Comments on: Erie PA News and Events for Monday June 16, 2008

By: Girl in her mid-20's

Girl in her mid-20's — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:21:34 +0000

I’m sorry, I have to agree with the Port Authority. As someone who *attempted* to go to these events last year I was overwhelmed with disrespectful teens who where more interested with the other sex than the events being held there. They were not there to enjoy the concert, just to have a place to be parent free for the night. Many of the teens lack the proper respect and maturity to be at these events unsupervised and thus ruin them for the masses. If they acted like adults, they would be treated like adults. It is not the Port Authority’s job to babysit.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:18:10 +0000

Anyone else find it ironic that the Port Authority wants to restrict access to Liberty Park?

Has there been a lot of problems with teenagers at this park or is this proposed ban the result of a few cranky adults?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:21:56 +0000

This Liberty Park thing is a reason why people outside of Erie see the town as non-progressive. Not all young people are trouble-makers. No wonder so many of them leave in droves.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:58:41 +0000

Liberty Park is not a public park. It’s owned and maintained by the Port Authority. It’s gated and fenced.

Because of all the problems they should consider either charging admission or turning the event over to an organization or a promoter like Performance and Event Management.

By: John

John — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:03:53 +0000

I won’t be able to make it to the meeting at the HO Hirt Auditorium but I know if I were attending I would ask the following questions. Maybe someone else attending could ask these questions.

1. Who gave the Port Authority the right to discriminate based on age? This is a public park. Wouldn’t such a rule need to be passed by City Council and put into an ordinance?

2. I know many 16 & 17 year olds that have jobs and pay taxes. Can a tax payer be discriminated against like this?

3. How much money does the Port Authority and the City have have? I’m pretty sure they will have a class action law suit filed against them for this.

4. Teenagers were causing problems at Celebrate Erie in the past as well. Does this mean all teens will be banned from downtown Erie for several days in August?

5. What are the real statistics? I would like to know how many teens were arrested compared to drunk or disorderly adults during these events?

If I were a teen I would be outraged. These are the sort of actions that make our younger generation move out of Erie as soon as they become adults. I hope the “powers that be” understand their actions.

If I were still a teen I would gather all my friends and organize through the internet to stage a huge (orderly) protest directly across the street from the park.