"Tactical Retreat" on the Promoter's Ordinance

The Promoter’s Ordinance has been tabled, but Ben Joravsky at the Chicago Reader warns that it’s a tactical retreat, not a victory (Keep up the fight–or watch out at the Chicago Reader).

Daley had Schulter defer action on the bill to buy the time he needs to figure out how he has to rewrite it in order to pass something, if only to save face. Remember this is the mayor who forced the council to defer enacting the ban on smoking in restaurants and bars for two years to make sure it wouldn’t look as though he was compromising on his opposition to smoking bans.

Best bet for what gets changed? Look for Daley and company to cut the promoters’ fee. He’ll probably reword the language governing not-for-profits so PTA leaders don’t have to shell out $500 and get fingerprinted in order to throw a freaking fund-raising dance. Then they’ll try to figure out what they have to do to pare down the opposition from mid-size clubs like Metro and Martyrs’ and bring them into the fold. Independent and underground promoters won’t catch any breaks.

Photo by Derek Farr