After nine nine years in downtown Fort Myers, ZombiCon will have to find a new home. Fort Myers City Council voted Monday to move the event.
The charity event was the scene of a deadly shooting in October. Organizers will now have to find a new home.
The vote passed unanimously after 20 minutes of debate.
Fort Myers Councilman Michael Flanders introduced the ordinance, saying the event is now too big for downtown. "The cleanup task for the public works department is enormous. There are several hundred gallons of paint and makeup that need to be scrubbed from city sidewalks and streets."
Flanders says downtown bar and restaurant owners didn't feel comfortable serving people wearing masks and covered in paint.
Mayor Randy Henderson says tonight's vote is not about blaming ZombiCon organizers for October's deadly shooting.
Police still haven't arrested anyone for the shooting.
Fox 4 spoke with someone with Pushing Dazies, the charity that benefits from ZombiCon. They are aware of the vote but not ready to comment at this time.
In the meantime, Anthony Thomas Jr. Chair of Citizens for a Better Ft. Myers Government said in a statement: "City Council raised the white flag on domestic terrorism."
The city council also voted to install 49 security cameras downtown. The cameras will only be turned on for big events.
