Brentwood will host its first city-sponsored Juneteenth event, with the council agreeing to spend up to $45,000 for the four-hour celebration.
Councilmembers on Tuesday unanimously approved the proposal, which was $15,000 higher than the original amount suggested in February, with the bulk of the money coming from the general fund, and another $15,000 in savings from canceling one yet-unscheduled concert in the city’s Starry Nights summer series.
The approval, though, did not come until more than an hour of discussions, with some questioning the process and others the cost.
Councilmember Pa’tanisha Pierson first proposed the city sponsor Juneteenth – a celebration marking the freedom of enslaved Black people – more than a year ago. President Biden recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021, and the city partnered with local nonprofit 4 Ever Me Foundation in 2022 and 2023 to help host events.
But, as other nearby cities sponsor their own events, Pierson hoped Brentwood would do the same. Last May, the council requested staff prepare a report on a Brentwood Juneteenth event, though it wasn’t until months later it would come before council.
“I thought it was imperative, important for us to do that as well,” Pierson said, noting she wasn’t trying to circumvent what the nonprofits were doing.
But Claryssa Wilson, the 23-year-old recent college graduate who heads 4 Ever Me Foundation and her mother, Velma Wilson, thought otherwise, saying they were disappointed about the process after they applied to hold their Juneteenth celebration in the city. The Wilsons said they had already started the work and thought the city was trying to take it away from them.
Claryssa Wilson said she had been led to believe that the city had only to decide on financial support, not whether it would partner with her group or hire her as a consultant. But, after a couple of phone calls with Pierson, it was clear the city would run the event, she said.
“I stand here to defend something that I’ve worked so hard on and once again had been let down by the same type of people that are meant to be lifting me up as a young adult leader in this community,” she told the council.
Velma Wilson added that her daughter had hosted successful community events in the past, including the Stuff the Bus school supply giveaway. She also noted that a Juneteenth event had been taken away from her in the past, referring to a similar situation in 2022 when her daughter was planning one in Antioch and instead the city hosted its own.
In the meantime, Pierson and staff have suggested hiring consultant Errol Jackson, a well-known event planner, who was involved in last year’s celebration. The planned headliner is former Tower of Power soul singer Lenny Williams, she said, noting the contract had yet to be signed.
“It was never an either/or because there have been talks and I’m not trying to promote one organization over the other,” Pierson said.
What Pierson does want, she said, is to make the event an annual one and make it one appeal to the entire community, with music, food vendors, information tables, crafts and other entertainment. Also suggested was a “Freedom Walk” through downtown with information about Black history on display at local businesses.
“I want in perpetuity for the city to throw an event that brings all of his residents together,” she said. “There is no guarantee no matter who was to throw Juneteenth this year that we would have one next year and the year after that. That’s why it has always been important to me that this becomes something that the city takes as seriously as all of the other holidays and other events that we’re in.”
Councilmember Jovita Mendoza said she was confident in Pierson’s ability to help plan the event, and after it’s over, they can regroup to see what worked and what didn’t.
“It’s a very short window (to plan the event) and we need to have some grace for the people who are doing it because it is a lot of hard work,” she said.
Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer said cultural events are very well-attended in Brentwood.
“I think it’s very clear to me this event needs to happen and I think Brentwood has shown its desire for expansion of cultural education and activities,” she said.
Meyer admitted the cost of the event would be “a lot,” but said that this year the city was up against a wall and would need to hire a consultant. Next year, with more time, they could perhaps plan a less costly event, she said.
Pierson said that some of the costs might be lower and they will be seeking “all of our community partners to help us with this.”
Councilman Tony Oerlemans added that cost was the major topic of concern for residents. Earlier, he had suggested canceling one concert in the summer series. That would save the city $15,000 — including overtime costs — that could be shifted to Juneteenth.
The event will be held on the holiday, June 19, which falls on a Wednesday this year.