Issue:
The City of Chicago may make it impossible to continue the Sunday Night Jazz Series of the Hyde Park Jazz Society--the non-profit group that returned jazz to Hyde Park and the surrounding area with such events as the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, the weekly CheckerJAZZ series, and now weekly concerts at ROOM 43.
Background:
Now in its fifth year of presenting live jazz in the greater Hyde Park area, the Hyde Park Jazz Society (HPJS), founded by Jim Wagner, has been programming music in ROOM 43, located at 1043 E. 43rd Street in Chicago’s 4th Ward. Norman Bolden, owner of ROOM 43, provided a much-needed home for HPJS in June 2009 when it lost its venue at the Checkerboard Lounge and had to end CheckerJAZZ in Hyde Park. Norman Bolden applied for the required Public Place of Amusement license (PPA) so that HPJS could present jazz at ROOM 43. All that remains for the PPA (issued by the Business Affairs Department), is the approval of the Zoning Department regarding parking spaces. But neither Zoning nor Business Affairs has shown any willingness to proceed with the licensing.
In the meantime, in order to continue its weekly Sunday Night Jazz Series, HPJS has had to spend what is left of its resources on a Special Events License and Insurance, both of which expire on October 17th.
Without a PPA, the Sunday Night Jazz Series becomes homeless after October 17, 2010. This would be a huge blow to the Hyde Park Jazz Society, to the musicians, and to the many members of the community --black, white, Asian, Hispanic—who only want to listen to the music they love.
Action Needed:
We ask that the Zoning Department give Norman Bolden an administrative adjustment and sign off on his parking. Those who have come to hear jazz on a Sunday know how available and simple parking is for ROOM 43--significantly better than in Hyde Park. With the Zoning stamp, we then ask that the City issue the PPA.
Visit our website to learn more about the Hyde Park Jazz Society: http://www.hydeparkjazzsociety.com/
IMPORTANT NOTE: The request for contribution that appears after you sign is not associated with the Hyde Park Jazz Society. It is just the petition website asking for donations. Please DO NOT CONTRIBUTE MONEY. Thank you for signing the petition!
Updates
September 15, 2010
I just saw we hit five hundred signatures and my head is spinning because I never thought this many people cared about the Sunday night jazz scene at Room 43. It makes me wonder if the city officials actually pay attention to these things when they see so many names piling up but regardless it means the world to see everyone backing the music like this.
Reached 500 supporters
September 13, 2010
September 13, 2010
I spent the morning staring at the zoning code again and honestly it just feels like they are making it up as they go along to keep the jazz quiet at Room 43. My phone is blowing up with messages from local musicians who are just as confused as I am about why the city is dragging its feet on a simple parking approval. We are not giving up on this because Chicago deserves to hear music on Sunday nights without all this red tape strangling the life out of our culture.
September 12, 2010
I honestly never thought this many people would get behind the jazz series so quickly and it feels like the whole neighborhood is finally shouting together which is just unreal. It is strange to see something I spent so much time worrying about in my own head suddenly turn into this giant force that keeps moving forward even when I am trying to sleep.
Reached 100 supporters
September 9, 2010
6 Comments
This is ridiculous. The city is always finding ways to kill the culture in our neighborhoods. Keep the jazz alive!!
Sunday nights at room 43 are the only thing that keeps me sane after a long week. dont let them shut us down.
Hyde Park wouldnt be the same without this music. leave room 43 alone already!
FIX THE PARKING ISSUE AND LET THEM PLAY
Room 43 is a staple. Quit the red tape and support the local jazz scene.
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Issue:
The City of Chicago may make it impossible to continue the Sunday Night Jazz Series of the Hyde Park Jazz Society--the non-profit group that returned jazz to Hyde Park and the surrounding area with such events as the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, the weekly CheckerJAZZ series, and now weekly concerts at ROOM 43.
Background:
Now in its fifth year of presenting live jazz in the greater Hyde Park area, the Hyde Park Jazz Society (HPJS), founded by Jim Wagner, has been programming music in ROOM 43, located at 1043 E. 43rd Street in Chicago’s 4th Ward. Norman Bolden, owner of ROOM 43, provided a much-needed home for HPJS in June 2009 when it lost its venue at the Checkerboard Lounge and had to end CheckerJAZZ in Hyde Park. Norman Bolden applied for the required Public Place of Amusement license (PPA) so that HPJS could present jazz at ROOM 43. All that remains for the PPA (issued by the Business Affairs Department), is the approval of the Zoning Department regarding parking spaces. But neither Zoning nor Business Affairs has shown any willingness to proceed with the licensing.
In the meantime, in order to continue its weekly Sunday Night Jazz Series, HPJS has had to spend what is left of its resources on a Special Events License and Insurance, both of which expire on October 17th.
Without a PPA, the Sunday Night Jazz Series becomes homeless after October 17, 2010. This would be a huge blow to the Hyde Park Jazz Society, to the musicians, and to the many members of the community --black, white, Asian, Hispanic—who only want to listen to the music they love.
Action Needed:
We ask that the Zoning Department give Norman Bolden an administrative adjustment and sign off on his parking. Those who have come to hear jazz on a Sunday know how available and simple parking is for ROOM 43--significantly better than in Hyde Park. With the Zoning stamp, we then ask that the City issue the PPA.
Visit our website to learn more about the Hyde Park Jazz Society: http://www.hydeparkjazzsociety.com/
IMPORTANT NOTE: The request for contribution that appears after you sign is not associated with the Hyde Park Jazz Society. It is just the petition website asking for donations. Please DO NOT CONTRIBUTE MONEY. Thank you for signing the petition!
Updates
September 15, 2010
I just saw we hit five hundred signatures and my head is spinning because I never thought this many people cared about the Sunday night jazz scene at Room 43. It makes me wonder if the city officials actually pay attention to these things when they see so many names piling up but regardless it means the world to see everyone backing the music like this.
Reached 500 supporters
September 13, 2010
September 13, 2010
I spent the morning staring at the zoning code again and honestly it just feels like they are making it up as they go along to keep the jazz quiet at Room 43. My phone is blowing up with messages from local musicians who are just as confused as I am about why the city is dragging its feet on a simple parking approval. We are not giving up on this because Chicago deserves to hear music on Sunday nights without all this red tape strangling the life out of our culture.
September 12, 2010
I honestly never thought this many people would get behind the jazz series so quickly and it feels like the whole neighborhood is finally shouting together which is just unreal. It is strange to see something I spent so much time worrying about in my own head suddenly turn into this giant force that keeps moving forward even when I am trying to sleep.
Reached 100 supporters
September 9, 2010
6 Comments
My husband and i have been going for years. Great music and great people. Why is the city trying to make this so hard for us?
This is ridiculous. The city is always finding ways to kill the culture in our neighborhoods. Keep the jazz alive!!
Sunday nights at room 43 are the only thing that keeps me sane after a long week. dont let them shut us down.
Hyde Park wouldnt be the same without this music. leave room 43 alone already!
FIX THE PARKING ISSUE AND LET THEM PLAY
Room 43 is a staple. Quit the red tape and support the local jazz scene.
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My husband and i have been going for years. Great music and great people. Why is the city trying to make this so hard for us?