San Francisco Youth Commission &
Entertainment Commission
**Special Joint Hearing**
Minutes
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
7:30pm—9:00pm
City Hall, Room 400
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order
Chair LaCroix called the meeting to order at 7:36pm.
Youth Commissioners present: Zukerman, Benezra, Beaulac, Kaminsky, Herzstein, LaCroix (constitutes quorum of Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Recreation Committee).
Youth Commission staff present: Yedidia
Entertainment Commissioners present: Perez, Meko, Newlin, Joseph, Benetti.
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
The agenda was not officially approved.
3. Introductory remarks from Entertainment Commission, Youth Commission, City Departments & Community (Discussion Only)
Entertainment commissioner Joseph offered some introductory remarks, offering her support for the Youth Commission and the community’s desire to increase the number of safe electronic dance music venues in San Francisco.
Youth Commission Chair LaCroix and commissioner Zukerman then provided some comments. Both commissioners underscored the Youth Commission’s Chartered duty to advise the Mayor’s Office and the Board of Supervisors on the unmet needs of San Francisco’s children and youth, and to identify those unmet needs through, among other methods, public forums—which is just what today’s hearing is about. They thanked the many hundreds of young people in the audience, and explicitly connected this present hearing to a hearing—called “Recreation Revolution”—held by the Youth Commission some seven years ago, which helped identify the unmet recreational needs of San Francisco’s young people.
**Privilege of the floor was then granted to Supervisor Scott Wiener. First, Supervisor Wiener thanked all the assembled commissioners for their service. Supervisor Wiener went on to say that in his first few months in office, he has been committed to making sure San Francisco’s nightlife scene is vibrant and healthy. The Supervisor lamented the City family’s tendency to overreact when something bad happens. He explained that he had recently requested that the City’s Controller’s Office conduct a study that would assess just how much money San Francisco’s nightlife industry brings into the City. He concluded that his office was and would in the future be available to help respond to the community’s concerns regarding safe, vibrant entertainment opportunities.**
Comments were offered from Kay Rodriguez from the Recreation and Parks Department.
4. Hearing to consider issues related to the health and safety of young people who attend recreational and entertainment events—both those events that are permitted and those that are unpermitted, and both those that are exclusively for people 21 years of age and events that are “all ages” (Discussion Only)
Public Comment was then offered—in person or by filling out a yellow speakers card—by the following individuals who, unless otherwise indicated, spoke in favor of liberally permitting Electronic Dance Music events in San Francisco and against the original version of the California state assembly bill AB 74, known as the “Anti Raves Act of 2011.”
Liam Shy; Jordan Spalding; Matt Kaftor; Valerie Klinker; Snehal Chudgar (DJ Remix King); Michael Goven Miller; Justin Duke; Justin; Joseph Pred; Andre Korr; Jerry Edelstein; Numerous anonymous speakers; Peter Bejger; Alexander Woon; Jenny Vargas; Robin Mock; Kendra Aker; Ben Mushal; Kevin Collins; Nicole Andris; Nick Xavier; Eric Cederwall; Nic Higuera; Augustine Sanchez; George Davis; Nathaniel Fowler; Christina McKinstry; Kelly Edwards; Frances Ho; Felix Truong; Steven Yuen; Caitlin Grey; Shun Trenholm; Roxanne Tomco; Rishi Malhotra; Robert Parsons; Mackenzie Ayers; Samantha Marie; Jon Pincus; Ben Retan; Tom Murphy; Kellen Crisman; Le Liu; Pual Cumpian; Dan Yasouan; Neba Kaneza; Brittany Stonesifer; Emma Mallonee; Jason R Koplin; Audrey Whaling; Gabe Wexler; Taylor Emerson; Kristina Moseley; Reza Ebraitimi; Garrett Hom; Shawn Louth; Claire Stevenson; Susan Diana Harris; Guy Jara; Monica Salazar; Jessica Adams; Frank Walburg; Travis Creamer; Tony Staples; Rich Trapani; Jack Triplett; Howard Fallon; Forest French; Jack Cole; Chloe Donnelly; Melody Anne Hedin; Jonathan Castro; Carson Day; Allen Cole; Katrina Errico; Jason Koplin; Brian Van Winkle.
5. Adjournment
Chair LaCroix adjourned the meeting at 10:19pm.
Supplemental documents for agenda items are available for review at City Hall Room 345. Minutes are also available on the Youth Commission Website at www.sfgov.org/youth_commission.
ACCESSIBLE MEETING POLICY
The Youth Commission meeting will be held in City Hall Room 416. The formal address of City Hall is 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at the United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: MUNI Metro Lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Oceanview, N-Judah, and T-Third Street at Van Ness and Civic Center Stations; 9-San Bruno, 19-Polk, 47-VanNess, and 71-Haight Noriega. For information about MUNI accessible services call 923-6142.
The Commission meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Accessible curbside parking spaces have been designated on the corners of McAllister and Polk, and Grove and Polk. There is accessible parking available within the Civic Center Underground Parking Garage at the corner of McAllister and Polk Streets, and within the Performing Arts Parking Garage at Grove and Franklin Streets.
If you require the use of an American sign language interpreter, a sound enhancement system, or a reader during the meeting, calendars and minutes of the meeting in alternative formats; such arrangements can be made by calling Mario Yedidia at (415) 554-6446, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Late requests will be honored if possible.
Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review.
For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance, or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact by mail: Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall Room 224, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102; by phone at (415) 554-7724; by fax at (415) 554-7854; or by e-mail at sotf@sfgov.org.
Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from the Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the internet, at http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=4459.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic device. (Admin. Code § 67A.1).
In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical- based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.