commission. >> i am daniel herstein, a commissioner. i am the legislative affairs coordinator. >> i am marisol, community outreach officer. president newlin: anyone else? >> other members of the commission will be here shortly. they will probably be mixed in the crowd with you or sitting up here with us. be on the lookout. i guess i will begin martin. >> i would like to call this meeting to order.

may i have a roll call please? >> commissioner zuckerman? commissioner ben-ezra? chair lacroix? we are expecting commissioner liang, plus some of our executive committee. are there any you commissioners i missed? we are expecting at least two more. that concludes the call to order and the roll call. >> before we have commissioner comments, i recommend we call the supervisor of so he can make his comments. you are in no hurry? you want to be last?

all right. i will open it up to and the commissioners that would like to make some kind of introductory comments before we start listening to the testimony. commissioner joseph? vice chair joseph: i wanted to say our youth and our young citizens are our future. entertainment, music, and dance gatherings are vital in molding a character come out responsibility, and interpersonal social relationships. paul simon always said every generation throws paper he wrote up the pop charts, and that is true. in world war two, swing dancing took people happy. rock-and-roll debuted in the '50s. people thought the world was coming to the end and morals went out the window with elvis presley. but then we have not the age of innocence. we had disco, punk, new wave,

rap, hip-hop, and electronic music. all of these are deejay-driven music genres. they could be considered electronic dance music. i would like to lend my support for the young people. in mind -- in the same vein, i believe our young people have to take responsibility for their actions. they need to look up for one another, facilitate a reduction with regard to drinking, drugs, and violence. if we are not figuring out who we need to grow up to be and fall in love with, and who we are going to date and stuff -- it just robs us of such an important part of our live. all of us did it, even the people who are against electronic dance music. all of us had that, growing up.

as female appointees -- as the mayoral appointee, i strongly support the use commission in trying to find good news for people to go to. >> any other commissioners? >> my name is leah lacroix. the commission is a 17-member advisory body appointed by the mayor and members of the board of supervisors. we have few duties -- a few duties that speak to today's hearing. one is identifying unmet needs of san francisco youth and holding a public forum where youth and adults are encouraged to participate. that is why we are here. i know my colleague, commissioner zuckerman, has more

to say. our appointing officers -- i would like to think everyone here who wishes to speak. if they do not wish to speak, thank you for coming in engaging in this people democratic process. without you here, we would not be able to hold this hearing. it speaks a lot to see this many people here and downstairs as well. entertainment, music, and so forth is very important to us. just an fyi for everyone. there are speaker cards and agenda packets right next to the podium and also by the entrance of the door. we ask that everyone who wishes to speak please fill out a comment card so we will call your name and know when you are coming up. also, for people who are downstairs be up here in time for your names. with that, i would like to turn

it over to commissioner zukerman. >> i want to thank chair lacroix for what the commission does. the city charter asks the commission to advise the mayor and board of supervisors with identifying unmatched needs of children and youth in public forums, such as today. youth and san francisco comprise roughly 21% of the city population. there are 117,000 youths between the ages of zero and 17. that is a big part of the population. we want to receive honest input from the source, you. we want to know what you think is not safe. we want to know what you think can be safer and what you think can be done to make things safer. tonight's gathering is reminiscent of the youth commission hearing held in 2004. then as now, we remain concerned

with efforts to erase use spaces. i would like to thank the supervisor for being here today i would like to thank the department of public health, the police department, and the recreation and parks department. and i would like to think the entertainment commission for sponsoring this hearing and doing all their great work. i would like to invite supervisor weiner, who introduced this issue at today's board of supervisors' meeting, to share some remarks. thank you for being here. supervisor weiner: thank you for having me here today and taking time to do this important hearing. i want to thank you for your service. being a commissioner is not always the most glamorous job.

we do not always appreciate the many hours you put in. you are a critical part of making our city government work. especially for the youth commission, it is so hard to get young people in gauged in city government in san francisco. what you're doing is incredibly important. we thank you. when i was sworn in to the board of supervisors in january, i submitted that one of the issues i was really going to focus on was ensuring that we have a vibrant nightlife and entertainment for youth in san francisco. we have struggled with that lately. we have a tendency in san francisco and at the board, unfortunately, that when something bad happens, a novelist as it may be, -- anomolous as it may be, we have

a reaction that we should ban it because it is the safest thing to do. well that might be the safest thing to do, it is not necessarily the best thing to do. a month ago i requested that we find out people understand how important this is to san francisco culturally or economically. in terms of youth access to entertainment, we need to understand that this is a critical part of growing up and developing as a person. you cannot just take it away if there are some challenges and expect that everyone is still going to be around. it is not like young people are

going to just disappear. but they are going to have fewer outlets and fewer ways to express themselves. that is just not the right way for us to proceed. i did offer a resolution today supporting youth entertainment and youth access to night life in san francisco. i am going to continue to work on that. i look forward to working with the entertainment commission, the youth commission, and others. my office is always available when these issues come up if you think that the agency is not acting appropriately, or maybe is a little misguided in how they are applying rules. please let me know or let my staff know. we want to be of help and want to work with you to make this the kind of city we all know it can be. thank you very much. commissioner zukerman: thank you. it department representatives want to say anything, now is the time. >> are there any more

presentations? >> this is from recreation and park. >> thank you. >> hello, commissioners. i is found out i had to do this three hours ago, so forgive me if i do not know what i am saying. i am facility coordinator representing the recreation and parks department. i have been with them for over 20 years now. i feel for our teenagers, young youth, and young adults. considering all the deficit cuts there have been in our department, in the last six months we have made some big changes following a new model that is based on -- hold on. let me see what it is called.

it is best practices being used across the country. in the last six months, we were able to see successes because of this new model. there has been a 20% increase in registration for our program, more than 25,000 additional hours of programming offered, 30% increase in youth sports registration, up more than $1 million in additional revenue, more than $500,000 in scholarships applied for and received to attend recreation programs, which was $250,000 more than last year. on behalf of the assistant superintendent, who chose me to do this speech, he says the department is now more of corporate place to be responsive to san franciscan -- is no more -- is now a more appropriate place to be a representative to

san franciscans. we look forward to finding creative solutions to all your reservation needs. >> can i ask you a question really quickly? how many venues or park facilities are used for youth music and dance in the early evenings, or in the evenings at all? any of them? >> we have one special site called the harvey milk center. it has been renovated. the offer digital art, performance arts, natural science and art. >> but no place for socializing, music, and dance? >> they are mostly class is. -- classes. i can say we do need a center, a place just for teenagers.

teen-agers and preteens are a whole other world. how they socialize in our city -- we need at least one place, or even one in every district, where teenagers and young adults can be themselves and grow and socialize in a safe haven that is conducive to experiencing life as it should be without thinking about what color you are wearing or thinking about who might join me if i am on this bus. there are a lot of issues going on in our city that really make our teenagers and young adults -- is almost like a struggle. i definitely see that in the tenderloin. i really feel it there is anything our city can do for our young adults to provide them with safety -- vice chair joseph: maybe you can provide them a venue to have a dance and that would be the right thing. >> we would need police

protection and security protect of thing. thank you for your questions. commissioner zukerman: i would like to add that the amount of support that we have had from the community is great. that is the bread-and-butter of the youth commission. community concern -- that makes us feel wonderful. >> good evening, commissioners. thank you very much for having us all this evening. my name is liam shye. i am a 10-year deejay and former u.s. commissioner. we formed a "save the rave" in response to a proposed california law, but also in part due to what has been happening

for years in san francisco. when i was a youth commissioner in 2003, we passed a resolution declaring a health crisis due to the lack of safe recreation opportunities for youth. that has only gotten worse as numerous events have been denied permits or lost traditional venues. reform so we could organize and show that our community deserves to have these events protected and that they are more than just parties. they are major contributors to the local economy and our vital cultural assets that increase health and happiness for citizens to pay government taxes. we are gathered to night to share our stories of electronic dance music events and the positive impact they have had on our lives. our right to dance, assemble, and freedom of expression is protected by the constitution. unless we continue to make our voices heard, it is easy for those rights to get swept under the rug. i would like to commend

supervisor weiner who has introduced a resolution recognizing our social, economic, and public-health value. this is a huge step in ensuring the city will be working with us. we have about to celebrate. thank you for that. on that note, no the community is paying attention every step of the way. we expect accountability, fairness, and harm reduction, instead of eliminating the events we care so deeply about. i would like to thank the commissions for hosting this hearing tonight. thank you. commissioner zukerman: i am going to call five people at a time. if you can line up, that would be great. our left, your right. first person, jordan spalding. valery klinker.

nihau judner. justin duke. jerry peddlestein. thank you. >> thank you, members of the entertainment and new commissions. i am a record level promoter -- label promoter. many of you here today probably speak multiple languages. many of you probably own an ipod or m p three device. -- or mp3 device. i would probably be lost listening to yours, whereas mine you would probably hear a

different emotion, a different feeling that comes from the sound of every one of these electronic dance music deejays. in a city as the purse as san francisco, it almost universal sounds created from this -- as diverse as san francisco, almost universal sound created from this music unite the city as a whole. i feel without this music you will have some very confused and disorganized use. -- youth. i am sure you have said actions -- heard actions speak louder than words. i hope the actions of everybody who came here to speak on behalf "save the rave" -- the sounds we love so much, together with the actions, and hopefully replace the words that i am trying to express in this speech. thank you very much.

>> thank you. >> how are you doing today? my name is valerie. i do not have a special speech. i just want to say that i am part upon -- part of "save the rave." it has to happen. it is not just for a dance to hang out. it is a cultural event, something that makes us physically one. it is not just some place we go and take drugs and find different things we want to get into in a negative way. we want to experience something new and have light shining on us. it is a diverse community. it is a place that is just fun. it is like a party, but it is more than that. i feel like everyone is trying to do what people in jail do and

say "i am innocent." that is what i feel like people are doing who take the drugs and odd, or whatever. a lot of people are passionate about this. hopefully i represent them. i am 20, but i represent the young people around my community. that is what i believe. goodbye. >> nanhau shuga? >> i am in a community member of san francisco. i migrated from new york city. i am also known as the jury makes king -- as dj remix king. i am part of organized chaos, a

group organizing safe rave events. i would like to touch upon the fact that in perspective of what everyone's decisions may be, kids will always find a way to party. any particular given our, given this fact, i feel it is the responsibility of the adult community to provide an official with for the youth to be able to have these raves and be able to party. the thing that my group as well as organized chaos promotes is a strong method or paradigm providing raves in a safe manner. we have 30 p.m. team members at hand at all or events. -- 30 emt members at hand at all our events. come a safety perspective, we

are quick to respond. we insure the health and safety of our youth. we do not officiate these raids -- we do officiate these raves. if we do not do this in an official manner, they will lose the safety aspects of the party. thank you. commissioner zukerman: next speaker. >> how are you doing? thanks a lot. dance music in this culture has been one of the most impeccable things in my life. whether it is raising money for causes, helping someone in need, or planning a moving piece of music. as a culture promoting peace, love, and celebration of life through dance, please do not take this away from young kids. do not take away an aspect that is in eight in each of us as

humans -- is innate in each of us as humans. continue to work with the dance music community to provide a safe and positive environment as much as possible. with the rave ban, you may or may not see a decrease in the negative aspects that started the ban. you will definitely see a decrease in the positive aspects. this music has changed my life. i am older now. i can only hope to share the joy and love i have experienced to the wonderful music and culture. thank you. commissioner zukerman: i would like to call up joseph, red, travis. >> good evening, commissioners. i would like to take a moment to thank you for calling this --

calling this hearing today. i will draw a parallel to the state upon -- in europe, where it is considered a public health issue rather than a law enforcement issue. we are on the brink of making the decision of making a transition from an enforcement perspective to a public health perspective. my key point tonight really is focusing on the emphasis that we should be creating safe alternatives for the youth to gather rather than driving it into the underground, where likely it will not be as safe and the youth will not be able to have an opportunity to express themselves in whatever manner they would like to that has the appropriate resources, with security, medical, and building codes that allow them to gather and celebrate in a safe manner.

i am available for questions, should the commission have any. thank you. vice chair joseph: how do they do it in europe? what does harm reduction look like? >> there is a strong public- private partnership. the government does not look at it from a perspective of coming at it from arrests or making permiting events to the public where it is difficult for them to financially -- the government supports them with security and medical resources so the event can happen in a safe manner. this is done from the nightclub level to the festival level. thank you very much. commissioner lacroix: next up is

travis, andre, jessia adams, michael miller, frank walburg. president newlin: come right up when you are ready. >> good evening, commissioners. i am health and safety officer of "save the rave." special events will no longer be tolerated in this city, said the mayor of boston. i request support for prohibiting any such event at any state-of building, a massachusetts state senator. does this sound familiar? the year was 1958. they were talking about rock- and-roll concerts. unlike other youth events, raves

typically do not involve assault. it discourages aggressiveness. they are safer places for young people, especially women, than conventional bars and clubs. there is heat, humidity, and loud music. there are organizers, ravers, and promoters. there is a police guide that has research-funded police practices in the u.s., u.k., canada, the netherlands, and other countries. the justice department recommends ventilation, air conditioning, drinking water, and education about the risks of drug use and over extension to ensure a safe event for you.

we are nonprofit. we have been looking for been used to hold fund-raising youth dances in san francisco for youth under 18. we have not meant able to find them so far. please help us. we believe that cooperation and education are key. we are looking forward to working with venues, promoters, and the city to establish education and safety at all types of mass events. thank you. >> you said you have tried to find venues and have failed to find any. what efforts have you made and what doors have been closed? >> the key criteria for finding the news has been to find outside venues since we do not want to charge teams outrageous amounts over $10 on weekends. we want venues that would be safe.