Supplement_PublicCommentSubmittedtoClerk — Fresno City Council, April 21, 2022

From: Greg Guerra
To: Clerk
Subject: 1-LL ID22-613
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 3:04:11 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
This is not a separate city funded program. They are wasting our money to interfere in a legal, private, and binding agreement. Money that this city already had previously allocated to the betterment of our parks!

If this goes
through, we are allowing our city government to persecute religion, and we are setting a dangerous precedent that this
city can take whatever they want from whoever they
want with our money.

Government has no
place in private property deals
--
Greg Guerra

From: Chris Williams
To: Clerk
Subject: 1-LL ID22-613
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 3:14:03 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
I oppose the city stepping in to buy the Tower Theatre.

Regarding parking, I have attended concerts and restaurants in the Tower District for the last 20 years and parking has always been difficult when Tower Theatre was holding events. They has historically reserved parking for those who are attending concerts, etc. This isn’t an Adventure Church problem, this is an overall planning problem and taking the Theatre isn’t the solution.

Sent from my iPhone 13
From: Aaron Martinez
To: Clerk
Subject: Buying of the Tower Theatre: 1-LL ID22-613
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 3:00:00 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
My name is Aaron Martinez and I oppose the city using our tax dollars to do something that will put the city in my debt. The city should invest that money back into the community, parks, schools and other existing city buildings Sent from my iPhone
From: Bret Dalldorf
To: Clerk
Subject: City Acquisition of the Tower Theater - I support it Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 9:11:18 AM
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Hello,
I am a Tower Home Owner (1022 N. Ferger, 93728). I support the city in purchasing the Tower Theater and keeping Adventure Church from buying this historical site.

Thanks!
Bret Dalldorf
From: Derek Payton
To: Clerk
Cc: Miguel Arias; Esmeralda Soria
Subject: City Council Agenda ID 22-613: City of Fresno acquiring the Tower Theatre Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 11:48:16 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
I am the Founder and Executive Director of Root Access, a community makerspace in the Tower District, on Van Ness Ave. I am also a Tower District resident.

I am writing to voice my support for item ID 22-613 on the City Council agenda for April 21, 2022, the City of Fresno acquiring the Tower Theatre.

The economy, culture, and rich history of the Tower District must be preserved, and much of that is rooted with the Tower Theatre. Additionally, any owner of the Tower Theatre has a responsibility to the community that:

Tower Theatre must continue to operate as a performing arts venue.

Tower Theatre must be an asset to Tower businesses and the local economy.

Tower Theater must be supportive of Tower culture and the community.

We believe that the acquisition of the Tower Theatre by the City of Fresno is now the best chance we have for these responsibilities to be upheld. After 15 months of efforts to save the Tower Theatre, we are looking forward to putting an end to this situation with a positive outcome for the community.

From: Tower Preservation
To: Clerk; Jerry Dyer; Miguel Arias; Esmeralda Soria; Mike Karbassi; Tyler Maxwell; Luis Chavez; Garry Bredefeld; Nelson Esparza
Subject: City Council meeting 4/21/2022, statement regarding item 1-LL Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 5:13:59 PM
Attachments: TDPA Statement of Support for Tower Theatre purchase 4.20.2022.pdf External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Good day Councilmembers and Mayor,
Attached you will find our statement in regards to the potential acquisition of the Tower Theatre by the City of Fresno, that we wish to be added to the record related to this matter.

Please do not hesitate to reach us with
any questions. We appreciate your time in considering
our correspondence.

Warm regards,
The Tower District Preservation Association
From: Rachel Tamayo
To: Clerk
Subject: City’s attempt at purchasing the Tower Theater Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:28:16 PM
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To whom it may concern,
I strongly oppose the City’s attempt to purchase the Tower Theater. It is an outrageous misuse of taxpayer money.

Moreover, Adventure Church has provided hope, freedom and help to my family. My husband left me and our 3 kids just before Covid hit. Because of that 2020 was the roughest year of my life but my church family stood by my side in practical and spiritual ways. They continue this kind of support, which is needed in every area of Fresno, especially the tower district.

Sincerely,
Rachel Tamayo, M.S.

Anatomy and Physiology instructor
CSU Fresno
Clovis Community College
From: Kyla Mitchell
To: Clerk
Subject: COMMENT: Meeting: City Council on 2022-04-21 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 11:11:16 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Hello,
I apologize for the late message. I tried to submit an eComment on the City of Fresno website, but saw that "The online Comment window has expired." I hope this message finds its way! I am a resident of Fresno and would like to urge the city to purchase the Tower Theater in order to preserve the historical and cultural significance of the site. I was born and raised in Fresno, and feel it is part of our city's long past as well as a time-honored landmark. It is a place many Fresnans are proud of and I, for one, want it to continue into the future to pass on the history and stories of so many.

Thank you,
Kyla Mitchell
2975 E Indianapolis Ave

From: Sergio Sanchez
To: Clerk
Subject: Contact City Clerk Form submitted on City Clerk Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 5:47:18 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
First Name Sergio
Last Name Sanchez
Email
Subject Tower Theatre
Message Please don’t let Adventure Church control the Tower Theatre. I will provide you many reasons why soon.

IP Address 172.58.33.12
User-Agent
(Browser/OS)
Apple Safari 604.1 / OS X
Referrer https://www.fresno.gov/cityclerk/contact-clerk/

From: Leann Hobbs
To: Clerk
Subject: Contact City Clerk Form submitted on City Clerk Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 9:40:42 AM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
First Name Leann
Last Name Hobbs
Email
Subject The Tower Theatre
Message Please, do not let a church buy The Tower Theatre. The issue has nothing to do with Anti-Christian bias. The issue is preserving the only thriving Cultural Arts District in the City of Fresno.

Thank you,
Leann Hobbs
117 E. Simpson Ave.

Fresno, California 93704
IP Address 98.252.65.60
User-Agent
(Browser/OS)
Google Chrome 95.0.4638.74 / Android
Referrer https://www.fresno.gov/cityclerk/contact-clerk/

From: Michael Reyna
To: Clerk
Cc: Jerry Dyer
Subject: Fresno Tower Theatre
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 8:00:58 PM
Attachments: Tower Theater.pdf
Importance: High
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
“I’m in strong support of the acquisition of Tower Theater as a city-owned property.”

Sent from Mail for Windows

From: Kassie Carbajal
To: Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Opposition for the City to buy Tower Theater Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:57:53 PM
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For item:
1-LL ID22-613
I would like to express my opposition for the city to illegally interfere with a private sale. As stated previously, spending money for this rather than what it was intended for is a misuse of tax payer money. Adventure Church is simply providing a safe place to a neighborhood that needs it!

Kassie Carbajal
From: Desirae Gomez
To: Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Tower Theatre 1-LL ID22-613
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 3:01:26 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Re: Item number: 1-LL ID22-613

Hello City Clerk,
I would like to add a comment to the meeting today discussing the city's proposal to purchase the Tower Theatre--
I strongly oppose the city of Fresno attempting to intervene with an existing private sale of the Tower Theatre.

Council members Soria and Arias have acted illegally to intervene with the private sale and the bilateral contract that is in place (this illegal interference with a private sale of a property is known as Tortious Interference).

The city should not spend taxpayer dollars in a losing legal battle.

The existing pending sale to Adventure Church is protected by real estate law and federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. If this proposal is passed, the city of Fresno would illegally interfere with a private sale and violate both real estate and federal law.

The city has allowed religious persecution to go on too long. The city needs to intervene with protecting the people who attend church and are being harassed on a weekly basis (for over a year).

Best,
Desirae Gomez
Adjunct Professor in Art
Desirae Gomez MA
Adjunct Faculty
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail and its contents may contain privileged or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure or use of the information contained in or attached to this email is strictly prohibited, and we ask that you delete this email and its attachments without reading or saving it.

From: Noe Garza
To: Clerk
Subject: Objection to Tower theater purchase
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:59:03 PM
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Dear council,
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

My name is Noe Garza. I live off of Shaw and Marks. I just moved to Fresno this year but I lived in Selma for most of my life. My family and I used to look at Fresno as the place where real life happens. It wasn’t like our little country town and we admired Fresno for its beauty.

I got connected to Adventure Church after being a part of other churches in Fresno. I fell in love with the church because I saw what I believed to be a genuine heart for the city. Adventure has done so much to prove to me that they are willing to go and care for the city even when it costs them.

To my dismay, the purchase of the tower theater has become a hot topic because I believe that certain parties have negative biases towards churches and we have been unjustly caught in their anger from previous hurts that didn’t involve out church.

I’ve seen firsthand how the church has loved on our community. And they have never done something that was illegal or even morally wrong.

If you love our city, which I believe you do, partner with Adventure Church and allow us to be the beacon of hope in our community
that we have been for years
I strongly oppose the acquisition of the tower by the City of Fresno. You can trust that Adventure Church will be incredible stewards of the Tower. Our presence will prove to be a boon to business and safety in the community.

Thank you
From: Kassie Carbajal
To: Clerk
Subject: Opposition for the City to buy Tower Theater
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:39:17 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
I would like to express my opposition for the city to illegally interfere with a private sale. As stated previously, spending money for this rather than what it was intended for is a misuse of tax payer money. Adventure Church is simply providing a safe place to a neighborhood that needs it!

Kassie Carbajal
From: Jackson Carbajal
To: Clerk
Subject: Opposition of City buying theater 1-LL ID22-613 Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 3:16:29 PM
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1-LL ID22-613
Tower district is a scary place to be at certain times. I went down there for a zombie crawl 7 years ago and was stabbed 8 times. I’m lucky to be alive. I never wanted to return back to that area, for obvious reasons. That was until I met Pastor Anthony Flores. That man is a true example of how people should behave. Is he perfect? Absolutely not.

But he treats people with love and respect, even when they don’t treat him the same way. I came back to tower district ONLY to attend Adventure Church. It is an honor and a privilege to go to that church and be around the people that go there. I am completely against the city purchasing Tower Theater in an attempt to not let someone else use it. It’s like a kid trying to take their toy away from someone only so they can’t have it. It’s very childish.

Jackson Carbajal
Sent from my iPhone
From: [email protected]
To: Clerk
Subject: Public comment regarding purchase of Tower Theater Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:34:07 PM
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I oppose the purchase of Tower Theater by the city. Our priority should be focus on promoting safety and addressing the many other pressing needs of our community.

Respectfully,
Pajia Thao-Trevino
From: Brandi Nuse-Villegas
To: Clerk
Subject: Public comment, item 1-S
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 2:27:13 PM
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Dear council. I know it is guaranteed that Turning point will get the increased funding. I ask that you reflect on the testimony of people who are at these shelters who have come to city council, the homeless townhall, and have been protesting poor treatment.

The city is responsible for this money and how it is used. I ask that you hold Turning Point and any provider accountable and ensure that the concerns that the residents have voiced, like being unfairly kicked out, be addressed. I ask for careful monitoring through third party to continue listening to the
vulnerable people living in these places and ensure that every one is working in a professional, compassionate manner.

I also ask that this be the last funding to Turning Point and that the city invest in looking for alternative providers who are equipped to work with the unhoused community with dignity and the training needed,
that is trauma informed, mental health informed, and so forth.

From: Debby Jo Wagner
To: Clerk
Subject: Purchase of the Tower Theater
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 11:09:40 PM
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Message to the Fresno City Council;
The Tower Theater is at the center of our theater and arts district. To me it has always felt like the beating heart of Fresno.The Tower must remain a place that features live and filmed performance. It is critical to the life of the district and our city. I support the purchase of the theater by the City of Fresno.

Deborah Wagner,
property owner and tax-payer in the city of Fresno
From: Janet Baker
To: Clerk
Subject: Re: Tower Theater acquisition
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 11:54:56 AM
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In addition to the previous comments, I believe the acquisition of the theater will benefit the city financially because of sales taxes that will come to the city from people making a night with a concert and dinner. There will be a greater feeling of safety in the neighborhood. When I lived in Merced I came to the Tower theater for events. This will not happen if Adventure is allowed to proceed with this sale. Janet Baker Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 21, 2022, at 10:55 AM, Janet Baker <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I am watching the meeting this morning. I am in full support of the city’s acquisition of the theater. I hope and pray that you not be intimidated by the threat of litigation in moving forward, as there are numerous improper dealings by the owner and Adventure Church in their proposed sale. I have been appalled at the failure to enforce zoning regulations and pandemic restrictions.

Your proposed acquisition is fundamentally sound. Please move forward. Janet Baker
>
> Sent from my iPhone
From: Fools Collaborative
To: Clerk; Jerry Dyer; Mike Karbassi; Tyler Maxwell; Luis Chavez; Garry Bredefeld; Nelson Esparza; Esmeralda Soria; Miguel Arias
Subject: Re: Tower Theatre- Community Letter for Public Comment on item 1-LL Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 8:24:05 AM
Attachments: Community Letter SAVE TOWER.pdf
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
An updated PDF version of our community letter is attached. Again, the zipcodes of all who signed, as well as additional commentary from many of the signers, can be provided upon request.

Thank you.

On Wed, Apr 20, 2022 at 10:35 PM Fools Collaborative
wrote:

Dear City Council Members,
We, the undersigned, represent Tower District stakeholders and supporters. We are writing to voice our united support for City of Fresno ownership of the Tower Theatre. For 15 months, the Tower District has been under threat of losing its economic base and cultural uniqueness because of the unlawful use of the Tower Theatre by Adventure Church, at the allowance of current theatre owner Laurence Abbate. The city's strategic inaction to enforce its own municipal codes has left the heavy lifting of defending the district squarely on the shoulders of local citizens. While none of us are naive enough to believe city ownership will be an entirely smooth and conflict-free solution for this situation, we all agree it is the best path forward at this time.

Among other insults, Anthony Flores has alluded to our neighborhood as "the gates of hell"
and the "middle of the enemy's kingdom", and his fellow pastor DeShawn Carraway has said Tower is "where the greatest darkness [is]". Those of us who live, work, and play here believe Tower is a special, unique, and vital part of our city... AS IS. We have no desire to be given a "redemptive lift
", and we resent the assertion that we need one. Adventure Church has never once made a positive case why they should be granted an extraordinary exception to the Tower District Specific Plan and Fresno Municipal Code, which were created to preserve the neighborhood’s character and the interests of existing residents and businesses. In fact, they have spent the past year-and-a-half calling our community members "evil," "nasty," "liars" rather than addressing valid community concerns in a civilized way.

They have also been the cause of various nuisances themselves, including monopolizing neighborhood parking, operating their sound equipment above legal volume requirements, and embracing and facilitating the support
of Proud Boys and other alt-right extremists.

We need an entity operating the Tower Theatre who not only recognizes the vital economic, cultural, artistic, and historic contributions our neighborhood makes to the city and county of Fresno, but who appreciates and respects it as well.

When the zoning and conditional use

permits of Tower businesses are no longer at risk, the Tower District can get back to business providing all of Fresno with a fun, eclectic, artistic nightlife scene. We will continue to pay close attention to the matter, even if this deal moves forward , but for now we applaud the leadership that the City Council has shown in taking bold action to finally resolve this conflict.

In Community,

The Fools Collaborative
Tower District Marketing Committee
Tower District Preservation Association
Save Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee
Chase Flower Shop
Good Company Players
Hi-Top Coffee
House of FAB
Irene's Cafe, Inc
Libelula
Lincoln Pub and Grub
Livingstone's Restaurant
Ragin’ Records
Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater
Rogue Festival
Root Access
Tower Properties
Aerial Arts Fresno
Al's Distributing, Inc
Anzula
Blare Media
Celaya home repair/Celaya Uber
Color Me Chula Salon & Spa
Crisp Pools
Democratic Socialists of America, Fresno Chapter
Designer’s Image
Divia Express Insurance Agency
Fresbrew
Fresloca
Fresno EOC Sanctuary and Support Services
Fresno Flyer
Fresno Spectrum Center
Fresno Free College Foundation
Green Party of Fresno County
Haydock Real Estate
Healthy Environment for All Lives
Hella Comfy
Holy Shish
Johnson Architecture
Junk in the Trunk Thrift Store
Ken Wagner Investigations
Krystle Healing
Law Office of Dean B. Gordon
KFCF Community Radio
Neighborhood Industries
Next Image Media
Palo Verde Bakery
Parola Design
Phoenix Creative Collective
Powers Electric Products
Rakefet Unlimited
RavenMortem Hearse Club
Safe Space Personal Training Studio
Shooting Stars Fresno
Something Extra
Sour Milk
South Tower Trust
SmileyCBD
Sterlingworth Media
Sunny Side Dancewear
Swede Fest
The Fresnan
The Munro Review
The Smokin Burrito
Unapologetic Coterie
UR Here Theater
Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno
uSpark Valley
Vintage Fresno
Vivily Vintage
Whites Moving and Storage
Woven Community Presbyterian Church
3 Guys Playin' the Blues
Art of Blisse
Arthur Robinson: Freelance Photographer
Eye Candy Entertainment
For The Record
JoyousArtBySarah
JMBArt
Kamileos'
Sad Kwon Do
Sweet October Photography
Carol Kim LCSW
Toni M Onkka, LCSW
Rev. Anna Maria Lopez
Rev. April Alkema
Rev. Lily Dale Reed
Rev. Simon Biasell
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Pastor Julia Penner-Zook
Pastor Grace Spencer
Pastor Katerina Friesen
And 1075+ individuals, of varied faiths, listed here.*
*This is a partial list. We started collecting signatures Tuesday morning, and we'll provide an updated list tomorrow morning before the council meeting with others who sign between now and the meeting.

Please note that zipcodes of all who signed, as well as additional commentary from many of the signers, can be provided upon request. We are trying to limit this public link to bare minimum information as many of the Save Tower organizers and supportives have been doxxed and harassed during the past 15 months.

From: Fools Collaborative
To: Clerk; Jerry Dyer; Mike Karbassi; Tyler Maxwell; Luis Chavez; Garry Bredefeld; Nelson Esparza; Esmeralda Soria; Miguel Arias
Subject: Re: Tower Theatre- Community Letter for Public Comment on item 1-LL Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 10:30:41 AM
Attachments: Community Letter - SAVE TOWER.pdf
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Apologies all. There was a glitch in that last letter and it was missing individuals with last names A- H. This is most current.

On Wed, Apr 20, 2022 at 10:35 PM Fools Collaborative
wrote:

When the zoning and conditional use
permits of Tower businesses are no longer at risk, the Tower District can get back to business providing all of Fresno with a fun, eclectic, artistic nightlife scene. We will continue to pay close attention to the matter, even if this deal moves forward , but for now we applaud the leadership that the City Council has shown in taking bold action to finally

resolve this conflict.

In Community,
The Fools Collaborative
Tower District Marketing Committee
Tower District Preservation Association
Save Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee
Chase Flower Shop
Good Company Players
Hi-Top Coffee
House of FAB
Irene's Cafe, Inc
Libelula
Lincoln Pub and Grub
Livingstone's Restaurant
Ragin’ Records
Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater
Rogue Festival
Root Access
Tower Properties
Aerial Arts Fresno
Al's Distributing, Inc
Anzula
Blare Media
Celaya home repair/Celaya Uber
Color Me Chula Salon & Spa
Crisp Pools
Democratic Socialists of America, Fresno Chapter
Designer’s Image
Divia Express Insurance Agency
Fresbrew
Fresloca
Fresno EOC Sanctuary and Support Services
Fresno Flyer
Fresno Spectrum Center
Fresno Free College Foundation
Green Party of Fresno County
Haydock Real Estate
Healthy Environment for All Lives
Hella Comfy
Holy Shish
Johnson Architecture
Junk in the Trunk Thrift Store
Ken Wagner Investigations
Krystle Healing
Law Office of Dean B. Gordon
KFCF Community Radio
Neighborhood Industries
Next Image Media
Palo Verde Bakery
Parola Design
Phoenix Creative Collective
Powers Electric Products
Rakefet Unlimited
RavenMortem Hearse Club
Safe Space Personal Training Studio
Shooting Stars Fresno
Something Extra
Sour Milk
South Tower Trust
SmileyCBD
Sterlingworth Media
Sunny Side Dancewear
Swede Fest
The Fresnan
The Munro Review
The Smokin Burrito
Unapologetic Coterie
UR Here Theater
Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno
uSpark Valley
Vintage Fresno
Vivily Vintage
Whites Moving and Storage
Woven Community Presbyterian Church
3 Guys Playin' the Blues
Art of Blisse
Arthur Robinson: Freelance Photographer
Eye Candy Entertainment
For The Record
JoyousArtBySarah
JMBArt
Kamileos'
Sad Kwon Do
Sweet October Photography
Carol Kim LCSW
Toni M Onkka, LCSW
Rev. Anna Maria Lopez
Rev. April Alkema
Rev. Lily Dale Reed
Rev. Simon Biasell
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Pastor Julia Penner-Zook
Pastor Grace Spencer
Pastor Katerina Friesen
And 1075+ individuals, of varied faiths, listed here.
*
*This is a partial list. We started collecting signatures Tuesday morning, and we'll provide an updated list tomorrow morning before the council meeting with others who sign between now and the meeting.

From: Andrea Gillo
To: Miguel Arias; Clerk; Jerry Dyer; Esmeralda Soria; [email protected]; Tyler Maxwell; Luis Chavez; Garry Bredefeld; Nelson Esparza
Subject: Support acquisition of Tower Theater
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 10:48:39 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Hello,
I am a District 3 resident and I have made many statements expressing my disappointment at the council’s inaction in this matter.

I want you to know that I fully support the city’s intervention in purchasing the Tower Theater and hope that you will take further steps to ensure Fresno municipal code Section 15-1202 is enforced equally for all who wish to be a part of the Tower District community.

Thank You
Andrea Gillo
Sent from iPhone
From:

To: Clerk
Subject: Tower theater issue.

Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 5:00:05 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
As a resident and neighbor in the Tower District I approve of the City of Fresno's decision to purchase the Tower Theater. It is important to me that the neighborhood not be rezoned and drive business away.

Thank you for your time.

Deric P. McQueen
1329 N Van Ness Ave.

Sent from my LG Stylo 5+, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

From: Nicole MacIntosh
To: Clerk
Subject: Tower Theatre
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:34:08 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
I oppose the purchase of the Tower Theatre by the City of Fresno. I do not want my tax dollars going to the City’s purchase of the Tower Theatre.

Not only are they illegally interfering in a private sale, but they are planning on spending funds that should be going towards hiring more police officers, fixing up or building more parks (especially in the tower area where there are none!), or going to other areas in our city that are currently neglected.

Our tax dollars should not be used to over spend on a building that is already on the National Register of Historic Places that Adventure Church & it’s volunteers work hard to clean up every week (which might I ad is continually graffitied and covered in needles, broken glass, cigarette butts, urine & feces) and improve to make ADA compliant while remaining in compliance with the orders as a historical building.

To say that this is a zoning issue is just an excuse. Adventure Church has the same intentions as the city claims they have to keep it as an entertainment venue with Sunday services being incidental.

They claim we can use it as we always have, but will only allow us to rent it and not buy it. Clear and total discrimination.

Nicole Mac Intosh

* I am in the office Monday-Friday from 7am – 4pm
* For Billing & Payment Release Inquiries, Contact
* For Subcontract, Submittal & Close-Out Inquiries, Contact * For Insurance, RFI & Safety Inquiries, Contac

From: Fools Collaborative
To: Clerk; Jerry Dyer; Mike Karbassi; Tyler Maxwell; Luis Chavez; Garry Bredefeld; Nelson Esparza; Esmeralda Soria; Miguel Arias
Subject: Tower Theatre- Community Letter for Public Comment on item 1-LL Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 10:36:22 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Dear City Council Members,
We, the undersigned, represent Tower District stakeholders and supporters. We are writing to voice our united support for City of Fresno ownership of the Tower Theatre. For 15 months, the Tower District has been under threat of losing its economic base and cultural uniqueness because of the unlawful use of the Tower Theatre by Adventure Church, at the allowance of current theatre owner Laurence Abbate. The city's strategic inaction to enforce its own municipal codes has left the heavy lifting of defending the district squarely on the shoulders of local citizens. While none of us are naive enough to believe city ownership will be an entirely smooth and conflict-free solution for this situation, we all agree it is the best path forward at this time.

In Community,

The Fools Collaborative
Tower District Marketing Committee
Tower District Preservation Association
Save Tower Theatre Demonstration Committee
Chase Flower Shop
Good Company Players
Hi-Top Coffee
House of FAB
Irene's Cafe, Inc
Libelula
Lincoln Pub and Grub
Livingstone's Restaurant
Ragin’ Records
Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater
Rogue Festival
Root Access
Tower Properties
Aerial Arts Fresno
Al's Distributing, Inc
Anzula
Blare Media
Celaya home repair/Celaya Uber
Color Me Chula Salon & Spa
Crisp Pools
Democratic Socialists of America, Fresno Chapter
Designer’s Image
Divia Express Insurance Agency
Fresbrew
Fresloca
Fresno EOC Sanctuary and Support Services
Fresno Flyer
Fresno Spectrum Center
Fresno Free College Foundation
Green Party of Fresno County
Haydock Real Estate
Healthy Environment for All Lives
Hella Comfy
Holy Shish
Johnson Architecture
Junk in the Trunk Thrift Store
Ken Wagner Investigations
Krystle Healing
Law Office of Dean B. Gordon
KFCF Community Radio
Neighborhood Industries
Next Image Media
Palo Verde Bakery
Parola Design
Phoenix Creative Collective
Powers Electric Products
Rakefet Unlimited
RavenMortem Hearse Club
Safe Space Personal Training Studio
Shooting Stars Fresno
Something Extra
Sour Milk
South Tower Trust
SmileyCBD
Sterlingworth Media
Sunny Side Dancewear
Swede Fest
The Fresnan
The Munro Review
The Smokin Burrito
Unapologetic Coterie
UR Here Theater
Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno
uSpark Valley
Vintage Fresno
Vivily Vintage
Whites Moving and Storage
Woven Community Presbyterian Church
3 Guys Playin' the Blues
Art of Blisse
Arthur Robinson: Freelance Photographer
Eye Candy Entertainment
For The Record
JoyousArtBySarah
JMBArt
Kamileos'
Sad Kwon Do
Sweet October Photography
Carol Kim LCSW
Toni M Onkka, LCSW
Rev. Anna Maria Lopez
Rev. April Alkema
Rev. Lily Dale Reed
Rev. Simon Biasell
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Pastor Julia Penner-Zook
Pastor Grace Spencer
Pastor Katerina Friesen
And 1075+ individuals, of varied faiths, listed here.
*
*This is a partial list. We started collecting signatures Tuesday morning, and we'll provide an updated list tomorrow morning before the council meeting with others who sign between now and the meeting.

From: Greg Guerra
To: Clerk
Subject: Tower Theatre council meeting
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:38:02 PM
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This is not a separate city funded program. They are wasting our money to interfere in a legal, private, and binding agreement. Money that this city already had previously allocated to the betterment of our parks!

If this goes through, we are allowing our city government to persecute religion, and we are setting a dangerous
precedent that this city can take whatever they want from whoever they want with our money.

Government has no place in private property deals.
--
Greg Guerra

From: Aaron Sciandra
To: Clerk
Subject: Tower Theatre hearing tomorrow
Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 2:21:37 PM
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To whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my strong support for the city buying the Tower Theatre and preserving it as a cultural institution. Not only is this important, but it is absolutely crucial.

The Tower District is the center of Fresno's queer and cultural communities. As a teenager I spent a lot of time at the Tower Theatre performing with the Fresno Youth Symphony. The theatre and surrounding neighborhood were enormously influential in my development as well as the development of so many others.

The Adventure "Church" is a morally bankrupt organization that has been outwardly hostile towards the queer community and is clearly profit motivated, despite being a registered 501(c)3. Despite calling themselves "Christians" they have continually conducted themselves in the least Christ-like manner possible. They have no place in the Tower District or the Tower Theatre. Fresno's queer and cultural communities are a huge part of what makes it so great and their preservation is crucial the future of the city.

Regards,
Aaron Sciandra
From: Brenda Sandoval
To: Clerk
Subject: Tower Theatre
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 9:18:06 AM
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Hello Fresno,
As a born and raised citizen of Fresno, I would like to say that I adore our tower district. It has all the culture and history that makes Fresno…Fresno. Over these past handful of years Ive seen so much potential for Fresno’s tower district as well as downtown. Let me tell you, that keeping these places alive is one of the best things that could be done for this City. Otherwise, Because of the amount of friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances I know, I do believe
people will find not much culture/history in Fresno, and move out. It’s something I dont want to see happen.

Help us to save Tower Theatre please.

Thank you!
--
Brenda Ysel Sandoval
From: Desirae Gomez
To: Clerk
Subject: Tower Theatre
Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022 2:42:29 PM
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Hello City Clerk,
I would like to add a comment to the meeting today discussing the city's proposal to purchase the Tower Theatre--
I strongly oppose the city of Fresno attempting to intervene with an existing private sale of the Tower Theatre.

The city should not spend taxpayer dollars in a losing legal battle.

The city has allowed religious persecution to go on too long. The city needs to intervene with protecting the people who attend church and are being harassed on a weekly basis (for over a year).

Best,
Desirae Gomez
Adjunct Professor in Art
Desirae Gomez MA
Adjunct Faculty
Phone:

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Fresno City CouncilApril 21, 2022

Fresno City Council
April 21, 2022