![]() Two other substantial reasons for my views: I worry that the church will try to rally public support by claiming discrimination against religion, when in fact churches sit at the top of the power structure in this country and reap countless special financial benefits and privileges and I question whether the Tower Theatre has applied for CARES Act funding or will ask to be bailed out under the $15 billion federal stimulus plan entertainment and the arts, which seems tailor-made for the venue. Cities make land-use decisions all the time that impact people’s lives - and there is no conceivable reason why a major zoning upset is warranted in this case. Neighbors have a right to weigh in on such things. Why do I support the letter? Because of the Tower Theatre’s iconic status and its impact on the neighborhood. The Fools Collaborative and the Rogue Festival are officially unveiling the signed petition today after asking to publish it in The Munro Review. Haley White, creative director of the Fools, tells me: “Even if Adventure Church was the most pro-queer church on the planet, many business owners, home owners, artists, queers, and residents would still be protesting this sale for a multitude of economic reasons.” There’s an even more important factor, organizers say: the potential economic impact to nearby businesses if a church were to anchor Fresno’s alternative/cultural/entertainment district. The theaters each year hosts the Reel Pride Film Festival, one of the first gay and lesbian film festivals in the nation.ĭon’t miss: Donald’s Top 20 cultural events of 2020 One factor involved in the opposition is concern about the church’s stand on gay and lesbian issues. (The petition is attached at the end of this post you can jump directly to it by clicking here.) The Rogue’s Jaguar Bennett is the primary brains behind the letter itself, although there has been some input along the way from residents, community leaders, and business owners. The groups organized a community letter to stop the sale of the theater to a church. Stepping into the mix is The Fools Collaborative, a major player on Fresno’s cultural scene, and the Rogue Festival, the annual fringe festival that brings thousands of audience members each year to the Tower District. After public outcry, The Painted Table (a catering company that has long been a Tower District booster) stepped up to add an offer to the table to buy the theater complex. ![]() The church has been renting the theater these past months for Sunday worship services (even during the pandemic). In a nutshell, the family trust that owns the Tower Theatre and the entire block it stands on (including the buildings housing Sequoia Brewery, The Painted Table and Me ‘n’ Eds, along with the large parking lot) sold the property to Adventure Church. ![]() Pictured above: Views of opposition to the sale of the Tower Theatre include the Rogue Festival’s Jaguar Bennett in a photo by Carmelo Rossette and a tweeted photo by James D.
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