Winston-Salem puts the drop on The Drop. Just so happens they have a convenient excuse:
Part of the reason for ending earlier is an e-mail sent Tuesday to city officials from Bill Parks, a member of the Holiday Rambler Recreational Vehicle Club.
The state chapter of the RV club is holding its annual rally at the fairgrounds Aug. 16 to 19. Parks, a former Winston-Salem police sergeant, wrote that the club would have about 100 RVs and 250 people living and sleeping near the site of The Drop and that would raise security concerns about the concert.
By the way, here’s an interesting view from the father of the 13-year-old shooting victim after last week’s Drop:
Last Friday, 13-year-old Ashley White was shot in the jaw as she and a crowd of teens were in the 1400 block of Trade Street. She spent a night in a hospital and had several teeth knocked out by the bullet.
White was on her way home from The Drop, and the shooting stemmed from a disagreement at the concert over a girl, according to city officials.
Her father, also named Ashley White, said this week that his daughter was recovering well. He said he would let her return to The Drop if she wanted, as he felt the concert itself is safe.
Hey, he’s the parent. I guess you have to look at the odds, though. Just what are the chances of going to a hip-hop concert and getting shot again?