LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Would You Want A Carnival In YOUR Backyard?

Dear Editor,

While the residents of the Swain School area appreciate and understand the town’s wish to hold a carnival, they ask their fellow parents, home owners, and tax payers: “Would you want a carnival literally in YOUR backyard.”

The residents of the Swain School area understand and appreciate that many of the town’s residents may enjoy visiting the event for approximately two hours throughout the span of the five day event.  The residents of this community are concerned with being continuously exposed to thousands of people, noise, traffic, vibrations, property depreciation, transients, noxious fumes, porta-potties, public urination, carnival “barkers”, lights, litter, and unsecured large structures immediately near their homes for five days, as well as the days prior to and after for set up purposes, literally feet from their property lines?

The Fourth of July Committee’s request for a permit was voted down by the Board of Appeals two years ago based on the fact that it directly violated Town Article 3.7.1 most specifically “Prohibited Uses – The following uses are expressly prohibited in all zoning districts of the Town:  …….and all other uses that pose a present or potential hazard to human health, safety, welfare or the environment by reason of resulting smoke, odor, particulate matter, toxic matter, fire or explosive hazard, glare, noise and vibration are expressly prohibited in all zoning districts in the Town as are all uses not specifically permitted in the Bylaw.”  It was a sound and reasonable decision based on the fact that this event was being proposed to be held in a 1,000 square foot smaller area to begin with than where it was originally held at the high school. In addition to that, deducting the hills that exist behind the senior center, not practical for putting rides or concession stands upon, further deducting more space for the legally required fifty handicapped parking spots, and lastly the seven large existing trees and phone wires.

Another issue raised at this meeting was the residents concern with the committee’s proposal to use School Street as well and therefore block access to their home using that route.  At the Board of Appeals meeting, one of the more open-minded and reasonable members stated, “This board has rejected proposals for permits that are ten times safer than what the Fourth of July Committee is presenting.” The fumes, trash, flammable liquid exposure, noise, lights, and vibrations to the rides alone constitute a logical decision that allowing a carnival in a small, confined, area surrounded by homes on three sides, in the close proximity of people’s homes is not only discourteous, it poses eminent danger to our families safety, property, property value, as well as a violation of our privacy, and at times even access to our own homes. These concerns, dangers, and town article still exit so therefore it should stand to reason that this permit should yet again be denied.

Contrary to the Fourth of July Committee’s declarations that event is being moved to due to public demand, when in fact it is due to the Shiners no longer wanting to host the carnival due to its residents and abutters requesting it no longer be held at this venue. If the residents of North Reading found the carnival to be a nuisance to them in their homes that exist a minimum of 500 feet away, in the next town from a large commercial venue such as the Shiners, then why is it even feasible that this event should be allowed to happen in a small, residential, historic district such as the Swain School area?

“Last year was a nightmare for us and our neighborhood….four or five days of non-stop noise. People coming in-an-out of our yards at all hour,” stated one North Reading abutter.  “We need to end this.  Please, please make it the last year,” said another North Reading resident.

This leaves the residents of the Swain School neighborhood to ask: “Why would the taxpayers of this area not be allowed the very same consideration and protection that the residents of the Shiners Auditorium were allowed in North Reading?”

At the 2013 Board of Appeals meeting, the residents of this area asked if the committee had intended to reduce the numbers of rides due to the drastic reduction of space they were told by Fiesta Carnival that they would not be reducing the numbers of rides. This was a concern to us as these rides would be “constructed” by the carnival employees in extreme close proximity to our homes.  This coupled with events such as the fire that took place on the town common that occurred in the Kiwanis fryolater in 2012, we feel we have adequate reason to be concerned with the quality of installation of the rides and concession stands next to property lines and homes. With Mr. Garrant’s statement in the Town Crier article on December 2 states that these large structures and equipment would not even be secured into the parking lot.  Not a comforting fact for the immediate abutters as the potential for harming our families and damaging our homes from these large structures as well as the potential fire hazards that they bring with them much less the concern for the structural integrity of the older homes in this Historic District.

Resident Kathi O’Donoghue has questioned the reasonableness of establishing this event just thirty feet away from her home:  “Normally denied access to this small neighborhood will now be allowed large commercial trucks, constant construction for 24 hours prior and after the carnival, and the repetitive vibrations of these rides just feet from my home, I am nervous that my 160 field stone foundation historic home cannot withstand this process. As a single mother on a teacher’s salary I have asked the town what recourse I would have if damage was done to my home and was given no answer at all other than telling me that large commercial vehicles are already allowed through my neighborhood, which they are not, not very comforting and quite concerning for me as a home owner.”

As home owners, we are greatly concerned about the possibility of the increase or loss of our home owner’s property insurance due to the previously mentioned issues as well as the exposure to the potential liabilities afforded by having thousands of people near or trespassing upon our property causing us to be liable for any and all injuries sustained by these individuals who will most likely be urinating and defecating upon our property day in and out. In addition, we will be exposed to flammables and unsecured equipment immediately next to our children and homes.  When one resident asked how the town would assist her in protecting herself from the foot traffic of the thousands of carnival goers, she was told she’d be given a ‘snow fence” (plastic orange barriers), which won’t be very effective.

If this event is allowed in our neighborhood, we would be veritable hostages in our homes for five days every Fourth of July week as we would have to be home to defend our property lines and witness any potential suits that we may incur due to the thousands of attendees not even from our own town but bused in from Lawrence, Everett, etc. As many of our friends, neighbors, and acquaintances have freely admitted, they do not even attend this expensive event themselves dispelling the “townie” celebration myth perpetuated by the committee, but an event now attended by other towns due to their lack of wanting to endanger their children, homes, and town as well as incur the fees associated with hosting such an event.  Jeff Hull stated at the last meeting to all who attended that this event costs our town approximately $50,000.00 for the week in order to offset the costs associated with paying the DPW, police, and fire people needed for such an event. So, the other myth perpetuated by this committee of “we make money from the carnival,” is quite honestly far from the truth. In fact, the tax payers in this town incur a debt to allow Fiesta Carnival to come in expose our community to out-of-towners with little regard for our community, grifters, vagrants, rigged- games, and costly amusement rides.  Couldn’t this large sum of money be better utilized elsewhere in our community?

Another major concern of the parents of this area is the fact that the over 100 carnival employees who will come and camp out literally in our backyards and pose a threat to our children and property. These employees are not even deemed worthy by Fiesta Carnival to earn more than $400 a week for their long work days and weeks that surpass the legal constraints associated with the average work week. Based on lawsuits posted all over the internet from the employees suing this “honorable” business was named in a class action lawsuit filed in Massachusetts Superior Court by the carnival workers who allege that the amusement ride operator violated state minimum wage and overtime laws. The residents of the Swain School question the integrity of Fiesta Carnival as well as the caliber of employee who would be willing to work these gruelingly long hours for such poor pay.  Most especially after the unfortunate and unacceptable rape of the thirteen year old girl that occurred in 2009 by the two carnival employees. After all that our town has begun to work towards as far as making our children aware of the dangers of drugs are we willing to incur a cost of upwards of $50,000.00 to invite a carnival company full of potential sex offenders, convicts, criminals, thieves, and possible drug dealers into our town and into our fellow resident’s backyards?

While we are comfortable with the Fun-on-the-Fourth Family events and concessions being held in the town common, we ask that the carnival include only smaller, kiddy rides, in keeping with it being a “family” event be run only until 9:00 P.M., and be held at the Rotary Park Field. This area would be larger, more convenient, with sidewalks provided to and from the commons, and most notably provide a constant police presence due to the police department being immediately across the street from it. Allowing the Swain School parking lot to be used as valuable parking for all the other events related to this week long celebration such as the fireworks, family events, races, charitable barbeques, entertainment on the commons, and parking for the smaller carnival only a few blocks away at the Rotary Park; therefore spreading the event out and truly creating a safer, spread-out, and equitable celebration for the whole community all within a one-mile radius.

Sincerely,

Residents of the Swain School Area

(NOTE: The above letter was submitted by Kathi O’Donoghue.)

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