Two thirds of respondents to an Argus-Courier online poll Dec. 11, 2008 said they are very concerned about recent criminal incidents following hyphy music shows at the Phoenix Theater, such as the Dec. 6 shooting in the Keller Street parking garage.
Asked what should happen in the wake of the shooting, 53.3 percent said specific styles of music shouldn’t be banned, while 26.7 percent said hyphy music should no longer be scheduled at the theater.
The theater’s board of directors subsequently met and decided to ban hyphy shows. Also, it announced that before booking other acts of any genre or subgenre, management will be more closely reviewing information about them and inquiring about their performances at other venues.
Here are some of the comments by those who responded to the survey:
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“Keep the bad apples away! Don’t book that type of gig any longer.”
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“I live a block from the Phoenix and I am very concerned about this.”
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“There are always a few bad apples in the world. Don’t blame the theater. They supply entertainment, activities and programs.”
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“I read in the front-page article that the owner and management of the Phoenix were unaware of how the show was being advertised. I think it is their responsibility to know these kinds of details.”
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“An incident or two should not define the Phoenix. Although I’ve never been to the Phoenix, I do know that normally there is entertainment for the younger generation and there are no incidents. I’m happy that there is a place where youngsters can go to enjoy the music that they like. It is not the fault of the Phoenix or the genre of music; it is the fault of individuals.”
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“It would be wise for the Petaluma Police to be seen near all public gatherings. Banning certain types of music infringes personal liberty and is a slippery slope.”
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“Petaluma is in no way obligated to host these events to please either outsiders or local youth. Shut down these criminal events.”
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“The hyphy shows are attracting people from out of the area who represent a threat to the community.”
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“Don’t blame the venue for its clients. If a specific type of music is attracting a violent crowd, you can’t, in our society, ban the art, but you can carefully watch the troublemakers. If I recall correctly, that would be a function of the police force. What we’re seeing here is a small minority of troublemakers who use crowds to fuel their violent tendencies. Don’t shoot into the crowd because there are a few warped individuals.”
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“Safe entertainment? Look what just happened.”