Save the Tower Theatre Rally

Tower District Alliance
Post Office Box 188043
Sacramento, CA  95818
(916) 44TOWER (448-6937)


"SAVE THE TOWER THEATRE" CAMPAIGN - THE LATEST NEWS!
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ATTEND THE "SAVE TOWER THEATRE" RALLY
When: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Tower Theatre, Broadway & Land Park Drive, Sacramento

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Since the April Rally to "Save the Tower Theatre" sponsored
by the Tower District Alliance, neighborhood organizations,
businesses, movie lovers and other supporters have actively
opposed subsidies for two movie theatre projects on the K
Street Mall and been meeting with City Council members. (The
two movie theatre projects were "on hold" because of the
arena discussions, but now are moving forward.)  The
campaign has also gained overwhelming support from the
community for its two principles:

1. Save the Tower Theatre as an art film venue - showing
movies continuously since 1938!

2. Oppose City subsidies for Westfield Downtown Plaza and
Century Theatres. Let the Tower Theatre and Century Theatres
compete in a free market!

CITY SUBSIDIES CONTINUE TO THREATEN TOWER THEATER
Mayor Fargo and the City Council continue to support City
Manager Bob Thomas and the Economic Development staff
efforts to subsidize two movie theatres on the K Street
Mall, which will significantly impact Tower Theatre's
ability to remain a viable business. (Only Council Members
Dave Jones and Jimmie Yee expressed serious concerns about
the economic effectiveness of these two projects and the
significant impacts to Tower Theatre and Broadway
businesses.)  The Tower District Alliance met with most
council members and explained how city subsidies damage the
Tower Theatre.  Using limited redevelopment dollars to
subsidize Westfield Downtown Plaza and Century Theatres
projects creates an unfair advantage for Century Theaters.
For downtown to succeed (K Street Mall and J and L Streets)
redevelopment monies should, instead, be dedicated for
housing, retail businesses, restaurants, lofts and other
uses that create a 24- hour downtown.   We urged council
members to oppose subsidies to Westfield Downtown Plaza, the
world's largest mall owner, and Century Theatres, the fifth
largest movie operator in the United States - let these
giant corporation operate in a free market!  However, Mayor
Fargo, the City Manager and Economic Development Staff
continue to support subsidies to Westfield Downtown Plaza
and Century Theatres.  The council formally extended the
time period for City Staff to negotiate with Westfield
Downtown Plaza to finalize subsidies for the relocation and
expansion of movie screens at 7th & K Street. Century
Theatres received a 90-day extension in order to continue
negotiations for the 10th & K Street project.   If the City
Council approves subsidies for these two projects, it will
be subsidizing the demise of the Tower Theatre.  Century
Theatres will dominate the downtown movie market with 18 out
of 24 movie screens and be able to obtain the most
profitable art and independent films, a marketing strategy
they are attempting to use in other cities - the "Starbuck's
model".  

MOVIE THEATRES BEING "STRONGLY PURSUED BY THE CITY" - Mayor
Heather Fargo

During meetings with City Council members, some council
members told us that the 10th & K Street project was "off
the table".   At a September 14 City Council public hearing
on Economic Development in the Central City, the Tower
Alliance testified in opposition to city subsidies for both
movie theatre projects, even though there were suggestions
that the 10th & K Street project was "off the table".
However, the Mayor publicly said, "The 10th & K project is
not 'off the table'." She also added "Both movie theatres
are being strongly pursued by the City."   Mayor Fargo and
Economic Development Staff stated on the record they support
both movie theatre projects and are going forward with them.


WHAT CAN YOU DO?  - SAY NO TO CITY SUBSIDIES FOR WESTFIELD
DOWNTOWN PLAZA and CENTURY THEATRES!

The community's opposition to city subsidies for Westfield
Downtown Plaza and Century Theatres two movie theatre
projects must be loud and clear to the Mayor and City
Council. The City Economic Development staff said they want
City Council approval as soon as possible for the 7th & K
movie theatre project ($5 million dollar subsidy to
Westfield Downtown Plaza) and the 10th and K project ($10.8
million dollar subsidy which allows Century Theatres to have
lower operating costs).   As of October 6, 2004, no city
council hearing date had been scheduled.

Act now! Subsidies for these two movie theatre projects Will
ONLY BE DROPPED if the community voices STRONG opposition to
them.  The Tower Theatre can only be saved if you get
involved now! Here are four things you can do:  

ATTEND THE "SAVE TOWER THEATRE" RALLY
When: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Tower Theatre, Broadway & Land Park Drive, Sacramento

Attend the Tower District Alliance rally to show strong
community support to save the Tower Theater and the
campaign's two principles:

1. Save the Tower Theatre as an art film venue - showing
movies continuously since 1938!

2. Oppose all City subsidies for Westfield Downtown Plaza
and Century Theatres. Let the Tower Theatre and Century
Theatres compete in a free market.

Your attendance at the rally will send a strong message to
the City Council that Century and Westfield Downtown Plaza
should not be subsidized -- and should compete in a free
market place.   Redevelopment monies are better spent on
projects that bring people downtown -- 24 hours a day, seven
days a week.    Bring a friend and join the community and
other movie lovers to send a strong message to the City
Council.  Enjoy music and food! 

PARTICIPATE AT DOWNTOWN PLANNING WORKSHOP - Voice your
Support for the Tower Theatre and Oppose Movie Theatre
Subsidies!
When: Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 9 am to 2 pm
Where: Renaissance Tower Building (Darth Vader Building),
801 K Street Mall (K Street Mall at 8th Street)

Attend a city-sponsored downtown planning workshop
(charette) to voice your opposition to subsidizing these two
movie projects.  The two movie projects will only be dropped
if the community attends and voices strong opposition to
them.  The workshop also will seek input on other
projects/uses the community wants to revitalize J Street, K
Street Mall, and L Street.  Tell the Mayor and City Council
that $15.8 million in proposed subsidies for two movie
theatre projects (almost half of the current redevelopment
fund of $31 million) should be spent on better uses that do
more to encourage people to live and work downtown - 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.  These uses include more
housing, retail businesses, restaurants, lofts and other
uses that create a downtown center.

CONTACT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW!   TELL THEM
"NO SUBSIDIES"

Send letters, emails or call all City Council members.  Use
the list below to email council members directly and obtain
phone numbers and mailing addresses: 

Letters may be sent to:
City Hall, 730 "I" Street, Sacramento, Ca 95814

Emails may be made using the information below:

Mayor Heather Fargo     hfargo [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916)
808-5300

Ray Tretheway     rtretheway [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916)
808-7001

Sandy Sheedy     ssheedy [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916)
808-7002

Steve Cohn     scohn [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916) 808-7003

Jimmie Yee     jyee [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916) 808-7004

Lauren Hammond     lhammond [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916)
808-7005

Dave Jones     djones [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916) 808-7006

Robbie Waters     rwaters [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916)
808-7007

Bonnie Pannell     bpannell [at] cityofsacramento.org, (916)
808-7008


HELP GET MORE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE TOWER THEATRE --
"FORWARD ON" THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FUTURE UPDATES - visit the Tower
District Alliance's http://www.savethetowertheatre.org or call 44
TOWER (448-6937) for more information.  The web site has
more detailed information about the history of the Tower
Theatre and movie distribution.


October 2004 - rev100604

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Tower District Alliance
PO Box 188043
Sacramento, CA 95818

Phone: (916) 44TOWER
(448-6937)