Every year, the Astoria Park festival, which spreads over five tumultuous days, turns our quiet neighborhood into an uneasy and chaotic environment. Instead of celebrating community spirit, the festival brings an onslaught of noise, traffic chaos, and has escalated into an unsafe event that many locals dread.

Local residents are witnessing a troubling increase in safety issues, including fights breaking out, and people disrespecting our neighborhood by parking illegally, blocking driveways and even hydrants. This annual event is meant to celebrate Astoria's vibrant culture, but instead, it disrupts our daily lives and compromises our neighborhood’s safety.

It's clear that changes are necessary if the Astoria Park festival is to continue. Cutting down the festival's hours would significantly reduce the disruptions it causes to our peaceful community. Furthermore, an increased police presence in the surrounding neighborhoods would help manage the crowds, deter inappropriate behavior, and ensure the safety of residents.

From increased traffic gridlocks that add unwelcome stress to fights breaking out that threaten the safety and peace of our community, it's evident that the festival has spun out of control and needs stricter management.

Let us act now to strike a balance between celebration and safety. We deserve a festival that neighbors can enjoy without sacrificing the peace and security of our everyday lives. Please join us in signing this petition to call for reduced festival hours and enhanced safety measures at the Astoria Park festival.