Yaroslavsky Backs Longer Carnival Hours

City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky agreed Friday to extend the hours of a carnival in Sherman Oaks that would shut down Ventura Boulevard after organizers presented a petition showing neighbors supported the event.

In a random sample of 56 residents who live near the fair site, 50 said they would not object if the three-day carnival ran until 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, two hours later than the City Council had approved.

In an effort to sway Yaroslavsky, the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the event, also agreed to give 66% of the proceeds to five elementary schools rather than the 51% previously negotiated. Parents of elementary school children conducted the poll.

“Since our concern has always been those people going to be most directly impacted, and they don’t seem to be reacting negatively, we’ve agreed to the extension,” said Katharine Macdonald, a spokeswoman for Yaroslavsky.

The extension will be presented to the City Council next week, but Yaroslavsky’s support virtually guarantees it will be approved.

The carnival will begin Oct. 18 and run through that weekend in a city parking lot at the corner of Dickens Street and Cedros Avenue. A street fair will be held Oct. 20--closing down a two-block stretch of Ventura Boulevard for 12 hours.

Organizers had said closing the carnival at 8 p.m. Saturday threatened the event because such carnivals typically make more than half their proceeds on Saturdays after 7 p.m.