How Weird gets walloped...again   By Steven T. Jones When the
How Weird Street Fair last month barely survived the city permit
process to get the OK for one final gathering on Howard Street
on May 6, I warned that they were likely to have a hard time
with the cops. After all, Southern Station Capt. Denis O'Leary,
the guy charged with setting their police fees, had come right
out and sided with the handful of neighbors who were trying to
kill the popular event. O'Leary promised to be fair. But now,
How Weird organizer Brad Olsen tells the Guardian that the cops
have more than doubled his fees, demanding $17,700 for beefed up
patrols. That's despite the fact that this year's event ends two
hours earlier than last year (another city demand), has never
had significant law enforcement problems, and it's fee last year
was $7,700. O'Leary hasn't yet returned my telephone call asking
what this is about, but it doesn't sound like he's living up to
his comment to me, "I'm very fair." Meanwhile, the newly formed
Outdoor