As valiant as we were, the Antioch (CA) Film and Arts Festival was denied. While the denial was based on city cut-backs, the concern is that expanded emphasis was placed on our media sponsor. KMEL 106 FM Hip-Hop and Soul. Below is the correspondence submitted to the city. What is your opinion.
August 10, 2011
Ms. Tina Wehrmeister, PO Box 5007, Community Development Director,
200 H Street, Antioch, CA 94531
Dear Ms. Wehrmeister,
The correspondence is in response to your letter dated August 9, 2011, in which you denied the Women of Concern Professional their application to sponsor the Antioch Film and Arts Festival. During our meeting, there were several discrepancies in our application that I am sure we can resolve.
I have had several conversations with Brian Nunley over the past few months about this project and never was I informed that this project would require “at least six month in advance of an event this large.” Nor does it indicate, on the City of Antioch Special Outdoor Events Administrative Use Permit Application that the days of an event are equivalent to the time an application is to be submitted. The city application clearly states “THREE WEEKS prior to your event.”
During a meeting on August 8, 2011, with City Hall, I was informed that this project was “too ambitious.” My concern is for whom is it “too ambitious”? Women of Concern Professionals is a professional networking group that came together because we saw a need and wanted to fill it. We are all women in our perspective industries that understand how to fulfill obligations and complete assignments. While to some it may be “too ambitious”, we worked together and this was our result.
Ms. Wehrmeister, my profession is in community development (http://lorettagreenwilliams.com). Like you, I look for creative economic resources that will enhance and restore the economic sustainability of municipalities. As I have observed from your correspondence, you hold investigative practices in high regards, as do I. I am Research and Development Officer/CEO of my own company (http://www.linkedin.com/in/lorettagreenwilliams). I appeal to you that you consider this project as an opportunity to economically enhance the downtown area’s image and economic growth.
1-Historical Background of Concept: The concept of a film and arts festival derived from a conversation I had with Dana Verde explaining the beauty of our downtown. I indicated to her our unique geographical aspects and how warm and inviting our downtown area feels. Between my professional background and her creative understanding, the suggestion came forward to create a film festival that was interactive. That is how the film workshop and the concept of an outdoor event came into being.
I was introduced to Mayor Jim Davis by Mr. Joe Reano. Mr. Mayor loved the concept and felt that this was a project that we could do this year. I then approached Women of Concern Professionals and they were ecstatic, and were on board to underwrite the project. Mayor Davis suggested that I contact Diane Gibson-Gray, Executive Director of the Antioch Arts and Culture Foundation, regarding a collaborative effort, but she later informed me that she felt “it was too much work”, and that she “wasn’t interested”. So, the Women of Concern Professionals pushed forward, including having a meeting with downtown merchants at the Reano Center (Eco Business Centers) to inform them of the project and assure that our focus was to allow their businesses to gain a visual presence. They were very enthusiastic, and we are more than willing to provide you with names of businesses that attended the meeting and felt this project was an excellent concept.
1-Public Safety and Security: The Women of Concern Professionals have brought up several key concerns in regards to what was written:
a-Mr. Casey Copeland-You investigation the legitimacy of our statement that indicated our connection with Mr. Copeland. You were very clear to indicate that you know him “personally” and that in your correspondence “Based on our conversation with Mr. Copland you have not met (your indicated) standard for security guards. Ms. Wehrmeister, how can we meet criteria when we are not told what it is? As I informed you, our member, Ms. Marcia Ventura is handling that aspect of the event, and yes Mr. Copeland has agreed to support us.
b-Event Attendance-It is interesting to all of us that we are required to have 10 uniformed security guards based on an attendance of 300 that we indicated. You informed us that based on “500” we need “10 uniformed security guards”. During last Saturday’s music event in Waldie Plaza, there was clearly close to 400 people, and there appeared to be no “uniformed security guards”. Can you please explain the double standard of security event planning?
C-Antioch Police Department-We do understand the economic crisis the city is in. Again, there were no police at the last several Saturday music events. So why are we requiring to have “4-6 additional officers the weekend of the event”?
D-Public Health-You indicated “Prior to approving a permit for the event the City would need to see a contract with a sanitation company licensed by the Contra County Environmental Health Department”. As you indicated, this is “a minor” concern, but I think it is something that should be addressed. While we gave secured a certified sanitation company, why isn’t this requirement written in your application?
e-You indicated that our application “states that there will be no food venders; however event flyers have advertising food venders”. This statement is very discouraging. You are accusing us of false advertising. Nowhere on our flyers does it indicate any type of vendors or selling of food. As a matter of fact, our meeting with the downtown merchants was to inform them that we were discouraging food vendors because we wanted them to frequent their businesses. We are very aware of the Contra Costa Environmental Health Department, as Betty Smith, Antioch Jamboree is one of our committee members.
3-Required Event Insurance-Ms. Wehrmeister, our very own, Rainy Robinson wrote the policy and attached her business card. If there were any discrepancies, she was more than happy for correct them. Ms. Robinson has been a wonderful supporter of this project, and donated the insurance policy to the Festival. Any written discrepancies can be fixed. The Committee’s concerns are your assumptions about this project.
a-You indicated that I “Verbally…have told staff that the scheduled performers can draw as many as 500 attendance.” Does that mean 500 will attend because I said so? While Ms. Robinson listed “105”, which was clearly an error, and I indicated on the application “300” in attendance. Because I had a discussion with your “staff”, what are you really trying to say? This is our first attempt at this project, we are not sure how many will show up. I am concern that your statement clearly places me in a negative light. It indicates to me that you see me as having a lack of legitimacy. On this, I am personally offended.
b-While the quote excludes “film production and hip-hop concerts”, you indicated in the meeting that KMEL is a “hip-hop” station and that they will “have a deejay on stage”. That is not information we provided. KMEL is our media sponsor and based on the PSA’s they will provide, our agreement with them was to “name the stage” the KMEL Performance Stage. KMEL will only provide give-a-ways for the event. At no time did we inform you or the public that there would be a KMEL deejay performing, and it is NOT indicated in the information we provided you. Yes, Ms. Wehrmeister, KMEL does tag itself as a “hip-hop and R&B” station. Based on its demographics, that is the reason why we chose KMEL. Our youth listen to the station, and we are targeting the youth of our community. My concern is the innuendoes that seem to appear behind our media choice. We do not have ANY hip-hop performers on our stage. Our performances are local dance and karate studios, as well as cheerleading squads. There are no discrepancies with time. The back of our flyer clearly indicates the day of events, as we also provided you with a posters and postcards. We indicated that from 10 am until 2:00 pm, on Saturday it would be interactive activities, and youth performances. At 4:00 pm, our main act, Mr. Tito Gonzalez and on Sunday, at 4:00 pm Mr. Marcos Silva, and now on Sunday at 3:00 pm, Ms. Ruthie Dineen (we had to add her to Sunday’s lineup since we were encouraged to reduce the days) are all music instructors at the Jazzschool, Berkeley, CA.
While you have indicated that “The film exclusion seems to be in direct conflict with the stated purpose of the event and the workshop scheduled to be held in a private building September 1-5, 2011”, again, I am sure that Ms. Robinson would be more than willing to correct that error. After all, the workshop is being held at her Driversity Driver’s School.
c-You indicated that “Liquor is excluded from the insurance quote”, and that our “application is silent regarding an alcohol policy for this event”. We are professional women who respect our community and respect God. We didn’t know we had to discuss our principals. My NO MEANS are we going to have alcohol. Because it is a youth event we planned to announce to our audience to “respect our youth by reframing of alcoholic use” at the event. This is a youth event and we would never consider such a thing.
Ms. Wehrmeister, we apologize if we didn’t make ourselves clear of this project. It is not about our organization, the Women of Concern Professionals, it is about our youth. We must give them hope and show them that we, as a community, believe in them. With seven filmmakers from Antioch and two Academy Award winners, let’s come together and do something positive for them. We are not asking the City for money, nor did we request funds from the Antioch Arts and Cultural Foundation. The Women of Concern Professionals and the Festival Committee are so committed; we are putting this function on through donations as well as donated time and efforts. We have made contact with many local youth groups that will be participating in the workshop and are volunteering throughout the week-end from all over Contra Costa County.
We have contacted a licensed California security company that is more than willing to help us comply with the City’s requirements, and we have a meeting with Mr. Copeland tomorrow. As you have indicated, our event requires more security that other events that are held in Waldie Plaza. But I would like to make this very clear. At no time did we attempt to develop any false documents. Your correspondence places Women of Concern Professionals in a very difficult light. We would like to unravel your concerns and move forward. We have signed contracts with our performers, and have given out 3,000 postcards, and have posted over 35 posters throughout Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Brentwood, and Oakley.
Our appeal is to encourage our youth to strive for greatness in their lives. Is that not your goal and the City’s goal also? We humbly request that you will reconsider your stance and allow us to conduct our Festival for this year, 2011, based on your recommendations. By no means does Women of Concern Professionals wish to burden our city. Because we are a Contra Costa County based organization, if you will allow us to continue with this project this year, we will find a home for our project next year.
Truly,
Loretta Green-Williams
Women of Concern Professionals
cc: City Council
F.K. Mallory, WOCP President
