To: Fans of the Westheimer Street Festival ON WESTHEIMER!!!

This is an official petition for those who feel that the Westheimer Street Festival not returning in 2005 is a sacrilege. During the October 2004 WestFest, the festival promoter has decided to discontinue the WestFest on Westheimer because of financial constraints.

Back in 2000, after three public hearings in response to closing Westheimer for the WestFest because of a revised street closure ordinance, the WestFest was forced to Allen Parkway for three years and eight months. The Allen Parkway move has resulted in a financial crisis where the final solution was to bring the festival back to Westheimer during Gay Pride Weekend in June 2003 - which was deemed a success.

Throughout 2004, one fear which was inevitable was the planned discontinuation of the WestFest on Westheimer - there were a few flyers posted on utility poles in the Montrose stating "No More WestFest". As of November 2, 2004, the WestFest headquarters @ 524 Westheimer has been abandoned and the phone # disconnected; it seems that the festival promoter has left for San Antonio.

As the president of the WestFest Purists Organization - I have defended the Westheimer Street Festival when it was held on Allen Parkway during the 'dark years' - I have defended the festival only once. After hearing of the rumored discontinuation since Spring 2004, another Houston-area tradition has fell victim to gentrification as if the Shamrock Hilton was erased from the Houston skyline.

Feel free to sign the petition if there should be a new Westheimer Street Festival on Westheimer; it's sad to see a festival which was named by the Houston Press as the Best Free Festival back in 1999.

Sincerely,

DON "The Emissary" SERIBUTRA
President, WestFest Purists Organization
Member, October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality - Houston Chapter