"Bayfest - Who does it really help? K.M. Hayes"

Recently (July 19) there was a letter to the editor from "K.M. Hayes" that asked "Who really benefits from Bayfest?".  Here is the letter - I think you'll be able to pick out the absurdities without my help:

Sir:Where do all the flies go in the wintertime? That begs the question, where do the tens of thousands of people that come to Sarnia disappear to in the daytime? The stores and malls aren't crowded, parking lots are not full, there are no lineups at restaurants and fast food places, downtown is as empty as usual and we don't have to fight our way through hordes of people on the street.

I suspect many of them are sleeping off the effects of the booze and drugs the night before.

A survey last year said that non-locals spent very little in the community. After paying the exorbitant ticket prices, they probably do not have much left to spend.

Where is the estimated $4 million to $5 million supposed to come from and who really gets the benefit from it? Does any of this money end up in the coffers of city hall? Provide more health care? Cut the hospital debt? Fill the shelves at the food banks? Shelter the homeless? Families on welfare? The working poor on minimum wage (if they have a job)? Seniors on limited incomes? Bring in more doctors? The list of needs is endless.

An article in the Observer on April 30 stated that 96% of local residents thought that the event enhanced their quality of life and three-quarters thought it deserves government support. No way! What a load of bull. This is irresponsible and misleading reporting. Was a survey taken of everyone in Sarnia? I must have missed that one. I doubt if any of the people mentioned previously were asked either.

I think a few questions need to be asked. Who really does benefit? It may help hotels, some stores and food places, but not organizations and people who really need it.

-- K.M. Hayes Sarnia

Now, to address K.M's points and show how silly he/she is, we'll step through it.

Where do all the flies go in the wintertime? That begs the question, where do the tens of thousands of people that come to Sarnia disappear to in the daytime? The stores and malls aren't crowded, parking lots are not full, there are no lineups at restaurants and fast food places, downtown is as empty as usual and we don't have to fight our way through hordes of people on the street.

With an n=1, let me tell you about my experience in a local mall (Lambton Mall) shortly after Bayfest.  The lady at the store I visited told me that the mall organizes a sidewalk sale during the Bayfest period to capitalize on the influx of traffic.  I suspect that K.M. would suggest the "influx" is simply locals deciding that those two weekends are the best time to hit the local mall. 
 
Let us forget for a second that Bayfest brings in substantially more people than our hotels can handle (heck, one of the scummiest/sleaziest/dirtiest - if not THE scummiest/sleaziest/dirtiest motels in town was charging $325/night for a room - their sign says $40/night!) and that many people stay in neighbouring cities (Port Huron, London, etc.).
 
People are eating at our restaurants, visiting our auto-mechanics, shopping at our stores and the benefit is for everyone in this community.  (One could equally ask "who benefits from having Imperial Oil in Sarnia?" Equally as silly, mind you.)
 
I suspect many of them are sleeping off the effects of the booze and drugs the night before.
 
Wow, jump to the stereotypes.  Anyone who likes live music must be a drunk or a user - that's a safe assumption to make - especially considering HALF of the Bayfest concert area is not licenced and beer sales would suggest that the average number of consumed beverages is far below what is necessary for intoxication.  You're either lying or you're making stuff up - either way, you're wrong.
 
A survey last year said that non-locals spent very little in the community. After paying the exorbitant ticket prices, they probably do not have much left to spend.
 
I don't care for crowds and I'm not a music expert - my wife, however, is a fan of a couple of bands that have been to Bayfest.  For both of those bands, we did watch the shows in Sarnia - and we had seen them just before (or just after) at other venues.  The ticket prices in Sarnia are far (FAR) below what they are in most other venues.  Failure to compare ticket prices does not make your wishful (but false) thinking any more accurate.  If anything is exorbitant it is what other businesses charge to capitalize on Bayfest (room rates for a motel over $100, let alone over $300!).
 
I'm not sure that the survey said they spent very little in the community either - but I suspect making stuff up was not limited to earlier paragraphs of this letter.
 
Where is the estimated $4 million to $5 million supposed to come from and who really gets the benefit from it? Does any of this money end up in the coffers of city hall? Provide more health care? Cut the hospital debt? Fill the shelves at the food banks? Shelter the homeless? Families on welfare? The working poor on minimum wage (if they have a job)? Seniors on limited incomes? Bring in more doctors? The list of needs is endless.
 
The answers are, in order: everyone in our community, yep, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.  The police get a crapload of money from Bayfest (the City benefits), taxes are collected that pay for health care and pay hospital debt.  Local businesses benefit from the influx of visitors so they can afford to donate more to food banks, homeless shelters, families on welfare and the working poor.  The increased tax intake reduces the need for taxes that would affect seniors on limited incomes as well.  Oh, and doctors, yes, yes, yes.  Having Sarnia known for something, having a reason for the young and educated return to Sarnia and removing negative stigmas from the area means better opportunities to attract doctors.  Thanks, K.M., for pointing all of that out.
 
An article in the Observer on April 30 stated that 96% of local residents thought that the event enhanced their quality of life and three-quarters thought it deserves government support. No way! What a load of bull. This is irresponsible and misleading reporting. Was a survey taken of everyone in Sarnia? I must have missed that one. I doubt if any of the people mentioned previously were asked either.
 
Reporting does not become inaccurate simply because you disagree with it.  Nor do the facts change.  Look up the definition of survey and understand the application/use.  I bet you've answered questions on a survey that I have not had the opportunity to also answer.  That's reality.  Data is extrapolated from a sample.  Surveys can be flawed but not many are as flawed as your thinking.  Get over it, it's good for the City (area) whether or not you like it - and, yes, it deserves government support.  (Keep in mind that the government is spending millions and millions of dollars supporting other similar festivals not in our area - why shouldn't Sarnia be so lucky?  Other festivals with similar entertainers and real dollars of government support: Ottawa Blues and Jazz festival - Millions. Montreal - Millions.)
 
Countless organizations (charities, non-profits and community groups) benefit substantially from the work that is performed at Bayfest.  The organizers, staff and countless volunteers work tirelessly to put on a world-class show in our backyard and the best you can do is complain?  For how much it has benefited you without you even recognizing it, leave town during Bayfest - it'd be for the benefit of everyone.  I can assure you that your complaining has done nothing to fill the shelves at the Inn, or provide shelter for the homeless or attract a single doctor. Your high horse, it turns out, is a miniature one. 
 
I think a few questions need to be asked. Who really does benefit? It may help hotels, some stores and food places, but not organizations and people who really need it.
 
I have to assume that the letter was written to the paper as a "tongue-in-cheek" type letter - surely K.M. Hayes knows that the festivals in Sarnia are possibly the greatest thing to happen to Sarnia in a long time.  If it doesn't suit ones fancy, nobody is forcing anyone to go to it.  I'm not a festival attending type of person but I can't help but want to support Bayfest for how much it has helped our community.