HARTFORD — A Riverfront Recapture official said that until about two weeks ago, the organization was unaware that Hartford and East Hartford would be cutting funding for this year’s Riverfest.
CEO Michael Zaleski said discussions with the two municipalities began after the organization was informed that state police would be issuing a bill for the roughly $20,000 in public safety services provided by the state of Connecticut.
“We were prepared to take on that bill,” Zaleski said. “However, the addition of the city and fire bill from the two municipalities made it difficult to hold the event.”
The state and both municipalities traditionally provide public safety services for Riverfest without reimbursement. Hartford and East Hartford spend roughly a combined $100,000 on the event each year.
When asked whether crowdfunding would be an option for the event in years to come, Zaleski was skeptical that Riverfest can go on without help from the municipalities.
