New events, more police presence planned for Puerto Rican Day

A year after Philadelphia's Puerto Rican Day parade gained national attention over a video showing a police officer striking a woman, city officials are preparing to have more police supervision at the Sept. 29 event.

The parade will also be followed by an official city-sponsored concert at the Dell East Music Center in Fairmount Park to give people a place to continue celebrating.

The first Boricua Fest, which will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. that Sunday, will feature local Latino musical acts and the Grammy-nominated rapper Tego Calderon, city officials announced Tuesday.

"We are going to be proud and we are going to celebrate, but we are going to do it safely," said Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez.

The parade and related events such as a dinner and flag-raising ceremony, which celebrate the contributions Puerto Ricans make to the city, attract more than 100,000 Latinos each year.

The parade is known for bringing a rowdy crowd of thousands each year. Last year, though, it was the police who got a bad rep.

Lt. Jonathan Josey was caught on video knocking Aida Guzman to the ground following the parade. Josey was fired and charged with assault, but acquitted by Municipal Court Judge Patrick F. Dugan. He was reinstated last month.

Guzman received a $75,000 settlement from the city after filing a federal lawsuit.

Given last year's incident, Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said there would be a "higher level of supervision and higher level of accountability."

Tickets for the Boricua Fest will be $7 for general admission and $15 for VIP.