The Gorge Amphitheater holds a special place in each of our hearts for many reasons. Maybe it was your first concert, the site of your first kiss, a marriage proposal, the beginning of a life long friendship and most likely: that once in a lifetime concert that will be with you forever. We love the Gorge as do musicians from around the world. What is often forgotten is the support system that keeps concert goers safe and healthy.

The first responders to any emergency at the Gorge are the on-site staff of EMTs. If there is an additional need for medical treatment, the Quincy Fire Department is dispatched and often the injured or sick person is taken to the local hospital in the small town of Quincy.

Quincy Valley Medical Hospital sees, on and average day, 3-4 people. During a concert weekend, these numbers increase to over 40 people in one day. The extreme pressure this puts on the small system is difficult, expensive, and stressful. On top of the huge increase in emergency room visits, there is a large amount of people who don't pay their bill. This puts the charges back on the taxpayers and community members of Quincy.

House Bill 1009 allowsrural counties providing emergency medical services to locations with a rural amphitheater to impose an additional admissions surcharge. This surcharge would beno morethan one dollar per person. The funds raised by this surcharge godirectlyto the local Fire Department and to the Quincy Valley Medical Hospital.

Live Nation is stating that the hospital is inadequate and doesn't even need to exist. They are claiming that concert goers will no longer attend concerts at the Gorge if this fee is added to the ticket. They even said that artists will not want to perform at the Gorge if this small fee is added. All of this is simply untrue.

What we are asking is this: Please pledge by signing below that you will continue to attend concerts at the Gorge and that you will support the community that provides and supports this great venue by being willing to pay no more than one dollar with each ticket purchase.

You can also contact your legislator and ask them to support House Bill 1009 and Senate Bill 5000. To find your legislator click here:http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

To read the entire bill click here:http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1009.pdf