Wilkes-Barre council approves alcohol exceptions for Fine Arts Fiesta, Rockin' the River

Apr. 11—WILKES-BARRE — City council members unanimously approved temporary alcohol suspensions for two of the local area's biggest cultural events: the Fine Arts Fiesta on Public Square and the Rockin' the River series of concerts on the River Common.
The Fine Arts Fiesta exception was noted as being for the wine-tasting area and only applies to wine. Malted or brewed beverages and liquors will still be prohibited on Public Square when the fiesta takes place from Thursday, May 15, to Sunday, May 18.
The Rockin' the River exception is for three consecutive Fridays — July 11, 18, and 25 — this summer. The council's resolution on the matter notes that the designated area for open consumption of alcoholic beverages will be clearly identified on those dates by the event's sponsors, the Luzerne County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Public comment
Mayor George Brown received significant backlash from residents in attendance at Thursday's meeting for his comments — which were recently printed in a local publication — regarding the city's strategies for handling homelessness.
Residents April Pahler, Anthony Farah and Jasmine Rodriguez each took an opportunity to poke at the city's homelessness policy, specifically the methods with which a homeless camp was removed in Kirby Park in July 2024. The residents and council members came to some understanding about the resources available to the city's homeless population, and Brown defended his comments and policies.
"If you saw the pictures or if you were over along the river and saw what the two encampments had done over there and put my firefighters and my police officers in danger — going over there at night with no lights and trying to walk through buckets of feces, buckets of urine, needles, and everything else that was over there that's going to create a safety hazard for these people that are trying to provide first aid and try to help them out — yeah, I think I did the right thing, and I would do it again," Brown said.
During Brown's response to the residents' concerns, one meeting attendee stood up and shouted at the Mayor.
"Absolutely inhuman [how] you're treating our neighbors here. Absolutely disrespectful. You should be ashamed of yourself. This council should be ashamed of yourselves by the way you treat the most vulnerable people in our community," the resident hollered as he was escorted from the council's chambers by police.
Additional resolutions
In addition to the alcohol allowances, the council also:
—Approved the celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, and the promotion of earth-friendly foods and a healthier food system in the city.
—Reappointed Patricia Unvarsky to the Traffic Committee.
—Authorized the proper city officials to file a Project Management Proposal with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grant in the amount of $750,000 for assistance with King's College Student Success Center Project.
—Authorized the proper city officials to sign any and all necessary documents related to awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Stell Enterprises, for the Bog Phase II All-Inclusive Playground/Park Project in the amount of $431,532.

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