Nightclub News: 1015 Folsom Closing, San Francisco

[DaVe]

Received by Clubplanet today:

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I am sending this to you as an FYI of some of the actions currently being taken by the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC). With the recent RAVE Act being added to the AMBER Alert Bill and passing, I felt this was news-worthy and important to share. Please forward this on to any industry professional or club patron you feel may be interested in knowing about this recent action.

Thanks,

Elena Vernagelli

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TO THE FRIENDS OF 1015 FOLSOM:

You may have seen a press release, issued by the ABC on

April 11, 2003, under the headline "ABC to Shut Down Well Known S.F. Nightclub." The headline is false. Here is the reality of the situation.

THE ABC HAS NO ABILITY TO SHUT DOWN 1015 AND NO PRESENT ABILITY TO REVOKE OR SUSPEND 1015'S LIQUOR LICENSE.

The ABC has simply filed an accusation in which it alleges

that 1015 engaged in certain actions which, if proven at a hearing before an administrative law judge, could allow the judge, at most, to revoke or suspend 1015's liquor license. 1015 believes it will receive a favorable decision from the administrative law judge, or from the court of appeal should an appeal become necessary.

THE ABC'S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST 1015 ARE FALSE.

The ABC first alleges six incidents in which its

investigators were supposedly able to purchase ecstasy from employees of 1015. The six incidents involve only two persons, neither of whom has ever been an employee or agent of 1015 or of any of the promoters that put on events at 1015.

The ABC next alleges five incidents in which 1015 bartenders supposedly "permitted" ecstasy sales at the club. What did the bartenders actually do? According to the ABC's own report, an investigator would approach a bartender and say "Do you know where I can get some ecstasy?" In every case, the bartender said "No." The investigator would then disappear into the crowd and seek to purchase a tablet of ecstasy from a customer. If he succeeded, he would come back to the bartender -- who, the ABC admits, had not witnessed the purchase -- and say "Well, I was able to get some ecstasy." Apparently, the ABC is contending that the bartender can be deemed to have "permitted" the ecstasy purchase because he did not have the ABC investigator arrested in response to the investigator's statements. That is simply not the law.

SAFETY PROCEDURES EMPLOYED AT 1015 ARE MANDATED BY COURT ORDER AND CANNOT BE DEEMED EVIDENCE THAT 1015 ENCOURAGES OR ACCEPTS DRUG USE AT THE CLUB.

Finally, the ABC suggests that certain safety procedures employed by 1015 -- EMT's on site, free water, a cool-down room -- are "evidence" that 1015 encourages or accepts drug use at the club. The ABC ignores the fact that all of those procedures are mandated by court order, in accordance with a stipulated injunction entered into by 1015 and the City and County of San Francisco three years ago. The City and County of San Francisco insisted on those procedures, and 1015 agreed to them, because they understood -- as the ABC apparently does not -- that even the most rigorous procedures to keep drugs out of a club cannot totally eliminate the possibility that some patrons may experience medical problems, whether related to drug use or to the mere fact of dancing for hours in a crowded room. It is sadly ironic that the very steps taken by 1015 to protect its patrons and to comply with the law are now being cited by the ABC as "evidence" that 1015 -- the only club in San Francisco that carries out rigorous patron searches and that arrests anyone found with drugs -- is somehow encouraging or accepting drug use at the club.

1015 WILL FIGHT THESE SPECIOUS CHARGES AND ASKS FOR YOUR CONTINUING PATRONAGE AND SUPPORT.

1015 will do everything it can, at the administrative level and, if necessary, at the judicial level, to show that the ABC's charges are completely specious and that no discipline should be imposed against 1015's liquor license. We ask that you continue to support 1015 by coming to the club to dance -- we will be open, at the usual times, for the indefinite future -- and by letting people know that you oppose the ABC's efforts to drive 1015 out of business.

Thank you.

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Here is the news report of the closing:

http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=1228964

[hotcheme]

that is bad. especially if they were to get prosecuted under the rave act, the club would be screwed. not cool at all...

[dialectics]

we live in an orwellian nightmare. that's all there is to it. Those in power are apparently afraid that some of us are having too good of a time.

One of these days, they'll realize we're the center of their lives. We're the ones that run their stores, make their lattes, program their financial systems, deliver their mail, keep their bank records secure from hackers, shred their documents after hours....

Keeping us happy is the best thing they could ever do... after all, it won't take much civil disobedience to ruin their lives...

[crystalmethod]

The only good ABC is doing is approving to take away more freedoms.

What if the Government wanted to censor free speech and media?

Assholes.

[dialectics]

Originally posted by crystalmethod

What if the Government wanted to censor free speech and media?

This is a time of war - we're all going to have to give up a little freedom in the name of security.

Hahaha what bullshit.

[pseudoden]

iam from cali and 1015 folsom is an awesome club. this rave act is such a disgrace just like our current government. but media ploys like the one abc devised are only the begining. lets hope the educated people of this world can see beyond the wool that our government has so coveniently placed over our eyes.