio home base! Who's with us? I know Harlo is! Michael's Cafe has alcohol, at 2 bars inside. Percussionists pm me if interested in renegade drum circling;)
Also, we're still in the Top 10 for the Mid Atlantic Band Competition until Saturday at 11:59, and we needed to get as many votes as possible from tonight's show so there's another reason I'm a little peeved at the indequacies of City Hall interfering with a good thing for local music.
Downtown Altoona, APD, and City Hall have f*cked with my family and I TOO many times to pass up an opportunity to kick them when they are down with a little relevant music.
Thanks for listening, folks. 
Im feeling chaotic!
