Woof. The organizer of the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade has called off the event after a ruff time trying to cover all the administrative costs.
“PARADE HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,” the website for the dog run reads atop the homepage. For what would have been its 33rd annual puppy parade, organizers told Gothamist that planning logistics for the event had gotten out of hand.
Joseph Borduin, who has organized the beloved event for the last four years, said he withdrew the necessary street closure applications Tuesday evening after spending weeks trying to sort out nearly $50,000 in permitting and insurance costs for the event in coordination with City Councilmember Carlina Rivera’s office and several city agencies.
“I’m done. I do not work like this,” Borduin said in an interview while recalling the bureaucratic back-and-forth with various agencies that ultimately sank the annual canine competition. “This is the most unorganized and craziest thing I’ve ever tried to do.”
Due to construction in the park that would force the event onto the street, thereby complicating logistics, Borduin had initially decided to cancel the event in the Spring, with plans to make an announcement later in the year, he said. Not only would Borduin have to figure out the new layout, but he would have to apply to close down several city blocks through the city’s Street Activity Permit Office, which charged him $5,000 to close only one last year, he told Gothamist.
“I’m just trying to raise money for the dog park, not pay the city and parks department all the money,” said Borduin, whose email signature reads, “Head Pooper Scooper @ The Tompkins Square Dog Run.”
He added, “I’m a volunteer. I don’t even get paid for this. So I was like, yeah, let’s cancel it. Can’t do it. It’s just gotten too big, too much.”
Last month, Rivera’s office reached out to Borduin, ensuring the show would go on and that they would work to help him secure the permits in his name, Borduin said. He agreed, with just weeks to get everything in order.
“So that’s what I started doing and drawing up all the maps, coming up with ideas and how to do things because again, half of our park is under construction,” he said.“I got to figure out another way to do this.”
Unlike in previous years, this year’s parade was being organized to resemble other human parades in the city. While dogs have typically walked across a stage, with visitors going into the park to take a peek, parade-goers would have had to stand along city streets this year to watch as costumed dogs walked past them. The event would have shut down nine city blocks — Avenue B from East 6th Street to East 14th Street, and East 7th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. But before the first pooch could strut the street Borduin said, SAPO quoted him more than $50,000 for the necessary permits.
Borduin said a communication snafu left him confused about who would help foot the bill for those permits. He had been in contact with a staffer at Rivera’s office, who he thought would take care of the permits. Meanwhile, a SAPO representative insisted the hefty balance was his responsibility.
That’s when a frustrated Borduin withdrew the applications.
“I was like, ‘No guys, it’s my name on the permit. If you want to do it, put your name on it, but I’m taking mine out,’” Borduin said.
Rivera told Gothamist her office was doing everything possible to secure the permit and even eliminate the fee for community organizations.
“I’ve called the head of SAPO and the mayor’s office about these exorbitant fees and I’m advocating for them to be reduced or even eliminated when it’s appropriate. In this case, for the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade, and it’s a festival, this is a public amenity that’s open to everyone,” Rivera said. “It’s a cherished cultural event for the whole city, and I’m dedicated to ensuring it has a home.”
Despite having just weeks left before the parade would have been, Rivera said she was holding out hope it could come back this year..
“Hopefully we’ll have good news, but if not, I really want to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” Rivera said.
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