CALL TO ACTION - PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVIST LISTS



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As pointed out by Amanda Witherell of the San Francisco Bay Guardian, the future of our City’s fabulous street fairs and music festivals is threatened by policy changes and fee hikes currently being pushed by various city departments. In particular, the Rec and Parks Department and Commission seems to have forgotten its mandate to serve the city as a whole and instead, are making radical policy changes to appease select neighbor groups and in one case, one individual who has harassed city bureaucrats over sound levels at Sharon Meadow.

The SFLNC is joining with many other city groups to say we've had enough, that the city's outdoor events are enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists who come here for our world class cultural attractions. City policy should not be made in closed door meetings between bureaucrats and small groups of neighbors, without input from event organizers or thousands of attendees.



Please join the SFLNC in telling City politicians and bureaucrats that our summer street events and music festivals are a crucial part of our cultural fabric and need protection from neighbors who prefer the city to sound like Walnut Creek. Please tell the City that our special events need protection not fee hikes that threaten their financial viability. Please tell the police department and mayor's office that responsible adults should be able to drink a beer at city events without being herded into small and unnecessary beer gardens that restrict our civil liberties.

Preliminary communications with Rec and Parks Commissioners indicate a good chance that they will vote to deny North Beach Jazz Festival the ability to serve beer and wine in Washington Square Park, which they have done for 12 years without incident. We need to express our outrage that such a radical policy change is being made without adequate public input or due process. North Beach Jazz is a free festival whose budget is largely paid by revenue from beer and wine sales. Loss of that revenue will kill the free festival, as simple as that. It might be understandable if the event had serious problems due to beer and wine sales, but that has never been the case. Rec and Park is taking away the organizers ability to sell beer and wine to appease some neighbors and an anti-alcohol local police captain. No one asked the opinion of the 35,000 people who attend the two day free event and who enjoy a drink while listening to jazz in the Park



Please read the excellent articles in the Bay Guardian and ACT NOW to save North Beach Jazz Festival and other city music festivals and street fairs. Instructions on how you can help are posted here from the organizers of North Beach jazz. Even if you are not a jazz lover, these changes have a way of becoming city policy if we don’t object and your street fair or festival may be next. ACT NOW!



PLEASE READ

"The death of fun " By Amanda Witherell, SF Bay Guardian

www.sfbg.com/entry.php

Attack of the NIMBYs! - By Marke B., SF Bay Guardian

www.sfbg.com/entry.php



CALL TO ACTION!!! - SAVE NORTH BEACH JAZZ FEST

If you can't see this email, click HERE
PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL MUSIC FANS and DEFENDERS of CIVIL LIBERTY



BACKGROUND

· North Beach Jazz Fest in Washington Square Park is a 12-year-old family friendly event that remains free by selling food, beer, and wine

· NBJF has always been permitted to sell alcoholic beverages in Washington Square Park. No problems have ever resulted from alcohol sales at this event.

· This year, the SF Police Department is pushing a "beer garden" policy for outdoor events, forcing organizers to create small fenced in 21+ areas. This policy limits access for those under 21, including children with their parents.

· Because of the access limitations created by beer gardens, the SF Recreation and Parks Operations Committee voted on May 3rd to deny NBJF the ability to sell alcohol in Washington Square Park.

· This denial threatens NBJF since revenue from beverage sales pay for the majority of festival expenses. Without this revenue, NBJF will go bankrupt.

· On Tuesday, May 30, 2pm in Room 416 of City Hall, the full commission of SF Rec. & Park will vote to approve or deny their application.



HOW CAN YOU HELP SAVE NORTH BEACH JAZZ FEST?

· SEND AN EMAIL to savenbjf@sunsetpromotions.net - this will forward your email to all the Rec. & Park Commissioners & Operations Staff , Board of Supervisors, and the Mayor.
Use Subject = "Save NBJF"

· CALL: The SF Rec. & Park Dept. at 415-831-2701 - Ask for G.M. Yomi Agunbiade

· SPEAK: Come to City Hall on the 30th and SPEAK YOUR MIND

(Please try to do ALL THREE if you can as we need your support every step of the way)


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Here are some talking points for CUT & PASTE, and please be courteous in all communications

· Rec and Parks department policy should be made by all stakeholders, not a select few

· Beer and Wine sales have never been a problem at North Beach Jazz Fest

· Without police imposed “beer gardens”, people of all ages can enjoy free jazz in Washington Square Park

· Beer Gardens are an unnecessary intrusion on our civil liberties

· Responsible adults should be able to drink at licensed events in City parks

· Without the revenue from beer and wine sales, the North Beach Jazz Fest will cease to exist


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THANKS: To the following individuals and organizations, for their support in our time of need: The thousands of music fans in San Francisco. SF Outdoor Events Coalition, North Beach Chamber of Commerce, SF Late Night Coalition, IN-Ticketing, Nomad Printing & Rocket Postcards, Matagrano INC, SFStation, SFWeekly, Nitevibe, LoveFest, True Skool, Mayor Gavin Newsom, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin