 Dickens Christmas Fair Missive |
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Emergency re: The Cow
Palace
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| As
most of you know there has been an ongoing difference of opinions about
what to do with the Cow Palace. Since it is our home for several months
out of the year, we Dickensian folks have strong opinions. Please see
Kevin's request below. |
| In This Missive |
| Emergency re: Cow Palace |
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| Emergency re: The Cow Palace
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Dear Cow Palace supporter, Sorry to interrupt your day with bad news, but it is time to take action again regarding the Cow Palace. You are on my short list of people to contact in the event of an emergency. Well, this is an emergency. SB 586 (Yee) was, until today, limited to selling the 13 acres of Cow Palace land. Now Yee has amended the bill to sell the ENTIRE Cow Palace. The worst part is the politics involved: according to Yee's office, the Governor has requested this action as a "tough budget decision." #1 Please contact the Governor's office TODAY, Tomorrow AND next week (link below) - Tell him you are opposed to SB 586 - express your outrage at this 11th hour attempt to bypass the public process. Selling the Cow Palace does not make fiscal sense. #2 Contact YOUR Assemblyperson AND Senator immediately (link below). Tell them you oppose 586 and demand that it be sent back to committee for public comment. This is a HUGE amendment and should require at least 30 days for review. The session ends next Friday so if this passes, it will have to circumvent many key rules...and its a BAD IDEA. (they were hoping nobody would notice) Financial overview: The Cow Palace is an important urban Fairground AND it is now running in the black and profitable. Some of its previous events and concerts are returning and with money from the 13 acres paying for improvements this trend will continue. Selling it at a fire sale in the middle of a real estate depression is financial idiocy. This is ENTIRELY a political looking good issue for the Governor, not to mention a betrayal by Yee. We will be updating the website tonight (hopefully) and include some sample letters. An email will then go out to the larger email list of those who signed petitions to save the Cow Palace last year. Please read the letter below from Western Fairs Association director Steve Chambers to learn what we know to date. The actual bill (with amended language) has not been released yet. The bill is sitting on the Assembly Floor. It could be approved and moved to the Senate as soon as TOMORROW. (thanks!) ~Kevin Memo: California Fairs From: Stephen Chambers Re: Urgent - Cow Palace - Senate Bill 586 Senator Yee has amended his Senate Bill 586 to force the sale of the Cow Palace with the proceeds going to the State General Fund. The original bill addressed the 13 acre parcel that the Cow Palace is currently seeking to develop. Senator Yee had originally promised to keep his bill on hold during the bidding process. Now, he has decided to seek the sale of the entire property. We need every California Fair to let their local Senate and Assembly Members and the Governor, know that they are opposed to Senate Bill 586 for the following reasons: SB586 establishes a dangerous precedent for all
District Ag Associations - selling fair property to meet State Budget
shortfalls is a bad idea.
The Cow Palace is a valuable institution that creates
jobs and generates revenue for the State without subsidy. It is also an
important agricultural landmark in an otherwise urban landscape.
The Cow Palace, under new management, has been
diligently working to accomplish the goals set by Senator Yee for their
13 acre parcel - namely, attracting a Supermarket for the local
community. Switching tactics late in the session after so much work by
the Cow Palace is just wrong.
Please share this report with your Board of Directors and urge them to call or send a message to their Senate and Assembly contacts and let the Governor know that this is a dangerous bill for ALL fairs. You will be able to find contact information through the following links: California Assembly: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/defaulttext.asp California Senate: http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/senators/senators.htp Governor's office: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#contact |
| Quick Links...
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The Great Dickens Fair WebsiteDickens Fair Performer Page Cat's Missive Page |
| Contact Information
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For specific questions
regarding performing at the Fair or to submit a show proposal please
email Cat
TaylorIf your group would like to perform at the Fair for just one day (school caroling groups, etc., please email Robert Young For specific questions regarding vending at the Fair please email Vendors For specific questions the beverage department please email Beverage ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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