CERTAIN SPARKS MUSIC NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!
CITY OF LOMPOC FAILS TO APPROVE PERMIT FOR CSM SUMMER YOUTH RECITAL.
The City of Lompoc has done it again, friends. And at this point, I’m disgusted & disheartened. Some of you may remember when we went to the city to fight for your right to have music events at local wineries last year. We did this because we know how many local musicians count on wine gigs as a revenue stream (jobs). We know how many local non-profit organizations benefit from fundraisers at local wineries (charity).
We know how our students have benefited from performance experiences at winery events (education). We know that wine industry attracts visitors (tourism). And we know that all local businesses need more customers (tax revenue).
When we approached the City with this information last year they said, “all you need is a Temporary Use Permit” aka TUP. What they didn’t say was that they had no intention of approving TUPs, instead, they would collect their $400 fee and stall the TUP process indefinitely…
Our TUP was submitted in DECEMBER of 2018!!! Without expedited TUP approval, our Youth & Adult recital scheduled for June 21st & 22nd at Lompoc Wine Factory would have to be canceled. The Certain Sparks Music Foundation, the beneficiary of ticket sales for these popular events, will not be able to use funds raised to provide music lessons scholarships to kids in our community at no charge.
The city’s continued failures have ripple effects that have hurt generations of families and businesses in this community, and I’ve had enough! How long do you think we’ll endure this hostile business environment before we relocate? Another empty storefront in Lompoc.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT CERTAIN SPARKS MUSIC & THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY… Please share this post widely & MOST IMPORTANTLY SEND THE LETTER BELOW TO OUR MAYOR, JENELLE OSBORNE, AND CITY MANAGER, JIM THROOP.
Call city officials on Monday, leave messages & call back again & again until they do their jobs to improve our community! And if they can’t help, then the least they can do is stay out of the way!!!
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City Officials-
The city of Lompoc has demanded that the Lompoc Wine Factory apply for a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for our children’s music recital. We have enjoyed having our recitals at that location for several years now, and do not understand why the city is limiting opportunities for enrichment for our children. Because they care about the future of our community, the Lompoc Wine Factory paid $400, and a TUP was prepared in December of 2018. Yet, it still has not been approved. Please expedite the TUPs approval, so our children can continue to benefit from the unique opportunities created by Certain Sparks Music.