my name is ben van houten, project manager for nightlife and entertainment oed. that is a new position as a result of a multi-year conversation, stakeholders in the nightlife entertainment has been having for greater connection to city hall and city services. obviously the comptroller's study last year about the value of nightlife to the city, a $4 billion industry and that doesn't even take into account the big outdoor daytime festivals. $4 billion, 48,000 employees in the city, and it's also an industry that has some of the most complex regulatory hurdles to starting a business and a lot of touch with various city agencies to keep one of these businesses going and successful. so, given that kind of unique backdrop, oewd created this position for nightlife and entertainment. my background is in live music. i cofounded a nonprofit called the bay bridged, which promotes san francisco bay area music and has produced a number of street festivals, rock concerts, san francisco themed events to promote the city's live music scene. in this position i'm very much engaged