Mayor John Buchanan just announced in an interview with Channel 5, KTLA, that the big surprise (an elephant in the parade) has been cancelled. Citing concerns that the controversy that has been created around this would detract from the parade, and that security concerns were also an issue, he said that there would no longer be an elephant in the parade, as the 4th of July Committee had intended.
Here’s video of Buchanan and the Channel 5 reporter. I have additional video and more to write, but I’m supposed to be working at the dunk tank right now (I was there setting up when I saw the interviewer and Buchanan and grabbed my camera), so that will have to wait until later this evening.