MISC

Why Seattle Rocks: Mayor wants to boost funding to clubs and cut ticket tax

Mayor Greg “Awesome” Nickels of Seattle is trying to push across a plan that would abolish the 5 percent admission on tickets and start a program to help clubs open and stay strong. This program would take away $300,000 of revenue for the city but they’ll just probably jack up prices of coffee and fish to make up for it.

• “This is the place where Ray Charles started his career because we had an incredibly vibrant jazz scene on Jackson Street. … Also, this is the place where Jimi Hendrix grew up and became an incredible icon around the world. And more recently, we’ve had groups like Nirvana and Pearl Jam and Soundgarden and Death Cab for Cutie.”

Nickels is working with the James Keblas of the Mayor’s Office of Film + Music on trying to increase awareness and revenue for the city. Keblas (equally awesome dude) says:

• “My goal is to add eight additional live-music venues in the next two years.”
• “This gives me an economic incentive to get those businesses to open up.”

This is great. There are so few towns/cities that actually want people to go to more shows. Damn I wish I lived in Seattle. Definitely go read this article.

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Tags: Death Cab For Cutie, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, seattle