OK, maybe the title to this thread might be over-stating it. But read the article (and/or watch the video) and see if you come to the same conclusion I did.

Link to source article

After 44 years, a San Antonio tradition has come to an end: The St. Patrick’s Day street parade has been canceled.

The Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas has hosted the annual parade for more than four decades in downtown San Antonio. This year, however, they said the parade has been canceled due to high costs.

“We are the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the state,” said society president Terence Peak.

The costs are just too high, Peak said. Especially those imposed by the city.

“The cost that the city fees involve in barricades and police officers plus other fees is over $12,000,” Peak said. “We can’t afford this type of expense and we don’t seem to have any support from the city.”

Peak said the lack of city support stems from an ordinance he claims waives certain fees for parades with cultural significance. Peak said the society has been denied certain waivers in the past, so this year they’ve canceled the parade.

Peak said he hopes supporters will reach out to their elected officials.

“Talk to your councilman and say ‘We miss this and is there any way you can work with the Harp and Shamrock Society to make it easier on them or affordable for them?’”

KENS 5 contacted city officials who said they would look into the matter.

Peak said the society will still be hosting a week full of events, just no street parade. He said the society is hoping to find sponsors in the future so they can once again host the parade.
In case you aren't aware, San Antonio also has huge parades for MLK Day, as well as a plethora of parades for Fiesta and other Hispanic-themed events. I am guessing that the "cultural significance" waivers continue to apply to these parades, since they continue to go on with lots of city support, but the Irish seem to not qualify as culturally significant.