Why Do Councilmen Darrell Clarke and Bill Greenlee hate the Arts and Small Businesses?
Reminded by a post at this guy’s place….
On April 22, City Councilmen Darrell Clarke and Bill Greenlee introduced Bill No. 100267, which would encumber event promoters with a slew of new requirements and restrictions. In the words of one promoter, “It’s chilling.”
Under the proposed rules, promoters would have to apply for a permit from the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) 30 days before every single event — meaning if you promote a weekly club night, that’s 52 permit applications per year. More than just a bureaucratic nightmare, this would all but abolish last-minute shows or pickup parties. These applications would have to include detailed security plans, the promoter’s business-privilege-license number, the venue’s capacity and the expected crowd. Perhaps most importantly, the bill would hold promoters liable for the actions of the crowds at the events they promote.
Additionally, the bill requires that every permit application include a copy of the contract between the venue and the promoter — in effect, making rental prices and rates for each individual promoter a matter of public record. To make matters worse, the cops can deny a permit for any reason and without explanation up to 10 days before the event — which could devastate businesses that fronted costs, to say nothing of destroying the credibility of those trying to book events.
This is plain idiotic. The bill will stifle the arts in Philadelphia by making the city unwelcoming to performers and promoters. When music fans have fewer places to spend their money, they will spend it elsewhere. Touring bands will avoid the city like the plague. Bars that have music will stop offering music: places like Johnny Brenda’s will lose substantial amounts of revenue.
The bill hurts small businesses, including independent promoters, professional musicians, and bar-owners. The bill is a naked assault on the arts in Philadelphia, making it incredibly burdensome to put on an event. Furthermore, by allowing the police to cancel a show up to ten days in advance with no explanation, the bill is also an open invitation to bribery. Many venues require bands to sell tickets in advance, so a last-minute/no-explanation cancellation would do all sorts of harm to promoters, bars, artists, and audiences.
This is a stupid bill (and no surprise coming from Darrell Clarke, long known as a dim bulb) that hurts the city’s economy, hurts the city’s artists, and damages the rebirth of the arts in Philadelphia.
So my question is: why do Darrell Clarke and Bill Greenlee hate the arts and small businesses?
if you live in Philly and care about the performing arts, sign the petition.
