Board of Supervisors Committee Hearing Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA:  Members of the San Francisco night life community including clubs, bands and customers, will be rallying their support for the Entertainment Commission on Monday Oct 26^th 1PM before the Board of Supervisors.

The Entertainment Commission has come under attack of late by those groups who seek to limit the variety of entertainment venues in this world class city.  The night life industry is a significant economic engine driving the San Francisco economy and that industry along with its talent and customers are rallying to show support for the Commission.

The legislation before the Board will empower the Entertainment Commission to enforce its own permits.  Added to the legislation in the form of an amendment is a moratorium that would affect entertainment city wide if the number of permits increases slightly (15%).  Yes, you are reading this correctly, the board committee has a proposed amendment that will stop the industry from recovering from this economic downturn.  Just as the economy improves and permit applications increase, a city wide moratorium goes into place.  We can’t allow this economic recovery killing amendment to get out of this committee hearing.

The industry feels strongly about the Commission that regulates them and intends to demonstrate to the board of supervisors and the police that they too have a voice.  Performing on the steps of City Hall will be the Jazz Mafia, an acoustical jazz group.  Performing inside City Hall will be the night life industry and their customers who too are citizens of this great urban metropolis.

For more information:

SupportEntertainment.com

An Open Letter to the Friends of San Francisco Entertainment and the Entertainment Commission established to regulate the industry

October 16, 2009

Entertainment Lovers,

The Board of Supervisors Committee Chairman Dufty has moved our hearing on legislation designed to strengthen the Entertainment Commission (EC) to Monday October 26^th at 1 PM in room 263 of City Hall.  This change works in our favor because it gives us another week to get the word out to our friends and supporters and more time to send emails to the Supervisors and the Mayor.  There will NOT be a hearing on Monday October 19th as announced earlier.  We regret the confusion this change makes, it is not a decision that was in our control…..so let us use this time to our advantage.  Spread the word far and wide!

There have been recent attacks that threaten the future of entertainment in San Francisco.  Anti-entertainment groups are pushing hard to “severely restrict music and shut down nightlife” and the fate of your favorite venue may be at risk.  We need you to do two things:  1)  send an email and  2) speak at the hearing on Monday October 26th at 1 PM in room 263 of City Hall.

The EC was created in 2002 to take responsibility for the granting and oversight of Entertainment and Late Night permits.  Before the EC, the granting, oversight and enforcement of these permits were all done by the police.  Separating the authority was seen as a way to give citizen stakeholders a place in the decisions around entertainment.  Enforcement remained with the Police and the granting and oversight was given to the EC.

Two years ago the Mayor’s office and the EC convened a “Nighttime Safety Summit” to hear recommendations from the entertainment community and the Police Department on how to strengthen the role of the EC in rewarding well managed venues and disciplining problem venues that were making the industry look bad.  The legislation that is being heard on Monday the 26^th comes from that summit and will give the EC emergency suspension powers to more quickly address a problem venue and the ability to write infraction tickets for lesser offences, like poorly managed lines in front to a venue or repeatedly leaving the door open causing a noise disturbance.

You have the power to keep San Francisco a great music and culture city.  Now is the time to exercise that power, we cannot do it without you.