Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990 TAG: 9006220262
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium
Most of the city's employees will be working over Labor Day, helping with traffic control, logistics and sanitation.
This year the event is being planned by a citizens' committee, the Labor Day Community Coordination Committee, appointed by the City Council. In the past, the city has had no part in the event.
Watts said the city has received inquiries from at least 64 major news organizations worldwide about coverage of this year's event, dubbed Laborfest by the committee.
"Besides the national networks, we know that television networks from Great Britain, Japan, the Middle East and elsewhere are planning on coming," he said.
The city also is using volunteer black police officers from neighboring communities to help in the event. Watts said those officers probably would be used aboard the numerous shuttle buses taking visitors from the beachfront to other events.
Last year, police and an estimated 100,000 young people clashed on the resort city's main beachfront thoroughfare after looting broke out.
Police, backed by state police with National Guardsmen on standby, twice cleared the beachfront street.
Damage from the riots and looting exceeded $1.4 million.
Many of the young people were students from predominantly black colleges and universities along the East Coast who came to the city for an informal end-of-summer party that had been held for the previous nine years.
Watts said most of those arrested were from the Hampton Roads area. Much of the stolen property recovered was found in the local area, some just two blocks from the beach in a residential area.
After last year's riots, city officials said one of the major problems was too many people in too small an area with too little to do. This year the citizens' committee is spreading concerts and events throughout the region.
The beachfront thoroughfare, Atlantic Avenue, will be closed to automobile traffic for much of its length. Parking will be provided at satellite lots well away from the beach, and transportation to the various Laborfest events will be by shuttle bus.
Police officers also have been visiting the campuses of predominantly black colleges and universities to talk about plans for Laborfest and to hear students' reactions to last year's riots.
"We're trying to plan for every contingency. Now all we can do is wait," Watts said.
by CNB