“If you don’t understand anything about this world, or what that space was, or who these people were, your first reaction is going to be: ‘Why don’t you just bring this place up to code?’ And it’s a very quaint notion, and it would be good if that’s how the world worked [...]”
“There are so many interlocking problems that are fundamental, it’s hard to know where to begin. In almost every case, there are existing code violations to the building before they even move in.”
— GOOD
12 Comments
So are the owners and landlord being charged?
The article captures the frustration you face when dealing with the Alt Left. Often you get accused of crushing their dreams or some kind of micro-aggression when you are trying to work with them to get a permit and they need to have exit lights and "ugly" door hardware. and that you can't bring their warehouse up to code for $20.00 per sf.
Some people like to set up rules and boundaries to keep themselves comfortable but chafe at the idea of following laws and regulations to keep everyone safe. The real danger is that the city has been lax in enforcing zoning and building codes. The "why can't we" generation will continue, despite the known risk, to put themselves family and friends in danger as long as building codes are not enforced and people don't insist that large gatherings of people occur in reasonably safe places. People need to realize that the laws and the sometimes expensive construction is for a good reason, your life and the lives of your friends
The people who organized the concert in the Ghost Ship venue are responsible for endangering people's lives not the building owner who did not authorize the illegal use of the property. it is unlikely that the people organizing the concert set out to hurt people but that is the end result when people are reckless, and running these kinds of living and performance venues is reckless.
Unfortunately the other reason people seek out the underground art scene is that they are conducting activities that might not be tolerated in sanctioned city approved venues. Activities such as illicit drug use, and underage drinking are huge cash generating opportunities for people willing to operate outside of the law. The sad fact is the people collecting the money at the door probably knew the risk but chose to gamble with people's safety to score some quick cash, and that is the root of the problem. People will gamble like this until they are stopped or a tragedy like this happens.
Over and OUT
Peter N
"The article captures the frustration you face when dealing with the Alt Left."
...da fuk?
The rest of what you say is interesting, but what the heck is the alt-left?
The real danger is that the city has been lax in enforcing zoning and building codes.
The real danger is that the ability to exist in safe and secure spaces is beyond the financial reach of many of our fellow citizens. Enforcing codes is only going to start a game of Whack-A-Mole as artists and other marginalized folk retreat further into even more unsafe spaces. What we, as a society, could do is actually support the people whose creativity we cheaply covet.
"Alt Left"
FFS. Please, global human-based pandemic and simultaneous Giant Meteor, end this mess. We deserve it.
Peter, the only danger here, is your wildly misplaced assumptions. It's clear you have zero clue about what you write, and in fact, if you dwell on it for half a moment, you might come to realize that perhaps the problem here is you, and the city officials. You know, the ones altogether to happy to leverage the creative capital when it suits their desire to increase tourism and taxes, but when the things go wrong, are no-where to be seen, and can't be bothered to help a community that they are sucking the blood out of.
over and done.
I hear you Donna. It's like the world was turned upside down. The only positive I can see in this bleak time is we have to suffer to focus the mind on the good. I just hope it's not too bad for people, but we'll get out of this mess...eventually.
Alt Left, Probably not the best term,How about; Radical left leaning creative types who are not conforming to the male female gender hetero white normative ways of society and don't fit into Democratic Green or any other political party but whose core beliefs and counterculture ideas tend to be left leaning. Alternative life style Left leaning. I did not want it to be compared to the Alt Right other than it is polar opposite in many respects, but it is a group and they have needs.
Wildly misplaced assumptions? I don't think so, the danger is real, but I don't have a solution. Can we create safe social housing for artist? can we find a way to fund safe concert venues that is a problem that needs to be addressed. I do have first hand knowledge of underground "concert venues" and their operations. One of the barriers people face when getting access to venues is more to do with the venues acceptance of taboo behavior for personal or political reasons. People will come down hard on a venue if they are caught serving people underage or having drug use on premises. It take only a handful of citizens to start the process of shutting down a bar or gallery. It can happen to huge corporate venues too, just look at the lawsuits and fight with Wrigley Field in Chicago. Concerned neighbors use zoning and building permits to trample your constitutional rights to assemble. The threat to concert venues and artist galleries is real and sadly is often coming from two fronts. The best defense is a time tested one where like minded people Ghettoize and form artist districts or communities like the gays, ethnic and racial minorities did to protect themselves against discrimination through regulation. Having the critical mass to take control of the local political system is key to safety and security for people who do not fit into the main stream of society.
for example:
http://www.slate.com/podcasts/placemakers/the_libertarian_plan_to_take_control_of_new_hampshire.html
We need similar organized efforts for the group that I have no business coming up with a name for.
Over and OUT
Peter N
The histrionics from Donna are surprising, if you're wishing the world to end rather than endure a Drumph presidency, or read logical discourse over a completely preventable tragedy, I'd say your suffering from an incredibly egocentric worldview. Just pump the brakes for a second, and take stock of your world, what you have, and what you can change. Way too much negativity... I wasn't around when Reagan was elected, but the parallels you can draw from the Carter/Obama years leading to the Reagan/Trump years are pretty clear. Were people this on-edge back then as well?
I was around during Reagan, and any connection you draw, between Reagan and Cheeto Jesus, are so tenuous, you might as well think them invisible.
Not. Even. Fucking. Close.
Normand, you are wrong.
Reagan was a somewhat well-liked governor for years before he became president.
There are a lot of politicians I disagree with, but at least all the others had some understanding of the job requirements.
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