Pittsfield responds to potential Harris fundraiser event

PITTSFIELD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -  In the city of Pittsfield, there has been some talk about Vice President Kamala Harris coming to the area for a fundraiser event on Saturday. According to the Eventbrite page for the fundraiser, tickets are sold out, pointing to the possibility of a large crowd downtown. Some people in the city are preparing for the event, while others are hoping to get out of town to avoid the crowd. 

Jesse Tobin McCauley, a local artist in Pittsfield, is organizing a gathering outside of the event with two other people. They plan to dress and hold signs in support of Harris, as they are thrilled she may be in attendance.

"Signs, I don’t know hooting and hollering, and just being excited pretty much," McCauley said. "It’s a display of signs, people, the amount of people. Really just some really happiness, enjoyment that she’s here.” 

Before announcing her candidacy, Harris was set to appear in Pittsfield for a Biden-Harris fundraiser. However, there has been speculation that she may no longer attend given her announcement of candidacy. Some, like Meg Arvin, a political activist in Pittsfield, are hopeful she will attend and has made plans ahead of the event.

"We will probably be across the street or in the meridian and then ideally it will just be people dressed up in Biden and Harris gear, wearing their vote blue stuff and having signs of support," Arvin said.

The City of Pittsfield has put out parking and traffic information for the event tomorrow, leading many to believe the Harris may be in attendance. The statement said, "Parking is limited and only available on a first come first serve basis... No parking will be allowed behind or around South Congregational Church."

There are people in Pittsfield who are worried that the event may draw in a large crowd they may affect traffic patterns.

"I have talked to a couple of coworkers and a of couple people who live around here; people are interested," Sherdyl Fernandez-Aubert said. "I think mostly people are like well let's avoid town so we don’t get caught in traffic or all the craziness so nothing too exciting there.”

Besides just organizing outside of the event tomorrow, Danielle Munn of the Witch Slapped store in Pittsfield, is planning on showing her support for Harris by decorating the window of her store.

"So, we will be out, we will be welcoming and I'm super hoping that I can give a shirt to Kamala that says, I got witch slapped in the Berkshires," Munn said.

People are coming to Pittsfield for the event, including sisters Lisa Cohen and Erika Bleiberg, who said they stopped by to be a part of what they are calling a "historic event."

“When we realized, we thought we would just come and spend some time and soak up the energy," Bleiberg said. "I have my Ruth Bader Ginsburg socks on it just so happens," Cohen said.