tv [untitled] February 10, 2013 10:30pm-11:00pm PST
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submit a security plan by february 22nd. so, and they're going to be closed in the month of february. what i would like to do now is entertain a motion to attach these conditions in that permit and then we can move to review the security plan or have staff report to us on a review of the security plan once it's submitted. is that okay with you? >> yeah, i think that's -- >> okay, great. so, therefore, i am entertaining a motion to attach these conditions to the permit. >> i'll second. >> so moved. >> second. >> okay. moved by commissioner perez, second by commissioner hyde. okay, all right. so, moved and seconded. commissioner lee? >> aye. >> commissioner tan? >> aye. >> commissioner joseph? >> aye. >> commissioner hyde? >> aye. >> commissioner perez? >> aye. >> all right, thank you. >> thank you. >> is there public comment on the executive director's
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report? seeing none, public comment is closed. item number 4, police department questions and comments. lots of blue in the room. anybody coming up? >> i'm here for an application. >> oh. >> steve mathias from central station. couple of incidents over the last couple weeks. on january 26 at 12:30 a.m., a large fight, 10 people fighting inside cosmo, located at 440 broadway. january 26 at horizon, 998 broadway, one woman was bunn punched in the face by another woman. the woman fell to the ground and was sexually battered by another [speaker not understood]. the initial suspect was arrested and the male suspect got away. there were the following specses from persons from the following clubs. club
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el monte, [speaker not understood]. and monroe at 473 broadway. on february 3rd, let's see, a little after 7 o'clock at the irish times during the super bowl, two victims were at the irish times and they got in a verbal dispute with two other people. they didn't feel safe so they left the bar. once outside the bar he they were attacked and beaten down to the ground. police, sfpd is still investigating. on january 10th at 2:00 a.m. there was a battery at taupe, 10 26 grant. on january 19th at little darlings, 312 columbus, they were operating after hours without a permit. sergeant gains went out there and spoke with them. apparently they're going to stop doing that. verizon on super bowl sunday. this was -- roj came out to this one. there was a pretty good fight
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inside horizon, our tactile unit were there as well as our honda units. one of the thing they noticed there were many minors inside the bar. catch here is it's also a bar restaurant. and, so, while they're entitled to be there, when i went in there, i observed a bottle of vodka, they were having bottle service on one of the tables. there was a mixture of the minors as well as the people over 21. and it's kind of in the gray area. you have a super bowl, they had four security guards. it's a major event. and it didn't appear they had the staffing levels. they agreed to have the minors leave the lard as well as stopping the bottle service and also to not let anybody in until the capacity went down. * the bar last one was the parlor on january 12th at 1:20 there was a fight inside the bar that was broken up. one group left immediately and then security left the other person go out the door as well.
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the fight continued across the street to where the victim was badly beaten. the last commission hearing i was here, we were talking about the parlor. and i said that, you know, there is somebody drunk at the door. they called the police and they were basically saying i did a good job. unfortunately sometimes we have to call them both ways. here i want to know why the police weren't called upon in the fight and they have a group leaving and the other person going out. the police should have been called so we could avert the problem. we just -- you want let groups that are having a fight go out together because if the problem is going to continue. >> questions? >> i'm sorry, what was the name of the venue with the bottle service and the super bowl party? >> that was verizon at 4 98 broadway. * they also had the fight where the girl punched the other girl in the face. that was on the 26th. >> any other questions?
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thank you. any public comment? any public comments on the police questions? okay, public comment is closed. item number 5, hearing and possible action regarding applications for permits under the jurisdiction of this commission. item a, anastacia powers, i'm going to destroy this, cuella, doing business as brava, 2781 24th street. mr. king. >> brava theater is a theater located on 24th street [speaker not understood]. the structure itself opened 234 1926 as a movie house and broadway theater. brava currently manages the theater and uses it for space for neighbors and organizations to meet. *
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community gatherings and festivals. brava is important to the city and to the neighborhood, and the city of san francisco has demonstrated its support with assistance from the general fund, mayor's office work force development and san francisco grants for the arts program. all the support has investing in physical renovation of the space [speaker not understood] which include youth programs that serve primarily low-income youth from different neighborhoods including the mission, the bayview and excelsior neighborhoods. the space supports availability of community groups, focuses on art [speaker not understood], and serves about 8,000 people per year. sfpd mission station supports [speaker not understood]. and now we'll hear from the applicant. hi, my name is anastacia powers cuellar.
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i am the executive director for brava women and the arts and we own the theater center and we operate it. we have about 150 events a year. they are usually on the weekend from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. we do have a liquor license. we do serve alcoholic beverages, generally beer and wine for about a half hour before a performance and about 15 minutes during intermission. and we close the bar pretty much after intermission. a lot of our events are family oriented so we don't have alcohol at all. or they're native american events and they don't want alcohol so, you know, the alcohol is served based on the type of event that's happening in the venue. like nick said, we've been operating since 1926. it was originally a thousand-seat theater on the
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corridor and it's now 375. actually, we have 360 seats plus some wheelchair plus? -- some other seats we use for other things. * and we have a studio space that used to be the balcony and that's 1200 square feet and that can hold about 60 people to 100 people depending what the event is. so, we try not to have competing things going on in both spaces because it is -- we do have sound issues within the building. so, we just -- we kind of limit it to one of the two spaces. we don't have sound problems outside the building. like i said, our events are generally over by 10:00, 10:30. our audiences leave immediately. they come in just for the performances. they eat on the corridor. they expend other monies on the corridor, but they are in our space for a limited time. so, we are asking you to grant us this license so we can
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continue to do the work that we do a a nonprofit organization. we have four youth programs in our building. we have 85 kids that take classes in our buildings in different areas, dance, theater, performance. we have a job training program for high school kids. and all these kids work on the different performances so they get training in professional space. we provide space to independent artists to do their work. we subsidize rentals. we're really a nonprofit arts organization. but the ability to serve alcohol is really helpful in us being able to raise money and the building is expensive. so, it helps to cover the cost of the building. and that's all i have to say at this point. i have several letters of support here that i'd like to hand you and there's also
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several people here in support of brava getting this license. >> thank you. i tederctionv -- tend to go out to events at brava. it's such a great place. commissioners, any questions? commissioner lee. >> i see on your security plan ushers and housman jerk will be running security. >> generally that's what we have at our events. we do -- depending on the events and the promoters, we do rent the space to private for-profit organizations and companies. so, if they have -- well, we really try to limit the actual performances themselves, like we had eddy [speaker not understood] in january. he's a comedian. you know, he did two shows a night and it was just really in and out. and we had -- we had paid
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ushers and volunteer ushers. we had like about 15 people staffering the event, people at all the doors, making sure people -- so, if we do get -- we do ask the promoter to provide security if there's an event that we feel would be stressful on our venue. >> so, as you probably heard in our little previous discussion what outside promoters will hire, would you even -- i mean, if your house manager or ushers had internal training with the help, there is at least some structure that either that company would never come back and be in your venue again, or you in turn maybe possibly hire the security. so, it's under your control. >> okay. >> i think, you know, in a venue like yours, i don't think we need 20 security guards, whatever. but the house manager is very
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important because, you know, you might have a disgruntled patron or something, or they should be trained in some kind of, how do you call an ambulance or what do you do in the meantime. certain trainings on theaters like this. i know it's nonprofit, but they don't have the knowledge how to take care of these things. so, i have no problems with not hiring a -- an outside security. right. >> but again, i would like your supervisor to have some training. we do -- our house managers are trained in all the emergency exits and where the fire hose he are and the fire extinguishers and everything and they do train all the ushers before ushers come a half hour and they get trained and we walk through the building and we make sure that they understand how to move people in and out of the building. * in case of emergency. >> commissioner perez. >> hi i've also been to brava
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theater for cultural performances. glad to have you here. just wonder if you had any issues of violence? a i have been at the theater almost one year and we haven't had any violent issues. and even with some of the other violent issues going on in the neighborhood, they have not happened in the vicinity of brava. i mean, we have an occasional homeless person or someone who has -- is intoxicated who tries to come into the venue during the event, but it's not from our patrons. it's outside usually. and i have been in the neighborhood for 30 years working at different nonprofit arts and i have not heard of anything that really happened at brava or at a brava event. >> anybody else? okay, why don't you take a seat. and mission station is here.
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come on up. >> good evening, officer parker, mission station, how are you? >> hello, officer parker. >> hello. okay. so, mission station is in full support of brava. i think what they're doing is fantastic and it's nice to see a theater from the '20s still in operation and continuing to turn heads. the list of conditions that i've put together are as you see extensively or surrounding just security. and many of which you've already acknowledged yourselves which, if you do an outside promoter number 6, to e-mail what current events are occurring, because we all know outside promoters can run the mill of what they're about. also if it's possible that those promoters have some sort of liability insurance that
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covers the venue. pretty much everything within my recommended conditions are standard requests. again, really in support of brava and [speaker not understood] she says it's important or it's not going anywhere. i have nothing further. >> thank you. >> questions, commissioners? okay, thanks. public comment on brava. good afternoon, commissioners. how are you? >> hello. hello. i was born and raised in the mission and in 1984 i cofounded with [speaker not understood] at 24th street revitalization committee. and we were able to raise a million dollars for 24th street. and at that time it was the [speaker not understood] theater and the theater had been closed for many, many years. and we helped support brava,
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get that particular building which they got a quarter of a million dollars to pay as a down payment for the building. it's been 36 years since they have been open and i don't recall one incident. and like i know about every incident that goes on in the mission, and never have i known to have known of an incident that has occurred at brava. i go there all the time. i'm a great supporter of them. and, so, today i really feel confident that what they're asking this commission to approve is in line with what we need in the community. it's one of the safest places that children, youth and families can go to. with that said, i look forward to your vote in supporting them today. thank you. >> thank you. all the people standing, could i have a show of hands to show how many people are here to speak against brava getting this permit? okay.
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since everyone is here for brava, my request is please don't be repetitive. try and keep it short. thank you. commissioners, thank you so much for the opportunity to be here. i was actually at commission on redevelopment and met in this room. so, i can appreciate the brevity of public comment. i just want to echo, hopefully eula prove brava's permit. it is a great organization. i'm right down the street. it's a great neighbor. and i hope you approve it. it's a great organization. i also want to put in a plug for slovenian hall -- >> contested item. >> thank you so much. [laughter] >> next. hi, director cain and commissioners. my name is robin takayama, unfortunately the director of cultural affairs could not make it tonight so i'm here to represent the san francisco arts commission. i've seen amazing performances like it sounds like you have
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ranging from sri lanka [speaker not understood]. so, brava is a cultural anchor on lower 24th and other programs they do with community partners generates the traffic that makes the street safer, brings together diverse audiences and contributes to the economic vitality of the neighborhood by way of audiences that shop and dine nearby. by way of performance venue, as you heard, brava closes at a reasonable hour, sells alcohol a short amount of time which is a standard practice for midsize arts organization. so the arts commission would like to see brava continue to operate as a venue that has a variety of programming, with all the tools available to them. for all these reasons we encourage you to support this permit. thank you. >> thank you.
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good afternoon, commissioners. my name is john callaway. i am a commissioner for the arts commission. and i just want to express that i hope we get your support and vote for the brava theater. i just did an event there in january. it's got to be one of the most safest venues in the mission. and the best thing about it it is capable of producing high-quality -- it's a high-quality venue that is also open to the community. so, it serves a double function. i, too, have been a long-time resident in the mission and our event was full. we didn't have any problems, and it was like people were able to police themselves. thank you for your support in advance. good evening, commissioners. my name is roberto [speaker not understood]. i'm also born and raised in the mission district and have had the opportunity of working at various nonprofits in the community. i'm here to speak as a parent.
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i benefit, as many parents do in the mission district, parents from across the city benefit from having our children served there by way of dance and other arts classes. there are a variety of opportunities for young people to learn ballet folklorico, cedar tech training as well and i feel safe having my children there. i know a number of parents at the schools where my children attend feel really good about having their children there in that space, learning and performing. and for those reasons i hope you all will support brava this evening. thank you very much. >> thank you. next. i am [speaker not understood]. i'm a local entertainment lawyer and represent a lot of local nonprofits and live in the mission district a few blocks from brava. as a lawyer, i'm sure you're
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worried about long remarks. not going to happen. [laughter] [speaker not understood] is engaged with neighborhood activities and i've worked directly with her in some committee work. found her to be responsible, attentive, and 110% all the time in not just supporting her new responsibility as executive director of brava, but engaging with the merchants and neighbors in the mission district. and that sort of in community engagement creates more security than anything else. we've learned that on the alley when a community is engaged and loves the institution, then the community is going to protect that, not attack it. so, in brief, responsible, secure, interesting, engaging, and diverse, support them, please. thank you. >> thank you. next.
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good evening, commissioners. my name is andrew woods with the san francisco international arts festival. i've worked in the mission for what's coming up fast with a quarter century soon. i've worked in the arts. i've also been a director of odc theater. so, i'm aware of what happens when you rent out your venue to other promoters. now i count myself as one of those promoterses. usually nonprofit organization as well, so they come from the same philosophical perspective as brava itself. it is not often you get a for profit promoter in a venue like that. small venues, they're intimate vin yous. so, the scale of what happens there isn't like a major concert or something like that. it's a much more heart felt endeavor. had that said, i do think the mission station recommendations
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and conditions are appropriate and as an independent producer who will go in there, i don't have any problems with them at all. thank you very much. >> thank you. [speaker not understood] if you've regulated yourself, this is very gaol. -- cool. [speaker not understood]. [laughter] we all know each other. good afternoon, commissioners. my name is eric [speaker not understood] i'm with the lower 24th street merchants neighborhood association. [speaker not understood] sf. the brava is vital to our corridor. they're an anchor at that end the corridor with the [speaker not understood] at the other end. it is important at this point because we're in the process of creating a cultural arts corridor for 24th street. the brava ha drawn many folks into the neighborhood, [speaker not understood], but to all the merchants in the area. also i live around the corner from the brava all my life. i've never heard any incidents that are negative that are coming out of the brava or any of their events. we are all in definite support
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of the permit. thank you. >> thank you. good evening, commissioners. i am [speaker not understood] of epiphany productions. and i've been in the mission for over 30 years, york theater, i've seen many performances, been there myself, i've taught classes. it's one of the most special places in the mission. i'm here to say yes, yes, yes, support brava. it is one of our homes in the mission. >> thank you. good evening, my name is [speaker not understood] and i am co-vice president of the board of directors of brava and i am here to absolutely support brava. obviously i'm a president of the board. also i'm a mission resident and the mission would not be the mission without brava. thank you. >> thank you. commissioners, i am [speaker not understood]. the long and short of it is when the lights are on brava
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theater it is a safer place. your concerns about security, mr. lee, the community at brava is so close knit and tight, even when there's five paid ushers and 10 volunteers, the whole community is really policing [speaker not understood] itself. thank you. >> thank you. hi, i'm cathy anderson. i've been working actually with brava since 2006 as a rental construction manager and [speaker not understood] mostly i do lighting there now. and i just wrote something very brief. i'll say really brief. i'm writing in support of brava theater to receive entertainment license. i've seen the staff considerably work towards engaging the community and becoming positive part of the lower 24th community. and i also -- everybody has spoken about the great events we have there.
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and all the way it helps the neighborhood. brava helps the neighborhood give voice to its own residents and [speaker not understood] support of other nonprofit groups and international artists. and brava works very hard to be a good neighbor and as stacey said earlier, [speaker not understood] is only served briefly before the show and at intermission and mostly our audience leaves shortly after the event. * alcohol is served so, please help brava to survive and grow and this license will help this valuable resource keep alive. thank you. >> thank you. good evening, my name is camillo lindo the director of cultural programs at [speaker not understood] and i'm on the board governors at the recording [speaker not understood]. as the director [speaker not
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understood] we produce several events at the brava theater. i guess we're one of these outside promoters but we're also a nonprofit organization. we produced a series of great cultural events. the brava theater is a beautiful space. we did a festival, the mission latin jazz festival. this year we did the 31st [speaker not understood] which is a long tradition. and we're very happy to do it at the brava. and we have the same series of events and more planned this year, assuming your approval. and we hope that you do approve it. thank you. >> thank you. you are the last one. hello, my name is anthony mitchell and i am one of the newest members of the brava family. i am also the head concessioner so i [speaker not understood] the liquor. i can attest to the fact we only serve before the show as well as 15 minutes during intermission. also i recently moved to san francisco from louisiana and brava was the first theater i came to. when i came to san francisco
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area. i have heard of the history of bra, proud to be a supporter of it, pound to be a member. thank you all, and i hope [speaker not understood] as well. thank you. >> you did a fine job. all right. seeing no further public comment, public comment is closed. commissioners, i'd like to entertain a motion. >> i'd like to move to approve the permit. >> second? >> second. >> are there any conditions? >> attaching the [speaker not understood], good neighbor, okay. >> i don't know that was part of the condition. i just encourage if you do have outside promoters, take control of the security situation. feel comfortable with the security team that they bring in. and you have every right to say, i don't want that security team. so, with that. >> mr. king, call the roll. >> commissioner perez? >> aye. >> commissioner hyde? >> aye. >> commissioner tan? >> aye.
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>> commissioner lee? >> aye. >> commissioner joseph? >> aye. good luck. have fun. (applause) >> i already figured it out. i'm overprotective. >> 5b. sonyong, somebody help me? crouere? are we taking b and c separately? >> if you'd like. >> okay. so, commissioner hyde said yes. doing business as dimple cocktail lounge, 1700 post. >> are we taking them together? >> nope. commissioner hyde has requested they be separated. >> so, b is dimple cocktail lounge which is a bar and lounge in japantown
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