At Carytown celebration, many skipped $2 donation
Fewer than half the people who celebrated New Year's Eve in Carytown pitched in to help pay for it, organizers say.
With total attendees estimated by organizers to number at least 25,000, $20,000 to $21,000 was collected through a $2 per-person donation to defray rising security costs and other expenses.
"This is an expensive event," said Raylene Wilkinson, president of the Carytown Merchants Association and owner of Raylene's Pennyrich. "Some people didn't want to help participate in that. I really think it's a sad thing."
Wilkinson still doesn't know the final numbers, but she said the biting temperatures chilled expected beer sales. The event was boosted by corporate sponsorships and a VIP area that drew about 600 people, but it wasn't enough to cover expenses of $115,000 to $125,000.
"Unfortunately, we did lose money again this year," she said.
The $2 charge was added for the first time in the event's three-year history to cover security costs that almost tripled from the previous year, but the organizers treated the charge as a voluntary donation and didn't insist that people pay.
"Our thing was, we weren't going to cause a fuss," Wilkinson said.
Despite the monetary loss, organizers and Richmond police called the celebration a big success, with few disturbances, injuries or arrests.
"Everybody had a good time, everybody had a safe time," said Capt. Michael Shamus, commander of the police special-events division. "We brought in 2009 safe and sound."
Police more than doubled their presence at the event from the previous year, and the bill rose from $15,000 to more than $29,000. The organizers also hired a private security firm at a cost of $17,000, to handle admissions and alcohol sales, and spent up to $12,000 to rent barricades for an emergency lane in the middle of West Cary Street.
"I think the police presence was good out there," Shamus said. "That was part of the reason it was so successful."
Said Wilkinson: "It was a great party."
Contact Michael Martz at (804) 649-6964 or
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Reader Reactions
<<graphicdesigner said: “I had no idea what the time was when the ball was going up, neither did anyone else around me.“ So you’re a ‘tard and so where the people around you. The ball goes up at midnight! W.T.F.? Buy a watch douche!!!
While $2 is a fair price to pay, it was called a donation. No one was forced to do so, so some people didn’t. If they had made it mandatory, I bet the same amount of people (regardless of the inaccurate numbers) that showed up would have paid.
That’s unbelievably rude not to pitch in two bucks. But I do have a question: $12,000 to RENT barricades? What are they made of? Gold?
Also, I do not believe that 25k people attend. No way in the world.
However, I did have a good time, even though the event was disorganized. I had no idea what the time was when the ball was going up, neither did anyone else around me. No countdowns or anything. The fireworks were 10 minutes too late as well.
I paid my $2.
I am also a McCain supporter.
You accusation is false.
Those who did not pay the $2 were undoubtedly McCain supporters. Everyone knows that Republicans never accept responsibility for their actions or make a donation when requested. That is common knowledge.
At 11pm I walked straight down Sheppard Street onto Cary Street and had no one ask for money but I did have someone sitting at a table wish me Happy New Year. So I would have paid as well if someone had asked me for it. I think it should be a free thing anyways. But I dont see how that could happen with a $30K police bill and another $30K for everything else. Maybe some poeple should just volunteer. Was that even an option??
I was glad to pay the $2.00, as was everyone in my group. I’m sorry they didn’t get the turnout they expected, but I do believe the cold kept a lot of people in. It’s hard to be out in those temperatures for a long time.
If someone had asked for the $2 donation I and the group I was with would have gladly paid. We entered the event near Cary and Boulevard and didnt see anyone collecting money and the “security” let us walk right in.
I am sorry to hear they lost money, I enjoyed the event and think the $2 fee was well worth it especially since free parking was easy to find. I was not counting people, but I do not believe 25,000 people were there. It seemed like the event only encompassed maybe two blocks on Cary Street. With buildings blocking both sides of the street, and the center blocked off for emergency vehicles, how could 25,ooo people fit? One would have to be a real looser to skip out on paying a $2 cover. In any case, the event made for a fun and affordable evening in Richmondthat entire families enjoyed. I would hate to think people would risk loosing an event like this simply because they had to get something for nothing. (I mean really, 2 bucks?)
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