SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown today announced the following appointments.

Jacob Appelsmith, 47, of Oakland, has been named senior advisor to the Governor and director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Since 2008, he has served as a special assistant to the Attorney General and chief of California Bureau of Gaming Control. Appelsmith previously served as a deputy attorney general, general counsel for the Office of the Attorney General’s personnel and equal employment opportunity matters and lead supervising attorney for the Employment, Regulation and Administrative Section in the Office of the Attorney General. From 1988 to 2004, he was an attorney with Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro. The position of director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $150,112. The position of senior advisor does not require Senate confirmation and there will be no additional compensation. Appelsmith is a Democrat.

Robert Craig McNamara, 60, of Winters, has been appointed to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. He has been a member of the State Board of Food and Agriculture since 2002. McNamara has been the president of the Center for Land-Based Learning since 1993 and the president of Sierra Orchards since 1980. Previously, he was a partner at the Bountiful Harvest Food Company. McNamara is a member of the Public Policy Institute of California, the American Farmland Trust and Roots of Change. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. McNamara is a Democrat.

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1/7/2011 – Mayor Gavin Newsom today named Jocelyn Kane as the Executive Director of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission. Kane, the Acting Executive Director, was recommended by the Entertainment Commission as a candidate for consideration for appointment by the Mayor.

“I’m pleased to accept the recommendation of the Entertainment Commission for Jocelyn Kane,” said Mayor Newsom. “Jocelyn’s understands the issues and challenges facing our City’s nightclubs and entertainment venues and I know she will work to promote responsible entertainment throughout the City that protects public safety and neighborhood quality of life.”

Before serving as Acting Executive Director, Jocelyn Kane has served as Deputy Director of the Entertainment Commission since 2003, when the Entertainment Commission was established. The Entertainment Commission’s mission is to regulate, promote and enhance entertainment in the City. The seven member commission has powers to accept, review and gather information to conduct hearings for entertainment-related permit applications.

Kane’s experience includes a recent position with Gibson Musical Instruments as an Entertainment Relations consultant, and also the Founder of Motogirl Productions, a San Francisco-based artist development company. Motogirl Productions works with large and small artists in various genres, to help them understand the business of music and how to reach individual goals effectively in one of the toughest industries around.

Jocelyn takes public service seriously, and currently serves on the boards of Bread & Roses, West Coast Songwriters Association, and on the Advisory Boards for Musician National Service Initiative, and the Bay Bridged. Kane’s goals include ensuring health care provision for all musicians living in San Francisco, opening a “welcome center” for newcomer musicians, and creating exposure opportunities for musicians at the San Francisco Airport and a “Local Music on Hold” program for San Francisco’s 311 system.

Kane holds an undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and a Masters of Public Policy and Administration degree from Columbia University.

Friends,

Happy Holidays!  As 2010 comes to a close, I am proud to say that the California Music and Culture Association (CMAC) had a successful and productive year “Empowering the Other 9 to 5.”  Having formally launched in May 2010, CMAC has come to be recognized by City Hall as the politically-influential and unified voice for the entertainment community.  We couldn’t have done this without your continuous support and dedication to our cause.  Before we dive into 2011, I want to share a few of CMAC’s accomplishments.

LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES
As the unified voice for entertainment’s diverse communities, CMAC tracks new legislation and policy changes that impact the music and culture communities, and informs our members know – before change happens.  In addition to meeting with Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Police Chief George Gascon, and City Attorney Dennis Herrera to discuss the state of our industry, CMAC contributed to numerous legislative successes:

• Defeated the proposed alcohol fee that would have disproportionately impacted small music and cultural venues
• Advocated for former deputy city attorney Timothy Benetti to be the Entertainment Commission’s new industry representative
• Worked with state Senator Mark Leno to stop the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Department’s overregulation of infused beverages
• Worked with Board President David Chiu’s office to make the promoter legislation an online registration form versus a permit with no fees or other barriers to entry attached
• Worked with Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier’s office (District 2) to prevent venues seeking to enhance their business models with “other forms of entertainment” to go through the costly and time extensive conditional use process – instead simply noticing their application
• CMAC and The Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter partnered up and co-produced a citywide supervisorial candidates’ forum at Yoshi’s San Francisco to unify our respective memberships under one roof and facilitate a citywide discussion about music and entertainment, as well as demonstrate to city leaders that we are a sizable and powerful constituency that has organized for greater political capital
• Participated in the Second Annual Mayor’s Nightlife Safety Summit
• Advocated for the City of Oakland’s extended hours pilot permit program and cabaret licensing reform

EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
As an advocate for effective entertainment regulations and safe neighborhoods, CMAC educates its members about existing policies, compliance measures, and proactive good neighbor practices.  CMAC:

• Hosted two educational workshops: one on ‘How to Comply with San Francisco’s New Smokefree Law’ in partnership with the San Francisco Office of Small Business, Department of Public Health, SFPD, and the Entertainment Commission and a second on Halloween safety and security best practices with SFPD and the Entertainment Commission
• Launched our “Violence-Free Halloween” campaign, gaining endorsements from more than a dozen community-based organizations that work with youth, as well as the Small Business Commission, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and the Entertainment Commission
• Presented six City Insider Lunches for members of the entertainment community to participate in discussions with key political and industry leaders including District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Board President and District 3 Supervisor David Chiu, State Board of Equalization Chairwoman Betty Yee, members of the press, Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, and District 8 Supervisor-elect Scott Wiener
• Developed a fact sheet on the Economic Impact of Nightlife (download here)
• Developed a Compliance Best Practice Guide for venue owners and operators (download here)

FRAMING THE ISSUE
In just eight short months, CMAC has successfully raised the awareness and accountability amongst the press and decision-makers that violence is a greater societal issue that requires a holistic and community-wide approach to ameliorate.  For the first time, there is an organization for the media and City Hall to turn to for the industry opinion.  CMAC and CMAC representatives are quoted in more than 50 media pieces - including print, radio, and television - since our launch – and we just got started.  Visit our Newsroom page for a complete listing of press clips and CMAC press statements and releases.

ACCOLADES
State Senator Mark Leno and San Francisco City Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting both issued proclamations, honoring CMAC at its launch party.

CMAC is finishing 2010 strong, but it’s not over.  This historic moment for our industry is just the beginning.  And whatever challenges arise in 2011, CMAC plans to be here – representing the needs of the industry, demanding fairness, advocating at City Hall, and protecting your investment.

If you have not joined yet, resolve to become a CMAC member in 2011.

Thanks again for everything you do to “Empower the Other 9 to 5.”  Here’s to a profitable holiday season and a safe New Year’s Eve.

Sean Manchester
CMAC Board President

P.S. Mark your calendars! CMAC is kicking the year off right, partnering once again with The Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter in welcoming our new supervisors-elect at a Meet and Greet Mixer on Thursday, January 6, 2011 from 5p to 7p at Bloodhound (1145 Folsom Street, San Francisco).  RSVP today!

Friday, December 10, 2010 – 12p to 1:30p
Blackbird (2124 Market Street, San Francisco)
FREE for CMAC members; $10 for non-members – Join here!
RSVP on Facebook!

Join CMAC for an intimate discussion with District 8 supervisor-elect Scott Wiener to exchange ideas and priorities for the music, entertainment, and nightlife community when he takes office on January 8, 2011.  Because of the winter holidays, we will be hosting one City Insider lunch between November and December.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm
The Regency Ballroom (1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco)
RSVP on Facebook today!

Calling all San Francisco entertainment venue owners and operators, industry professionals, security personnel, and promoters! Join the California Music and Culture Association (CMAC) on October 20 for a discussion and workshop on security best practices and code compliance in preparation for the Halloween weekend.

Brush up on basic best practices. Review ABC and Entertainment Commission requirements and licenses. Network amongst colleagues.

This workshop is part of CMAC’s Violence-Free Halloween Campaign, which has been endorsed by the San Francisco Youth Commission, the Small Business Commission, the Department of Youth, Children, and Families, in addition to numerous community-based organizations. All venues and promoters are encouraged to sign the resolution today and pick up your window sign on October 20.

INVITED PANELISTS: Jocelyn Kane (San Francisco Entertainment Commission), Commander Kitt Crenshaw (San Francisco Police Department), Inspector Dave Falzon (San Francisco Police Department), John Hinman (Hinman & Carmichael LLP), Mark Rennie (Law Offices of Mark Rennie), John Windsor (EPIC Event Works); facilitated by Sean Manchester (President of California Music and Culture Association)