Road piracy. The politicians and police were greased and told this would be a boon to their coffers.
“It’s for the children!” Is the oldest and lamest cover story for outright theft.
Reminds me of "free speech zones"
Some cities still have them, only now they call them approved protest areas. For example in NY city the approved, permitted protest area for the UN building is a box big enough for maybe 30 people over 4 blocks away from the actual UN building.