Is it just me, or has the recent Rans Carnival mess in Maguwoharjo finally proven that 'national' star power is a liability for our local economy?

As a business graduate and a seller who pours her heart into every handmade batik piece, I’m done seeing our hard-working UMKM friends pay the price for Jakarta-based political blunders. We saw it last week—musicians pulling out and tenants losing their capital just because a brand became too politically toxic.

My unpopular opinion: Jogja doesn’t need these massive, high-risk celebrity festivals to thrive. We have a 'Josjis' spirit for a reason. When the carnival collapsed, it was the local community—not some talent agency in Jakarta—that stepped up to buy out the remaining stock.

We need to stop subsidizing the egos of influencers who don't understand our local values. From now on, I’m only supporting events that prioritize community integrity over social media metrics. If a festival’s success hinges on one person’s political reputation, it’s not a business opportunity—it’s a trap for small sellers like us.