18th Avenue Feast Cancelled?

An evolving story: the cancellation of the 18th Avenue Feast of Santa Rosalia

The feast of Santa Rosalia on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn has been a Bensonhurst staple for well over 30 years. It was a massive street fair, that ranged for 10 blocks over the course of 10 days. I had heard several rumors about the fate of the 18th avenue feast over the course of the summer. Truthfully, I didn't take them to heart, because the organizers (who are absolutely disorganized) plastered all of the avenue shops with posters of the feast, along with dates and times. Everything seemed like it was going well- until this past week.

Apparently, there are a number of stories floating around as to why the feast is cancelled. One story says the organizers got locked up in an FBI raid in January- and no one stepped up to take over the job. Another story says that the society that sponsors the event every year didn't file the necessary paper work for months- delaying all street vendors from obtaining permits until now ( a week before the feast was set to start).

Any way you slice it, the feast (if cancelled) was ruined by ineptitude. If the story about the FBI pick up is true, then why did it take 8 months for someone to figure out that no feast was being planned? Isn't there a "back-up"  guy in case you get arrested? And if not-someone should have said - "This year, I'll take care of the feast."

If the story about the lack of paperwork is true- that is just completely reckless. A community board member even went so far to say that the city followed up several times over three months for the group to hand in the proper paper work, and they just never sent it in until recently. Great job, guys.

Whatever the real story is- it certainly appears as though the feast is officially cancelled. The main organizer, Joe DeMarco, expressly stated on facebook that:

FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR HOPES UP….I AM SAD TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO FEAST THIS YEAR…WHICH MEANS NEVER AGAIN ON 18TH AVE WILL THERE BE A FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA….IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE THAT SAID THE FEAST IS ON…IT GOT ITS INFORMATION FROM THE MAYORS OFFICE….YES ALL THE PERMITS ARE ISSUED…BUT THERE IS NOW NO TIME TO GET 250 VENDORS, ENTERTAINERS ETC TO MAKE THE FEAST HAPPEN…AND THE SOCIETY HEADS ARE JUST FED UP AND TIRED…

Joe DeMarco also stated that any criticism of him was uncalled for and the Mayor's office was to blame. The community board member mentioned above replied:

“No way did the mayor’s office drop the ball – and it’s not often that we defend them... as an applicant, you have certain criteria that has to be filed.”

All I can say is, for at least 1 year, a Bensonhurst tradition has ended. And, fellow Italians, don't blame any one but yourselves. An Italian society run by Italians, sponsors the event. It didn't file the paperwork. It didn't get the ball rolling until it was too late. It took away your feast.