Albany

It may seem like a simple basketball tournament, drawing in people and teams from cities as far away as Boston and Syracuse, but for some it goes beyond the games.

"It's so much greater than Arbor Hill. It's so much greater than Albany," Sheridan Hollow resident Barbara Fiddemon said. "It's about the kids. There is greatness around here. It just so happens to be clouded in poverty."

Fiddemon and a dozen or so other city residents attended Monday's Common Council meeting to champion the Joyce E. King Basketball Tournament, now in its 14th year, in Arbor Hill Park, and to encourage the city to reconsider the 2½-day event's cancellation.

Police Chief Brendan Cox recommended the special event permit be denied for this year's tournament because organizers haven't made the necessary changes to ensure public safety. The last three years fights have broken out, guns have been seized and in 2013 there was a shooting and a stabbing, Cox said.

"The organizers are no longer doing their job. They're no longer keeping this a safe tournament," he said. "They don't run this tournament the way it needs to be run."

Cox said requests were made to have more volunteers visible and adhere to the schedule for when the event ends at night. He said some family members agree with calling off the event, but declined to provide names.

Latunde King, who started the tournament 14 years ago in memory of his mother, said since denial of the event permit – which he applied for three weeks ago – Albany police officials haven't been willing to sit down and discuss what changes can be made to address their concerns.

"I think they should work with us," said Latunde King, "Give us these pointers and ideas. Help us out. Why is the burden on us to supply the security?"

City officials said after problems with others, like the St. Patrick's Day Parade, changes were made.

Following rioting and property damage during St. Patrick's Day festivities in 2011, Cox said, University at Albany and The College of Saint Rose adjusted their spring break schedules to coincide with the city's parade day.

Parade organizers banned drinking alcohol during the parade and donated money to the city to help offset costs of running the event. The city and the parade committee said $10,000 was raised this year from private donations.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan said city officials want to see the event continue, but changes must be made.

"The organizers need to demonstrate that they have the capacity to actually execute on those plans," she said. "It's about making sure everybody is safe."

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