Let them eat block parties In February, at the “Music Industry Summit” — the conclusion to San Francisco Music Week, another Lurie project — I watched as the mayor strode to the stage at the Swedish American Music Hall. There, before an audience of struggling artists, engineers, and small venue staff, he triumphantly reported that the last summer of concerts in Golden Gate Park resulted in “$150 million worth of economic impact,” and that, according to new data, “our independent music venues generate $1.4 billion in economic impact annually.” Lurie paused for applause. “That’s because of all of you in this room.” We clapped dutifully, but the people in that room did not need to be reassured that they had contributed to $1.4 billion in “economic impact.” They would have preferred to hear that any of their favorite clubs might exist next year. The people in that room could use health insurance — and they might be able to afford it if Lurie’s billionaire buddies were taxed appropriately; say, with a one-time 5% excise tax on net worth exceeding $1 billion to save Medi-Cal. But hey, that sentiment doesn’t make for great social media content.
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