Y'know, I'm looking at hitting San Francisco in January for my birthday (13th) and I was really looking forward to a chance to stop by and show my support in person. It's a shame I won't be able to do so now.
Sorry to hear that you had to give anything to those fuckers. But, oh well.
As for fundraising: have you seen KickStarter? It's mostly designed for artists to fund their projects by fan patronage, but it might be useful for you too. NIMBY, an Oakland art space, has a project there to help pay their legal bills. Disclosure: my friend works there.
Call me a pessimist but won't they simply find any excuse to slap you with more charges once you open again, given this ridiculous "probation" bullshit?
Yeah, the probation is dangerous--it may make it even easier for them to find some bullshit and actually shut the DNA down than it would have if they'd gone forward with the current allegations.
No, I'm just guessing that you may have had an easier shot at avoiding a revocation this time around than you would if you were facing it again but under probation. That doesn't mean that taking the settlement was a bad move though.
Also, I don't really know what your odds and costs would have been this time around if you had fought it to the end. Obviously the costs of seeing the whole process through might not have been worth it. Maybe my assumption that you would have a good shot at avoiding a revocation this time if you went through the whole process is wrong, in which case taking the deal is a great move, but I do know that if they want to get the DNA again they'll be able to point to the probation to show just how bad for public morals the DNA is.
I've actually observed criminal defendants get screwed over by probation in similar ways--they'll accept some deal with, say, what appears to be 5% of the punishment they would be looking at if they were to lose at trial because they might have a 30% chance of losing at trial (the expected value of the plea bargain is better even though they would probably win at trial). However, later during a probation period some other bullshit thing happens and they end up getting a far worse punishment than they would have had if they had gone to trial the first time.
I'm curious, who is the elected official who would be most accountable for the persecution of the DNA--is there any lower level elected person who makes these decisions, or is it the sort of thing originating from deep in the government bureaucracy where the only really accountable elected officials would be the legislature and the governor?
Director of ABC is appointed by the Governor. Nobody below that is elected. Odds are that the persecution originated from a regional director, and Director just let them get away with it. But that's all just theorizing, I actually have no idea.
i'm so happy to hear its finally over...even if its not the deal you were hoping to get.
i will be buying a shirt as soon as people in new mexico decide the cold weather isn't that scary and start coming out to by bar again and giving me their money (which will hopefully be soon). and if they give me enough money, perhaps i will be able to make it out for a visit after the re-opening.
I can't afford to donate much, but at least the exchange rate is semi-reasonable for now. I hope even a little bit helps.
Yes. That is better than death. Very cold and hungry however.
Since Hubba Hubba will be cancelled in January I'm moving in with you (how do you like your eggs?)
Noooo, not the Soviet Hubba! Any Hubba but the Soviet Hubba!
I weep.
I also weep. To honor the occasion I will spend January eating and living like an actual Soviet citizen...
Can we... do Soviet in February???
It's the same color scheme as Valentine's!
Nope, already have a show booked for February --Mardi Gras, with band and everything.
Blame the ABC.
However, Uncle Bobo has been reaching out to other possibilities for January. All is not lost --the Soviet may go on.
BoBo as jwz's househusband: there is totally a BAZILLION-dollar reality-TV show idea in there!
You seem warm and soft.
Wait 'til you find out!
Probation? Talk about a poison pill...
Sounds like expected-suprise-buttsex...
Urgh. Well, better than many of the alternatives, I'm sure. Hope your employees are also in a position to go a month without pay.
On the plus side, this will clearly be the most moral January in San Francisco history! Thanks, ABC!
Y'know, I'm looking at hitting San Francisco in January for my birthday (13th) and I was really looking forward to a chance to stop by and show my support in person. It's a shame I won't be able to do so now.
you look a lot older than 12 in your picture... oh wait, i see what you're saying...
If I hadn't seen the post come up via RSS before you posted this, I would've had a heart attack at that headline.
So, when's the welcome back party?
Yeah 2nded on that one, when is the Welcome back party? :-) This makes me happy to know..def better than being gone.
Sorry to hear that you had to give anything to those fuckers. But, oh well.
As for fundraising: have you seen KickStarter? It's mostly designed for artists to fund their projects by fan patronage, but it might be useful for you too. NIMBY, an Oakland art space, has a project there to help pay their legal bills. Disclosure: my friend works there.
Call me a pessimist but won't they simply find any excuse to slap you with more charges once you open again, given this ridiculous "probation" bullshit?
Yeah, the probation is dangerous--it may make it even easier for them to find some bullshit and actually shut the DNA down than it would have if they'd gone forward with the current allegations.
So your proposal is that I should have taken the revocation of the liquor license instead. Oh wait.
No, I'm just guessing that you may have had an easier shot at avoiding a revocation this time around than you would if you were facing it again but under probation. That doesn't mean that taking the settlement was a bad move though.
Also, I don't really know what your odds and costs would have been this time around if you had fought it to the end. Obviously the costs of seeing the whole process through might not have been worth it. Maybe my assumption that you would have a good shot at avoiding a revocation this time if you went through the whole process is wrong, in which case taking the deal is a great move, but I do know that if they want to get the DNA again they'll be able to point to the probation to show just how bad for public morals the DNA is.
I've actually observed criminal defendants get screwed over by probation in similar ways--they'll accept some deal with, say, what appears to be 5% of the punishment they would be looking at if they were to lose at trial because they might have a 30% chance of losing at trial (the expected value of the plea bargain is better even though they would probably win at trial). However, later during a probation period some other bullshit thing happens and they end up getting a far worse punishment than they would have had if they had gone to trial the first time.
I'm curious, who is the elected official who would be most accountable for the persecution of the DNA--is there any lower level elected person who makes these decisions, or is it the sort of thing originating from deep in the government bureaucracy where the only really accountable elected officials would be the legislature and the governor?
Director of ABC is appointed by the Governor. Nobody below that is elected. Odds are that the persecution originated from a regional director, and Director just let them get away with it. But that's all just theorizing, I actually have no idea.
The lack of being able to really hold anyone accountable for this is very annoying.
Would there be any value in Freedom of Information Act'ing them to see if there's any interesting or damning internal communication?
at least january is the best month to be shut. i seem to recall it being the slowest time of the year for bars/clubs...
i'm so happy to hear its finally over...even if its not the deal you were hoping to get.
i will be buying a shirt as soon as people in new mexico decide the cold weather isn't that scary and start coming out to by bar again and giving me their money (which will hopefully be soon). and if they give me enough money, perhaps i will be able to make it out for a visit after the re-opening.
I too suspect the probation period is a trap.