To the Editor;

We couldn’t help but notice the lack of diversity and inclusion at last Wednesday’s press conference by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer at The Westcott Theater. In looking over the list of speakers and invited guests, we’re dismayed and disappointed that Syracuse Jazz Fest wasn’t invited. We’re also deeply disappointed that there was a lack of representation from Syracuse’s African-American community.

While the conference seemed focused on federal support for smaller venues and small businesses struggling to survive in the age of Covid, we urge our local, regional, state and federal officials to include those of us who present African-American music in the future.

Sen. Schumer is sponsoring ‘Save Our Stages’ legislation that would create a $10 billion federal fund to aid practitioners involved with live entertainment throughout America, so he gets a pass. But we’re disappointed that a mayor, city councilor and county executive who know all about Jazz Fest didn’t tip him off about greater representation.

• Schumer, in Syracuse, urges support for bill offering aid to live entertainment venues

Jazz Fest has a 35-year track record of bringing people together in large numbers. Our attendance numbers range from 25,000 to 45,000 annually, at an eclectic festival programmed to target and engage a multiracial, multicultural and multi-generational audience. Past Syracuse Jazz Fest headliners include Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, B B King, Sonny Rollins, Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Pete Fountain, Sonny Rollins, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, Kenny G, Dionne Warwick, Les McCann, Chick Corea, Lou Rawls, Ramsey Lewis, Wynton Marsalis Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Trombone Shorty, Natalie Cole, George Benson, Richie Havens, The Neville Brothers, Nancy Wilson, Dr John and countless others.

For us, it begs the question: Are our elected representatives being myopic when it comes to the severe racial segregation that exists in our region, and to the significant and major role Syracuse Jazz Fest has played in bringing black and white Syracusans together without incident, arrest or altercation over the past 35 years? We would hope not.

The racial disparity and division, unemployment, poverty, and severe wealth and income inequality that exists between residents of color and their white counterparts in Syracuse is statistically some of the worst in the nation, and constitutes a gap that could widen even further after November’s presidential election. We need our elected officials to see that and join forces with us to deal with it in a creative fashion.

If Sen. Schumer’s bill passes, federal funding support for the presentation of live music would total in the billions. Syracuse Jazz Fest needs a fraction of that for the long-term sustainability of the festival, and for its immediate short-term resumption, which includes continuing to make the event accessible to any residents unable to pay the prohibitive admission prices to see big-name talent which currently exist at the Amphitheater and at many of the area’s larger ticketed indoor venues.

A number of smaller venues were represented at the press conference. For the record, we’re in full support of all of them receiving major federal funding support and solidly in their corner, but we also feel we should have been included.

Syracuse Jazz Fest is currently dormant, not dead. Operations have been temporarily suspended until the funding for Jazz Fest returns to its previous budget levels. Federal funding being proposed by Sen.tor Schumer has the exciting potential to immediately resuscitate Syracuse Jazz Fest for years to come. We hope that goal is shared by the county executive, Syracuse city council, county legislature, state and federal representatives and the mayor.

Some questions remain. if Sen. Schumer’s bill passes and if funding support for live entertainment trickles down to a locally-based decentralized re-granting agency, who will make the ultimate call on which Syracuse organizations receive what? Will those funding decisions be left solely to local political office holders? This is why we feel Syracuse Jazz Fest and representatives of color need to be at the table in the future.

Syracuse Jazz Fest’s February 2020 proposal to NYS officials to permanently relocate Jazz Fest to the NYS Fairgrounds garnered extremely positive responses, but it was also short-circuited in early March by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In our estimation, Syracuse Jazz Fest has earned a seat at the federal funding table and is determined to get one. After four decades, we have come too far to turn back now, and we will not abandon our goal of securing long term sustainability for one of the Syracuse area’s greatest summertime traditions. Our residents deserve it. And that means all of our residents, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.

Frank Malfitano | Founder Syracuse Jazz Fest, SAMMY Awards, Syracuse Walk of Stars and former director of the Landmark Theatre

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