City Council Meeting Tomorrow- Support Bill 2013-0166

[triclops i]

I have been recruited to help with this cause by a promoter colleague of mine, and I don't mind because it just makes good sense to me. So basically from what I can gather:

Bill 2013-0116 goes before the city council tomorrow and if your interested in arts, culture, or Jacksonville being a modern progressive city you should support it. What it says is that Metropolitan Park would be included in the entertainment district that is Bay St., which it should anyway because IT IS a entertainment venue on Bay St. Anyway, if it passes that will free sound and schedule restrictions and actually allow more use of the park. As most remember there was a big stink a few months back when a bill went in front council to force less concerts, which was stupid and was shot down by the council immediately. Well that same group is planning on going full force to the meeting tomorrow wearing bright orange neighborhood association shirts to cause a fuss and sway the council to vote against this bill. In response my buddys (and this group includes the promoters, DJs, and lawyers who put together most of the big national shows in the are for the last 15 years or so) need to get as many heads as possible to the meeting tomorrow at 5pm to show support for the bill passing. They need as many people as possible to show face, but your presence could be especially valuable if:

1- you work in the restaurant, bar, or hospitality industry in the downtown area and believe you make more money on days when there is concerts at the park. I think everyone who works the industry in the area can testify that as fact. I can. It all comes down to money and if they can prove the economic worth it has a better chance of passing.

2- you live in Springfield or South Shores, enjoy the concerts, and dont mind the occasional music. That just makes the people in complaining look like they are being bitches. This is about outnumbering the few complaining.

Look guys, you know me. I don't get involved in politics. I run bars. Im into arts and culture, not politics and religion. But i'm taking the time to type this long mess because this just makes sense. We have a beautiful riverfront park. We should be using it as often as possible and making as much money as we can off it. In reality Metro Park should be popping off every weekend from March to August with something going on. Even if a handful of folks across the river complain to let the potential of this park go to waste anymore is in nobody's best interest. See all these world class sold out shows St. Augustine is getting recognition for? If they would of built a proper ampitheatre 15 years ago as was the plan Jacksonville would be hosting and making ridiculous loot off all of them. Plus its 2013- for a population our size outdoor rock shows are a pretty standard thing. Do you think, I don't know say Minneapolis or San Diego, do you think they have a sufficient outdoor venue where 20,000 people can see Smashing Pumpkins or Jay Z? Of course they do. They probably made it in the 1990s and its been successful ever sense. This stuff is par to course for a city of a million people....

but I digress...

the point is, go to the meeting tomorrow. Support this bill. If for no other reason because it makes good sense and it will make us all money. Its going to be a complete spectacle and ,excuse my french, shit show. It may be fun just to watch. I may sneak some wine in. The big radio station is going to be out there giving away Rockville tickets and having a protest sign making contest. I hope everyone can come out and show these prudes that us weirdos (or artists, musicians, and hospitality workers???) have some say in how things are going down in the area.

Anyway, 4am. Gnite yall.

[sheclown]

We certainly need to protect the events that the core already has -- we don't need to discourage or prohibit them.

And we don't need to threaten promoters with jail time.

Got my tickets for Rockville!

[triclops i]

To the tp, a few short hours away....

[jaxlore]

yeah this is pretty crazy how a few people can influence the whole city. I am so tired of this crap. Maybe we should just stop have jaguar and suns games too while we are at. Ridiculous. I am going to try and make it out.