Lawrence committee tables Semana Hispana permit amid concerns over carnival rides, site and city funding

The Lawrence City Ordinance Intergovernmental Relations Committee on April 22 voted 4-0 to table a permit request for Semana Hispana, the city’s June 8–16 Hispanic Heritage event, after extended discussion about carnival rides, damage to the Common and the festival’s funding.

The committee’s action came after organizers told the panel they expected the festival’s total costs to exceed $100,000 and said the city had committed $50,000 in ARPA funds toward the event. Committee members pressed organizers for alternatives to holding heavy carnival rides on the Common, including using other city or privately controlled lots. Vice Chair Selena Reyes moved to table the matter so the committee could seek further information and conversations with MEVA (the entity controlling a nearby parcel that organizers had previously proposed), and Councilor Gregory Del Rosario seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

Why it matters: Committee members said they repeatedly have granted permits for carnival rides on the Common, then faced recurring cleanup and damage concerns. Chair Mark LaPlante cited previous incidents and an old local news account that documented post-event repairs, and said the council must safeguard a heavily used public space. Several councilors said they wanted organizers and city staff to explore alternatives that would reduce wear on the Common while preserving the festival.

Organizers told the committee the festival budget includes roughly $60,000 for police staffing and another $25,000 for a stage, and that the city’s $50,000 ARPA allocation covers a substantial portion of total costs. Organizers also said attempts to move the carnival to a site near Lawrence General Hospital (a location used by other festivals) had failed in prior years because parts of that property were leased or otherwise unavailable.

Committee members asked the organizers to pursue discussions with MEVA and city departments (recreation, public works and the mayor’s office) to identify feasible alternative sites or a reduced-scope event. Reyes said she would begin outreach and invited staff to bring further information back to the committee. The committee also noted organizers may still seek permits for components of the festival that do not involve heavy rides (for example, booths or food vendors), but emphasized that final authorizations would not proceed without resolving site and impact questions.

The committee did not make a formal decision on issuing or denying permits; tabling preserves the item for further review and a future committee or full council action.