Syracuse council OKs $125,000 for Jazz Fest, $250,000 for other festivals

Jazz Fest

Jazz superstar Grover Washington jams out a solo on the soprano saxophone on the closing night of the Syracuse Jazz Fest held in Clinton Square June 21, 1992. Richard Schultz

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Syracuse Common Council today approved spending $375,000 of federal stimulus money to promote local festivals and earmarked one-third of the money -- $125,000 -- to bring Syracuse Jazz Fest back downtown after an absence of two decades.

Under the measure approved today, all other festival organizers will compete for the remaining $250,000 by applying to a six-person committee coordinated by the nonprofit Downtown Syracuse Foundation.

Four of the nine voting councilors initially opposed the carve-out for Jazz Fest today, arguing that it was unfair to other festivals. But Councilor Pat Hogan’s proposal to amend the legislation to direct funds to Jazz Fest passed 5 to 4. After the measure was amended, councilors voted unanimously to approve it.

Hogan argued that Jazz Fest deserved special treatment because of its size and popularity, which will benefit local restaurants, hotels and retailers. Councilor Joe Driscoll, who seconded Hogan’s amendment, said Jazz Fest is expected to get up to $375,000 from the state and Onondaga County in addition to money from a major private sponsor.

Festival organizer Frank Malfitano said the council’s vote was an important step toward funding the festival, which he described as about 75% certain. The festival would cost at least $500,000 to produce, he said.

“Today’s vote was fantastic,’' he said.

Syracuse Jazz Fest, which has drawn as many as 35,000 fans to downtown Syracuse in the past, was last held in Clinton Square in 2000, before moving to the suburban campus of Onondaga Community College.

Malfitano said he is working with city officials to set a date for the event in Clinton Square this summer but has not confirmed one yet.

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