Sequester cuts force organizers to cancel Bonita Springs Jazz Festival
-
Sequester cuts force organizers to cancel Bonita Springs Jazz Festival Video by fox4now.com
video
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.-
Massive nationwide spending cuts from the sequester have some Southwest Florida Jazz enthusiasts feeling the blues. In just a few weeks the U.S. Army's Jazz Ambassadors were set to play at Riverside Park but because of budget cuts, the event has been cancelled.
Event organizer Mike Bode said Riverside Park was the ideal location to host the patriotic players, but then his pitch perfect plan hit a bad note.
"Due to sequestration, due to cuts in government spending that are supposedly necessary the money is just not there for them to travel." Bode said.
The Riverside Jazz Festival was scheduled for April 9th but the Department of Defense suspended all military band travel earlier this month due to sequester cuts. Mike said more than a year's worth of planning was gone in and instant.
"There are other ways we can cut some of the spending rather than take things away from the people of the United States." Bode said.
" As much as I love this country, as much as I love what I was attempting to do and as much as I hate disappointing the people that were looking forward to this. It is out of my hands ... and its not right." Bode said.
Bode said he raised about $7,500 for the event that will all be returned to festival sponsors. He said he also paid a lot of out of pocket expenses for advertising that he won't get back.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.