Grand Marshal Michael Dowling. Parade photo by Dominick Totino.
By Ray O’Hanlon
Grand Marshal Michael J. Dowling might want to consider sneakers with his top hat and tails.
The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step a little livelier tomorrow as the New York Police Department plans to limit cross-town traffic, reducing the number of times the parade is stopped to allow traffic to cross.
This means the parade will move more quickly.
Last year stops and delays led to some large gaps between marching groups, especially later in the day.
According to parade organizers, people marching in the parade should check the Parade Line of March at https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/2017lomindex/ or in the Irish Echo to see where their group is assembling and at what time the group will step off onto Fifth Avenue.
Pedestrians will be allowed to cross Fifth Avenue only at the following streets: 49th Street; 50th Street (West only); 51st Street; 54th Street; 57th Street; 58th Street; 59th Street; 60th Street; 65th Street; 66th Street; 72nd Street; 78th Street; 80th Street; 84th Street and 85th Street.
Meanwhile, many parade goers will be sporting buttons stating “180 Strong” which, according to critics of the parade organizing board, “represents the struggle of the 180 Affiliated Organizations of New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to maintain democratic ownership of their Parade via their duly elected representatives of the Parade Committee.”
The parade has been locked in a court dispute since the board moved to change its composition and parade bylaws at the end of June, 2015 so as to, according to the board, bring the parade organization in line with present days legal requirements for a no -profit.
The move led to the sidelining of longtime Parade and Celebration Committee Chairman John Dunleavy and lawsuits in Bronx Supreme Court on behalf of Mr. Dunleavy and in opposition to the board chaired by Dr. John Lahey.
The court actions, which included a rebuttal by Dr. Lahey, are still before a judge.
A number of individuals representing a group, Concerned Affiliated Organizations, has disputed the board’s right to change the bylaws while, they contend, sidelining the Parade and Celebration Committee now chaired by retired attorney John Tully.
“It is time for the Board of Directors to Act in restoring the Parade Bylaws constructed to ensure the democratic voice and vote of the 180 Affiliated Organizations, as well as enforce a separation of powers between the distinct responsibilities of the Parade Board and the elected Parade Committee,” said a statement from those organizing the “180 Strong” buttons.
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