Thoughts on SXSW tragedy (2014, how much, closing)

[scm53]

Sad news.

That said, we were downtown last night for dinner. There really needs to be some though given to closing off large sections of downtown - probably between Congress and 35 from 2nd to 11th, after 5. There are just too many pedestrians, in various states of intoxication, not really paying attention. That and cars isn't a good mix.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by scm53

Sad news.

That said, we were downtown last night for dinner. There really needs to be some though given to closing off large sections of downtown - probably between Congress and 35 from 2nd to 11th, after 5. There are just too many pedestrians, in various states of intoxication, not really paying attention. That and cars isn't a good mix.

The driver drove through at least one barricade and through a crowded closed off street evading police.

At end of the day there's really nothing that can be done against this kind of stupidity.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Komeht

The driver drove through at least one barricade and through a crowded closed off street evading police.

At end of the day there's really nothing that can be done against this kind of stupidity.

Two different issues. Yes, closing the entire area would not have prevented this. Red River was closed, and the perp drove through a barricade. But the throng has gotten too big for any interaction with cars.

[Idlewile]

Just an honest question -- they don't use temporary cement barricades at all for SXSW then?

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

Just an honest question -- they don't use temporary cement barricades at all for SXSW then?

What I saw last night were just the same portable ones they use to close off Sixth on the weekend nights.

So here's the insanity. We give SXSW almost a million dollars in taxpayer subsidies, mainly through fee waivers. Then, we dramatically increase spending on police (such as the one manning the RR barricade this perp drove through). There has to be a way for the city to ensure the safety of the SXSW crowd, while getting the event to pay its own way.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by scm53

So here's the insanity. We give SXSW almost a million dollars in taxpayer subsidies, mainly through fee waivers. Then, we dramatically increase spending on police (such as the one manning the RR barricade this perp drove through).

What's your point? SxSW is still a _massive_ profit center for the city.

[Trainwreck20]

I heard on the radio this morning that the barriers at that point were more portable because they were part of the fire lane/emergency access. They had to be able to get ambulances and/or firetrucks through in case of emergency. There is some irony there....

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Novacek

What's your point? SxSW is still a _massive_ profit center for the city.

Really? How much incremental revenue does the city receive that is directly attributable to SXSW?

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by scm53

Two different issues. Yes, closing the entire area would not have prevented this. Red River was closed, and the perp drove through a barricade. But the throng has gotten too big for any interaction with cars.

Right. That's why the area was closed to traffic. In this case a criminal drove through a barricade into a street closed to cars at a high rate of speed.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by scm53

Really? How much incremental revenue does the city receive that is directly attributable to SXSW?

SXSW brought 218 MILLION dollars of economic impact in 2013. It is a tremendous boost to the economy as well as the city coffers. It's not a drain on its resources in the least.