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Topic for
4/15/96:		 Is the city of Atlanta, by not helping organizers of Freaknik secure the necessary permits to allow major events to go forth as scheduled, setting itself up for mass disturbances? Is it even the city's responsibility to assist in planning such a gathering of youth?




Name: Michael 3X Robinson
Email: Michael3x@earthlink.net
Response:
I believe the city of Atlanta is doing itself a disservice by not allowing Freaknik to take place as planned. By not allowing permits for concerts you already set the stage for bad vibes and conflict. You're already allowing the students to hold Freaknik, so why the stickler about concerts? You've got thousands of people roaming the streets. Why not let them have a concert and give the streets and peoples' property a break. Or is this a case of us "having too much of a good time"?
Atlanta, you're ripping citizens off with the exorbitant rents that you're commanding for the Olympics, and you're relocating people that didn't asked to be relocated, all for the dollar.
It's ironic that you uproot people without asking their permission but you revoke permits when permission is requested but at the same time you're still making money off of these people. Give out the permits.

Name: Perry Ashford
Email: ashtech@cyber1.servtech.com
Response:
It seems many of us feel the same way regarding the city of Atlanta's official handling of Freaknik '96. The professionalisim shows squarly how the official feel regarding your future black proffesionals gathering in a place to relax and enjoy what Atlanta has to offer. It would seem the city should take this opportunity to embrace the leaders of tomorrow and show just how welcome we as a people are. Obviously, they don't care. The city of Atlanta is showing with actions their feelings without saying a word. One does wonder why there isn't a word from any city official regarding contigentcy plans. I'm a 34 year old black professional whom did not have the opportunity to experience events like Freaknik. It would seems since my graduation from high school in 1980 that nothing has changed to much. I hope someone from Atlanta cane change my mind about that. I hope I get a response from an Atlanta city official.

Name: William Johnson
Email: lonestarnot@usbol.com
Response:
I do not understand why city officials let the concert plans fall through for lack of a permit or insurance. If I don't buy insurance on my home, my mortgage company simply insures the home themselves and hits me with a bill. It seems news of Mr.Muhammad's difficulties was out soon enough for the city to make contingency plans. The city has quite a lot of authority over such events. Couldn't they have backed the concert themselves with something like a "second mortgage" which would take effect in case of the promoter's default?
No doubt, the city paid extra for the extra police work. Yet backing the concert, and potentially _making_ money on the promoter's default was beyond them.
Am I missing something?

Name: TRACEY L. AMBEAU
Email: aka@obpa.usda.gov
Response: I disagree with the position the city of Atlanta took regarding the gathering of college students for Freaknik. The city should have been more accommodating to our future leaders, perhaps its own future mayor or other political official.
Students need a gathering place for college breaks; they chose a black city for such entertainment. Apparently, the students were trying to engage in black capitalism or else they would have gone to sunny Florida.
Large groups of young black people seem to threaten people, even black people. We need to support our youth when the activity is positive, and counsel when the activity is negative. What will we do to Atlanta?

Name: Rita
Email: RitaFP
Response:
Actually Freaknik has been rather out of control in the past. I was there in 94 and I was shocked at some of the things I witnessed. But the truth is that those incidents probably involved only a small percentage of the students. Fraknik needs more control not to be eliminated (even if one could!). It is incumbent upon the city of Atlanta to work with the students to have a this event in a fun, safe way. And the frats and sorors need to work with the city as well. After all the Olympics will require a massive effort by the city, why should Freaknik get its proper share of assistance as well?

Name:
Email: Mendelbrat@aol.com Response:
Why is it that people think that college students are so irresponsible and unaccountable that anywhere they congregate in masses there will be destruction of property, crime, and problems with the police? Yeah, Freaknik is a big party, but if there's going to be a big party, isn't it better to help it run as smoothly and as safely as possible than to ignore the problems at hand and hope they'll go away? The city of Atlanta could have had another Freaknik '95 on their hands if they didn't have pretty responsible students coming down there, like they did this year.
In any case, the city is getting millions in revenue from these students being there. Why are they trying to turn down this money by trying to kill Freaknik outright?