GOVERNMENT RELATIONS CASE STUDY
San Gennaro Festival
cLIENT BACKGROUND
Understand The Need
The Feast of San Gennaro has been taking place in New York City’s Little Italy since 1926, and is recognized around the world as an 11-day event which stretches throughout 11 blocks of the Little Italy neighborhood.
Since 2000, DHC Government Relations team has represented the iconic Feast of San Gennaro.
In our role we work closely with the Mayors Office, numerous city agencies, the State Liquor Authority, elected officials and the local Community Board to obtain the required permits and to ensure a safe and successful festival.
ISSUES & CHALLENGES
Working with NYC Mayor's Office
Everything Old is New Again
Although the Feast has operated for almost 100 years, each year brings new obstacles to overcome. One of our earlier challenges occurred during the Bloomberg years.
About a week before the start of the Feast, three ballasts were installed in front of two City owned buildings by NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Such placement blocked three vendor spaces in the heart of Little Italy.
Measuring the Cost
In addition to the revenue loss, such an open space in an otherwise packed series of vendors would’ve been out of place and imposed previously unencountered problems. The festival planning committee wanted a resolution.
“We have represented the iconic Feast of San Gennaro since 2000. Our role has been to work with the Mayors Office, numerous city agencies, the State Liquor Authority, elected officials and the local Community Board to obtain the required permit and ensure a safe and successful event.”
Arthur Goldstein, Partner & NYC Government Relations Chair
SOLUTIONS
Developing a Plan
01
Making Connections
Leveraging prior experience for another downtown client on Wall Street we were aware of Mayor Bloomberg’s distaste for such ballasts, so we went straight to the Mayor’s Office to solve the problem.
The ballasts were removed 4 days later.
02
Building Consensus
We also worked across the political landscape, encouraging and inviting elected officials to visit the Feast and participate in the annual parade.
Which is usually well received and respected, with great turnout over the years.
RESULTS
What We achieved
