Security concerns may keep fair out of Richmond

The certainty of the Richmond Fair became a little less certain yesterday when word spread that the city police aren't going to issue a permit for the 10-day carnival-style festival.

"I spoke to Philip [Downing, the fair operator] yesterday and advised him that a permit for the carnival is not going to be issued by the PD and that he will be receiving a letter the first part of the week," Assistant Police Chief David M. McCoy said in an e-mail.

An e-mail requesting further information was not immediately returned.

Downing said he wasn't certain why he was being denied the permit for his fair, which is scheduled to run July 17-26 in the parking lots surrounding The Diamond. He has been running newspaper and television ads for the fair in the past week, and a Web site has been touting it for weeks.

He said he had about 200 people headed to Richmond tomorrow and Tuesday to begin setting up and that he wasn't immediately canceling those plans.

Downing's company, Fair Nation Inc., has a contract with the Richmond Metropolitan Authority to rent the space for about $20,000. The contract is contingent upon Fair Nation obtaining all necessary permits, including those for rides, health issues and security.

"We've fulfilled every obligation and request they've made known to us, and we're willing to quickly fulfill every obligation and request that they make," Downing said, adding that he hoped to resolve the issue by tomorrow, either in person or by phone.

"I was planning on being [in Richmond] anyway," he said.

Allen Rothert, special-events coordinator for the city, said it was his understanding that the police did not have adequate staffing to meet the needs of the fair, though he was clear to say he wasn't speaking on behalf of the police. Rothert's department handles events on city property and assists with others in venues such as The Diamond, which is publicly owned but not controlled by the city.

Downing said he had heard that concern but wasn't worried about finding non-police security personnel, if that were an issue.

"No doubt at all we could find them."

He said city sheriff's deputies were an option, as were private security forces. He said he had estimated about $100,000 to pay for security.

The fair was originally scheduled for Richmond International Raceway, but Downing pulled out when he couldn't agree with Henrico County on security issues.

Contact Zachary Reid at (804) 775-8179 or .