We are glad to hear the that the Puerto Rican Parade Committee and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center have found a way to work together to continue their cultural celebration. However, we are disheartened at their proposal to add alcohol to the Puerto Rican festival billed as a family and cultural experience. Given the well-documented history of violence and disorderly activity within the fest and the surrounding community, several active community groups strongly believe that this fest should continue to remain alcohol free until the associated violence ends. The violence includes, but is not limited to, shootings, stabbings, intoxicated and other unsafe driving behavior, and gang activity. Given strained police resources, we accept the police are at their limits in protecting the neighborhood and law-abiding visitors during the festival period. We feel the presence of a beer garden would overwhelm the police and private security assigned within the fest, and will harm our community with additional violence brought on by the alcohol consumption.