Interested Supporters of Small Venues,

Hello! I hope everyone had a good weekend. As you may or may not already
know, there's a bill being proposed in the City Council that will eliminate
venue zoning classifications, charge live arts venues a fee, and place heavy
regulations on them. I'll be emailing everyone periodically with updates on
this process and the status of the bill. This past week everyone at The
Annex has been talking about the impact it would have on our work, and more
importantly, the work of all of our friends who create and perform. The
venue licensure ordinance could allow for venues to form in new places by
eliminating the zoning requirements, however it would also drastically
affect the small venues we know and love. We are asking all our friends,
supporters, and patrons to *OPPOSE* this bill on the grounds that it will
effectively restrict artistic expression and would cripple or kill the best
part of Baltimore’s live arts.
*WHAT*: Opposition to City Council Bill 08-163 A.K.A. The Venue Zoning Bill,
due for "Draft Vote" by the council on April 29th.
**
*WHY*: An Excessive Licensure Fee ( $1500) and non-compliance fines
($500-$1000) would bankrupt small venues that ALREADY DON’T MAKE ANY MONEY.

            A “Moral Character” clause that would call into question an
unspecified scope of the venue’s/individual’s past actions, opening the door
for censorship.
             The overly-broad scope of the bills definition of performance,
including anywhere presenting “the opportunity to dance”, poetry readings,
and comedy.
             Fundamental concerns regarding freedom of expression. With the
specific and extensive regulation of performance spaces the experimental,
fringe, underground, and DIY artists will be marginalized and pushed from
the city.

*WHERE AND WHEN:*
Meetings This Week-
*TOMORROW MONDAY the 30th*
4 P.M. at the Metro
Gallery<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=metro+gallery+baltimore&aq=0&oq=...>:
Baltimore Live Arts Business Association
<http://groups.google.com/group/BLABA> (mostly for venue owners and
operators, though i'd reccomend trying to go if you can't make...
8 P.M. at The Hexagon<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=1825+North+Charles+Street+Baltim...>:
Baltimore Live Arts
Supporters<http://groups.google.com/group/baltimore-live-arts-supporters>
For Everyone!

*TUESDAY the 31st *from 6:30-8:30 P.M.
*City Council Venue Zoning Bill Community Workshop Meeting.*
City Council Members and other City Officials will be present to field
questions about the bill and take comments. Please be respectful, but firm!
The city council understands that the arts scene in Baltimore is a big draw,
but let's remind them. We don't need to talk up underground venues to make
the point that small, aboveground venues will suffer because of it.
Morgan State, Communications Center, Room 101, 5601 Perring Parkway
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=5601+Perring+Parkway+Baltimore%2...>
email back if you need a ride/can give a ride. Let's carpool! Thank you!

*SATURDAY the 4th *from 5-7 P.M.
*Annex Action Plan Potluck* @ The
Annex<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=419+E.+Oliver+St.+Baltimore%2C+MD>
(2nd
Floor) We'll talk about what happened at the Tuesday community workshop
meeting and how we can raise publicity for the cause by turning anywhere and
everywhere into a Live Arts Venue :) We'll make some food, bring some of
your own!

*HOW: *
-Attend those meetings, as many as you can!
-Join these google groups for other updates and information
http://groups.google.com/group/baltimore-live-arts-supporters
http://groups.google.com/group/BLABA
 -Email City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
CouncilPresid...@baltimorecity.gov , and your
your<http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/planning/downloads/0309/0318...>
council
representative<http://groups.google.com/group/BLABA/browse_thread/thread/3ff403aa23b...>.
It
goes without saying that polite, sincere letters will do something to
convince them that this bill puts a good chunk of Baltimore's cultural
uniqueness at risk. As angry as we are, offensive emails will only alienate
our views inside the city council.
-Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk! It's cheap and it'll help raise awareness!
-Email me for more information on the state memos, city departmental
concerns, city council member info

*WHO: *All of us, for the love of art, however you define it.

Peace Love and Hugs
Rick and The Annex

--
Tim Boucher
"Sow Possibilities"
http://www.timboucher.com/
[The contents of this email are in the Public Domain.]