Our Mission
The Seattle Nightlife and Music Association (SNMA) is a coalition of music, night club, and bar interests formed to educate elected officials, civic and community leaders, and the media on the serious issues facing the music and nightlife industry in Seattle.Action Agenda
- Provide our customers a safe and vibrant nightlife.
- Protect music venue, bar, and club owner's rights.
- Respond to proposals which impact our industry.
- Support our local communities.
- Promote responsible music venue, bar, and club management.
News
THE NIGHT THE MUSIC DIED: SEATTLE NIGHTLIFE TO OBSERVE A “MINUTE OF SILENCE” IN FEAR OF TOM CARR’S RE-ELECTION
THE NIGHT THE MUSIC DIED: SEATTLE NIGHTLIFE TO OBSERVE A “MINUTE OF SILENCE” IN FEAR OF TOM CARR’S RE-ELECTIONSeattle nightlife establishments from throughout the City are scared of what will happen if Tom Carr is re-elected on November 3. How scared? In an effort to raise awareness of City Attorney Tom Carr’s anti-nightlife policies -- and to emphasize the importance of a safe and vibrant nightlife – bar, live music venue and nightclub owners will observe a “minute of silence” on Friday, October 23, 2009, at 11:30 PM.
For one minute, nightlife as we know it will cease to exist in Seattle. Participating establishments will use a portion of this minute to inform their patrons of Carr’s anti-nightlife policies and the importance of electing his opponent Pete Holmes. Carr, a longstanding opponent of the nightlife industry and the mastermind behind Operation Sobering Thought – a botched “sting” operation that cost the taxpayers over $50,000 and resulted in zero convictions – has continued his efforts to hamper nightlife and the arts as the election approaches.
Many in the nightlife community believe it is the ultimate goal of Carr’s office to shut down bars and nightclubs in the City of Seattle, thereby decimating an industry that employs thousands of people and generates nearly $100 million in annual tax revenue.
The Stranger and the Seattle Times over the past week have been giving extensive coverage to the issue of nightlife. The bar, venue and club owners have been particularly fearful in the wake of blistering attacks from Carr’s office that occurred at a meeting on October 6 on Capitol Hill. At that meeting, a member of Carr’s office threatened to stop pedestrians on the street to find out where they were drinking and then use the information collected to issue citations and possibly revoke the licenses of those nightlife establishments.
“A vote for Carr is a vote against nightlife,” said Crocodile Café owner Marcus Charles. “If you want someone who is pro-consensus, pro-music, and pro-arts then Pete Holmes is the only choice.” Charles has decided to join the event and to take it one step further: The Crocodile will close down for the entirety of Friday night.
“Music and nightlife makes a city great, plain and simple,” said Havana owner Quentin Ertel. “Nobody wants to live in a ghost town.”
As a show of support, the marquee at Showbox Market will be dark all night.
Participating in the Minute of Silence by Neighborhood are-
Capitol Hill: Cha Cha Lounge, Century Ballroom, R Place, Seattle Eagle, Baltic Room, Quinns Pub, Havana's, The Saint, The War Room, The Comet Tavern, El Chupacabra, Captain Blacks, Neumos, Moe Bar, Purr, Grey Gallery, Wildrose, The Garage, Lindas, Smith, Oddfellows, The Cuff, Chapel, Honeyhole Sandwiches
Ballard: Tractor Tavern, Sunset Tavern, Lock & Keel Inn, Kings Hardware, The Traveler, Hazlewood
Belltown: Crocodile Cafe, Shortys, Spitfire Grill, Rendezvouz, Del Rey, Venom, Amber, Tia Lou's, Funhouse, Restaurant Zoe, Matts at the Market
Fremont: Nectar, High Dive, The Red Door, ToST
West Seattle: Skylark Cafe and Club
Pioneer Square: Trinity, Cowgirls Inc.
Queen Anne: Nabob
Greenlake: Little Red Hen
permalink | related link |
permalink | related link |
As we are sure you are aware by now, there was a meeting at the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct on October 6, 2009, to discuss various nightlife issues on Capitol Hill. Your Assistant City Attorney, Tienney Milnor, was present.
This meeting was called as part of an ongoing dialogue between the East Precinct and various nightlife stakeholders on ways in which we can all work together toward maintaining a safe and vibrant nightlife for Seattle.
Over the last 16 months we – the Board of Directors of the Seattle Nightlife and Music Association and our members – have worked tirelessly to rebuild a productive and trusting relationship with the Seattle Police Department, the City Council, and Mayor Nickels. In the wake of Operation Sobering Thought this has been a challenge, to say the least, but it has been a worthy pursuit – we all love our City and we all want to see it thrive.
A substantial part of the credit for our accomplishments must be given to Officer John O’Neil and Captain Paul McDonagh of the East Precinct. Their work with the nightlife community has been invaluable to our industry, and we have found them to be fair, proactive, and sensible. Simply put, we trust them – and that would have been unthinkable two years ago.
Unfortunately, Tienney’s tone at the October 6 meeting did nothing but tarnish all the hard work and trust we have built up over the last two years. Her tone was both hostile and condescending. Her attack was a far cry from the productive exchange that we are all used to. She made specific threats toward our industry and toward our businesses that are unacceptable – specifically, that she would seek out ways to pull our liquor licenses, and would pursue a City/Nightlife Industry relationship that is contrary to what we have all been working toward. In an email and through visits to our establishments last week it is clear that she is now denying these statements and the approach she took at the meeting. There were dozens of people in attendance, however, and we all heard the same thing.
As a consequence, we are no longer willing or able to continue with these very productive meetings so long as Tienney is part of the discussion. The trust necessary to do meaningful work is impossible with her at the table. Going forward, and to reiterate, we refuse to attend any meeting at which she is present or involved.
We look forward to working with Captain McDonagh, Lieutenant John Heneghan , and Officer O’Neil in managing the challenges that go along with a bustling nightlife economy.
Sincerely,
Seattle Nightlife and Music Association, Board of Directors
permalink | related link |
SNMA also praised the Mayor’s support of a proposal to repeal the 5% admissions tax – on venues with a capacity of 999 or less -- as a real show of support for Seattle’s music and nightlife community. The proposal is currently being considered by the City Council in its annual budget process.
“We’re thrilled with the idea of making Seattle even more hospitable for musicians,” said Quentin Ertel, President of the SNMA Board of Directors. “We think that the admissions tax proposal puts some real substance behind this idea, and we hope that the City Council passes it.”
“The music industry generates hundreds of millions of dollars for Seattle,” Ertel continued, “and this proposal will put some much-needed money directly into the pockets of musicians. It’s very pro-music.”
SNMA is a coalition of business owners, musicians and fans that works to provide Seattle with a safe and vibrant nightlife.
permalink | related link |
2 PM
Spitfire -- www.spitfireseattle.com
2219 Fourth Avenue
SeattleNMA will be holding our annual reorganization meeting at Spitfire on February 13, 2008 at 2pm. The purpose of the meeting is to expand the SNMA board and adopt our 2008 work plan.
Over the first year and a half of our existence, we have been engaged in a number of battles at the state and local level. While we were successful in defeating the Mayor’s proposal to create new a licensing scheme, there are still many other issues confronting the nightlife industry. These include a new noise ordinance, new safety plan requirements, and new admission tax rules.
SeattleNMA is seeking to expand its active membership and undertake a more proactive outreach and involvement effort for 2008. While we spent 2007 fighting against new regulations, we would like to take a more proactive stance in 2008 and create a best practices program, begin work on a 2009 State legislative agenda to deal with sprinklers and liquor license issues, and positively engage the city as they put together there new Nightlife Advisory Board.
Please put this important meeting on your schedule.
Agenda
1. Introductions
2. Presentation of new Nightlife Advisory Board – Newell Aldrich – Legislative Aide to City Councilmember Nick Licata
3. SeattleNMA Board Appointments
4. SeattleNMA 2008 Initiatives and Work Plan
5. Membership Building
permalink | related link |
The City Council formally approved the creation of a Nightlife Advisory Board this past week. The purpose of the board is to advise the City Council regarding policy issues related to the City's promotion, development and sustainability of the nightlife industry in Seattle. The board will consist of 9-members; 3 representing the nightlife industry, 3 representing neighborhoods, 1 representing law enforcement, 1 representing the liquor board, and a representative with an acoustical engineering background.
The Board is expected to be formed in January and members will be appointed by the City Council. To date we have no information on how the Council will select appointees.
More information on the Advisory Board can be found here: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/nightli ... _board.pdf.
Council to Consider New Noise Ordinance on Monday, December 17
The City Council is scheduled to consider an ordinance which would direct the Director of the Department of Planning and Development to promulgate new rules establishing a measurable standard for "amplified noise that is plainly audible to a person of normal hearing when measured inside a receiving dwelling unit." This would apply to amplified noise created between the hours of 10 PM and 7 AM. The rules are scheduled to be finalized by June, 2008. The rules are required to be developed in collaboration with the Nightlife Advisory Board. Please review the legislation and consider how it may impact you and provide us and the city council your comments. Here's the link: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/noise_ordinance.pdf.
The Council meeting begins at 2 PM and public comment will be taken at the beginning of the meeting. The meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall – 600 Fourth Avenue – Second Floor. Be sure to get there early to sign up for public testimony.
Discount for 2008 Dues expires at the end of December
Please send in your 2008 membership dues by the end of the month in order to receive you 10% discount. With the formation of the Advisory Board, new Noise regulations, potential changes to state liquor laws and other new regulations – SeattleNMA needs your support to maintain our involvement and advocacy. Without a healthy membership, SeattleNMA is limited in our abilities to serve you.
You can download a membership form here: http://seattlenma.org/SNMA_Membership_Form.pdf.
permalink | related link |
Council to Move Forward on Nightlife Advisory Board
The Seattle City Council is reviewing a revised version of a Nightlife Advisory Board Resolution. The new version can be viewed here: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/adv_bd_reso.pdf. The Council will be discussing this proposal on Monday, November 26 and action is tentatively slated for December 3rd. The resolution establishes a 9 member board with the following features:
- 2 year effort to be re-evaluated when the enabling legislation sunsets
- focuses on review of council's legislative actions and the Mayor's new enforcement efforts - how are they working?
- giving the body some broad duties to come up with new ideas, other ideas to improving neighborhood and nightlife environment - but also monitoring to see if the environment is changing over time.
- membership - nightlife reps, neighborhood reps, law enforcement and liquor control board, and at large (9 members)
- staffed by facilitator retained by the Council - will develop a comprehensive work plan for the group.
- Council will get an annual report in December
- Executive has verbally agreed to cooperate with the board's requests for data, information related to enforcement/outreach activities.
Please take a moment to review the proposal and provide comments or suggestions.
New Noise Ordinance to be Reviewed
The Council will also be considering a new noise ordinance on December 6th, at Councilmember Clark’s meeting of the Economic Development and Neighborhood Committee. While a draft version can be viewed here (http://www.seattle.gov/council/attachme ... se_ord.pdf), the council is still working on a final draft. It may or may not be adopted before the end of the year. We are working on detailed comments and would appreciate your thoughts.
New Admission Tax Rules
The Department of Executive Administration has been working on new rules for the collection of admission tax by nightclubs. Here is a link to the proposal: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/adm_tx_rule.pdf.
The Department of Executive Administration has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed rule changes for 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., on Monday, December 10, 2007. The hearing will be held in a conference room on the 40th floor of the Seattle Municipal Tower, Suite 4080, located at 700 Fifth Avenue. All interested persons are invited to present data, views, or arguments, with regard to the proposed rules, orally at the hearing, or in writing at or before the hearing.
Again, please do not hesitate to email your thoughts, comments and suggestions to rachel@seattlenma.org.
permalink | related link |
Several weeks ago the councils Neighborhood and Economic Development passed the ordinance out of committee. Councilmembers Clark and Drago voted in support. Councilmember McIver opposed.
On Wednesday, Councilmembers Conlin and Licata circulated a draft ordinance with a number of amendments. Their proposal can be viewed at: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/licata:conlin_amendment. While the draft is an improvement of what was passed out of committee, there are still a number of elements that need further work. While we believe a license is not the best approach to address conflicts between nightlife establishments and residents, we nonetheless continue to provide comments on ways to improve the proposal.
Our key concern is the amount of unchecked authority this ordinance gives to the Mayor to shut down a business. After last weekend's events where bar employees were arrested during the middle of their shifts our concerns have only grown. A strong Nightlife Commission which can help businesses and review problems is key to protecting businesses and resolving conflicts.
Please take some time to review this latest proposed ordinance and provide comments to us and members of the City Council. Below you will find the contact information for the city council.
Seattle City Council:
Nick.licata@seattle.gov 684-8803
Sally.clark@seattle.gov 684-8802 **
Richard.conlin@seattle.gov 684-8805
David.della@seattle.gov 684-8806**
Jan.drago@seattle.gov 684-8801
Jean.godden@seattle.gov 684-8807**
Richard.mciver@seattle.gov 684-8800
Tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov 684-8808**
Peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov 684-8804**
** indicates these members are up for reelection this year. Peter Steinbrueck is not seeking reelection and this will be an open seat.
permalink | related link |
Mayor’s license proposal still alive
Voice your opinion to the City Council!
Last Thursday, the City Council’s Neighborhoods and Economic Development committee passed a reasonable package of new nightlife rules which creates an advisory board, requires nightlife businesses to develop security plans, and adds additional enforcement staffing for the city. This package can be viewed at http://www.seattle.gov/council/issues/nighlife_ord.htm.
However, a last minute push by Councilmembers Jan Drago and David Della has put the mayor’s license proposal back on the table. The new proposal can be viewed here (http://seattlenma.org/downloads/prpsd_ntlf_lic_ord.pdf). This new license, combined with the new rules the committee has already passed, makes this new package as extreme – if not more – than what the mayor proposed. In addition, the council is working on a new noise ordinance which has yet to be made public, but is expected to be voted on next Thursday, August 16. The council is now contemplating even more regulation than the Mayor proposed!
Here is what we need you to do:
Contact the members of the city council and tell them you support the package that the committee has approved and we don’t need a license. They should just vote on what they have in front of them NOW and move on. Please contact the City Council today! Councilmembers email addresses and phone numbers are listed below.
*Attend the Monday, August 13th 2 PM City Council meeting and testify. You will have only two minutes, and they limit the total time allotted for public comment so sign up early!
* Attend the Thursday, August 16th, 6 PM meeting of council’s Neighborhoods and Economic Development Committee at the Highpoint Community Center – 6920 34th Ave SW. Testimony will be taken at the beginning of the meeting.
* Forward this to your friends and colleagues asking them to voice their support of nightlife in Seattle.
Neighborhood activists and the Mayor have been pounding on City Councilmembers these last few months. Our voice needs to be heard! Contact the councilmembers today!
Seattle City Council:
Nick.licata@seattle.gov 684-8803
Sally.clark@seattle.gov 684-8802 **
Richard.conlin@seattle.gov 684-8805
David.della@seattle.gov 684-8806**
Jan.drago@seattle.gov 684-8801
Jean.godden@seattle.gov 684-8807**
Richard.mciver@seattle.gov 684-8800
Tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov 684-8808**
Peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov 684-8804**
** indicates these members are up for reelection this year. Peter Steinbrueck is not seeking reelection and this will be an open seat.
permalink | related link |
Mayor’s Nickels continued his all out assault for a new nightclub license this week when he released a list of the most “problematic” clubs on Tuesday. The list, compiled from the city’s still untested LiquorStat database purports that several clubs in the downtown core have dozens of liquor violations. However, the Mayor’s data is disputed by the Washington State Liquor Control Board who have chided the city for using it. The SeattleP-I and The Seattle Times have stories here http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/324 ... ife18.html and here http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.c ... nightclubs.
New Proposal from Clark could be voted on next week – details still unknown
City Councilmember Sally Clark, who’s Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee (EDN) has been reviewing the Mayor’s Nightlife License proposal for over six months has stated she hopes her committee will begin voting on a package of new nightlife regulations at her July 27th committee meeting. While broad outlines of a new package have been released, no details of the actual legislation have yet been made public. It is unclear whether Clark will continue to push for the mayor’s licensing proposal, but the Mayor’s office and community activists continue to push for it’s inclusion and have mounted an aggressive public relations effort as they attempt to move their licensing agenda forward.
Here is a link (http://seattlenma.org/downloads/Nightli ... 070507.pdf) to the briefing memo that was released at the last EDN meeting, which gives you a flavor of what new regulations the council is considering. Key elements of the package appear to include significant changes to the existing noise code; creation of a nightlife advisory board with limited authority; safety plan requirements; increased enforcement and regulatory staff; and granting enhanced authority to the Seattle Police Chief and City Attorney under the city’s nuisance laws. In addition, the package requests the Mayor study and propose even more nightlife regulations.
SeattleNMA has stated we support the creation of a Nightlife Commission with responsibility for monitoring nightlife issues and providing early intervention assistance to preventing nightlife problems. A balanced board consisting of neighborhood interests, nightlife representatives, law enforcement and other key stakeholders could respond to citizen complaints and work with neighborhoods and nightlife businesses.
SeattleNMA continues to strongly advocate for more police to patrol the city’s nightlife districts. More police at night in the right areas is the most effective way to deal with rowdy behavior and prevent violent incidents on the streets. In addition, nightlife business need to be able to contract for off duty police, particularly if they are to be subject to new security plan requirements.
Any new or additional regulations should be worked in collaboration with the new Nightlife Commission so that all stakeholders have a voice in the process. We strongly support forming the board now so these other issues can be worked.
The next meeting of the council committee will be Friday July 27, 9:30 AM, second floor City Council Chambers. We anticipate being able to provide you any proposed legislation prior to that meeting so you will be able to let the councilmember know what you think.
Time to renew SeattleNMA memberships – many accomplishments, but nightlife still under siege
SeattleNMA has been working hard for the last year to represent the nightlife industry interests to the City and the State. When we formed in July of last year, the Mayor was ready to steamroll through the city council the most onerous set of nightlife regulations in the country. Backed by the police and well organized neighborhood coalitions, our industry was under heavy assault. Because we were able to form quickly, we soon were able to establish ourselves as a key player in the process and have effectively killed the mayor’s package and are actively working with the city council on a more reasonable approach.
At the state level we were successful in providing relief to over 200 nightclubs in Washington state by giving them additional time to install new sprinkler systems. While we were not able to obtain the tax credits we were seeking, we did get fair hearings and requests to come back and try again the next session. If it wasn’t for SeattleNMA the sprinkler relieve bill would never have happened.
SeattleNMA also successfully led the charge to kill a Washington State Liquor Board proposal to ban all ages shows. This proposal was a major concern of the local music community. If it were not for our intervention, this proposal would have moved forward.
SeattleNMA is membership funded organization. Dues are based on your business size and are extremely affordable. We need you to renew you membership, or for those who have yet to pay dues, to send in a check today so we can continue our efforts to protect Seattle’s nightlife.
SeattleNMA wants to ensure that whatever legislation is passed by the city is implemented fairly. SeattleNMA wants to continue to work with the WSLCB to modernized our state liquor laws. SeattleNMA wants to expand the number of businesses involved and develop a set of member services that can help your business make or save money.
To help us achieve this, please renew you membership today. Membership forms can be downloaded at http://www.seattlenma.org/SMNA_membership_form.pdf.
permalink | related link |
Next
download a membership form (pdf)
listen to SNMA interview
Archives
