Disturbing updates to the cancellation of official events at New York City's Pride in the City which happens amidst a dramatic upheaval at its sponsoring agency, the Brooklyn-based& ; HIV/AIDS group People of Color in Crisis (POCC). Confirming the original and exclusive report on Rod 2.0, the Saturday event in Commodore Barry Park did not happen and was canceled—not because of the rain but reportedly because proper permit fees and licensing applications were "never submitted" weeks ago.
After the 11th hour controversy surrounding the dismissal of former executive director Michael Roberson, and, the cancellation of the much-anticipated Blackout Arts Festival, several organizers disputed the Rod 2.0 report that Family Day Picnic in Brooklyn's Commodore Barry Park would not happen. There were some thunderstorms early Saturday morning and those clear before noon, but, nonetheless, the park event& ; was canceled and weather was blamed. However, a source close to the POCC board of directors tells Rod 2.0 the former executive director "never" submitted the proper applications and event fees to Parks and Recreation.
"That's among the reasons the picnic was moved from its original location [in Prospect Park]," the POCC source tells Rod 2.0. "They didn't have the money for the fees, security and rentals. The proper paperwork and fees were never submitted for an event at Commodore Barry. They knew in mid-June this event wouldn't happen." The source says staging equipment, such as tents and tables, were never rented and volunteers were never marshaled. "If that's the case, and fees were paid and equipment was rented, we would have seen something at the park on Saturday. At least half an event without all the staff. But there was nothing."
One vendor tells Clay Cane, the popular writer/blogger who was scheduled to be a panelist at the canceled Blackout Arts Festival, there was no physical or virtual infrastructure at Commodore Barry Park by 10am. "No one, no event planner, no representative from the P.O.C.C.—not even a sign—was there. For over two hours I waited, and the only people that showed up were a few confused and irate vendors, and a bus load of people coming to enjoy the day." The vendor says he "never experienced a complete lack of disrespect like I did today. Not to me, but to the kids, parents, and grandparents in their orange shirts who rented a bus expecting a day of fun."
Ironically, in Clay's previous post that laments the cancellation of black pride events, David Watkins, the chairman of POCC, unloads an unhinged, all-caps, syntax-challenged rant at Clay's "gossip and ridiculous behavior" for saying pride was canceled. "Only the Blackout Arts Festival was canceled all of the other events are still happening—this is the problems in the black gay community to much gossip and ridiculous behavior without any fact checking. Did it actually occur to any who wrote this to actually check and make sure that any of this was actually the case???"
Clay Cane says it is "troubling" the POCC board chairman would go out of his way to insult a guest who was invited to speak at a POCC-sponsored event. "What fact-checking should I do at P.O.C.C.? Considering all the allegations, potential charges, and, what some are claiming to be downright criminal activity, I don't think P.O.C.C. is the greatest place to double-check 'facts'."
Mark McLaurin is the former chairman of the board of POCC and resigned last spring after board members refused to fire Michael Roberson. The veteran HIV prevention activist and lobbyist—quoted by Reuters today—tells Rod 2.0 he is "sorely disappointed" by the unraveling of the city's once-premier black gay agency and says comments such as Watkins' are "symbolic" of the POCC board's "failure"& ; in the current crisis
"There are more important issues at stake right now, such as securing funding, meeting payroll, making sure the agency its meeting its contractual obligations and its deliverables, such as testing and HIV peer counseling. Why waste time on the internet? Unless you're searching for a new executive director or new, unrestricted revenue sources, I wouldn't waste my time."
McLaurin says he worked hand-in-hand with former POCC executive director Gary English on the permit process at Pride in the City's longtime signature event at Riis Beach—which has not happened for two years—and is "not at all surprised" by reports Roberson never submitted the proper applications and fees to Parks and Recreation. "They didn't have the money," he says and squarely blames the board of directors. "This is what happens when you do not have an active board and proper oversight. The board members are stewards of the public trust and are supposed to supervise and make sure the executive director is meeting his objectives." McLaurin says the directors never exercised their prerogatives because "for years, the POCC board of directors has been a girlfriend panel. You know, the judges gave Michael Roberson a perfect "10" no matter what he brought to the runway."
P.O.C.C. Madness: Family Day in the Park Axed! [Clay Cane]
Some Background...
Exclusive: Dismissal, Lawsuit and Investigations Prompt Cancellation of NYC Black Pride [R20]
Darian Aaron 
