[NewMusic] Oakland cabaret ordinance in the news

[Sarah - 21 Grand]

The more things change, the more things stay the same - our first eviction
with next to no help from the City - came not long after then Mayor Jerry
Brown made supporting the arts one of his four points of light, or whatever
he called them.

Another irony is that the city is making us cancel events that they are
essentially paying for with grant money.

In other news, the fire department has passed the buck to the building
department, and we can only have 49 people present for Saturday's show with
Zeena Parkins and Tuesday's show with Tim Perkis and Eugene Chadbourne.

Anyone with an interest in possibly having a private recording session at 21
Grand might have ample opportunity in the month of January. After Tuesday,
we cannot host any more live events until certain permits are obtained.
(This would be the $2000 permit - then we'd back on permission on a case by
case basis while we wait on the $600 permit.) I will keep everybody posted
but not deluge the list with lengthy litanies.

Thanks again for your support.  Fundraising ideas are also welcome.

sl


>A final vote is scheduled Dec. 18. The council also agreed to
>revisit the issue at a later date after Councilmember Desley Brooks
>(Eastmont-Seminary) questioned why there had to be any restrictions
>on cabarets in areas where Oakland is hoping to improve the
>nightlife, such as uptown and Jack London Square.
>
>"This makes no sense," she said. "We need to be able to have
>cabarets in the entertainment districts."