Killing a cultural tradition

The St. Patrick's Day parade is now dead, apparently due to unevenly applied city regulations.

The Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas has hosted the annual parade for more than four decades in downtown San Antonio. This year, however, they said the parade has been canceled due to high costs.

“We are the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the state,” said society president Terence Peak.

The costs are just too high, Peak said. Especially those imposed by the city.

“The cost that the city fees involve in barricades and police officers plus other fees is over $12,000,” Peak said. “We can’t afford this type of expense and we don’t seem to have any support from the city.”

Peak said the lack of city support stems from an ordinance he claims waives certain fees for parades with cultural significance. Peak said the society has been denied certain waivers in the past, so this year they’ve canceled the parade.

(from KENS-5)

So, people who like to style themselves "occupiers" can camp illegally in a city park without permits and without reimbursing the City of San Antonio for the cost of a police presence, but people with Irish heritage cannot have a parade for one day because the City charges too much and the organizers cannot secure waivers because the event is not culturally significant enough.

Do I have that about right?

Thanks, city leaders.