R.I.P. Static Lounge San Diego

Dear Friends of Static, My name is Travis and for the past three years I have been the owner of Static Lounge. The club has changed drastically in that time from a live alternative music venue to a club dedicated to providing a safe, fun, and alcohol free place for San Diego's young adults. I have learned some hard lessons in the past three years but for the past year I believe we found something that San Diego desperately needed and it worked. Static was a stepping stone for those under 21. A place where young adults could go free from the influence of alcohol. A place where everyone not just those under 21 could come and learn that it is possible to have fun and to dance with out the booze. A place were everyone could come and just be themselves. For almost a year that worked and it truly was something special. In the last several months as I am sure you are all aware other 18+ events and clubs started to pop up. These places however did not provide a place free from the influence of alcohol and in my opinion did not operate within the law. These places were licensed to be restaurants so SDPD allowed them to have people in who are under 21, even though it is clear they are nightclubs. While Static still did a good job of competing with the other clubs serving alcohol, when you add in the down turn of the economy it simply wasn't enough for us to keep our doors open. I tried with all my might to find solutions. The City of San Diego, the City Council and the San Diego Police Department however did not support my effort to provide an alcohol free place for San Diego's young adults. The City council did nothing but give me the run around. The SDPD went as far as to shut me down at 10pm on July 3rd 2009 for a clerical error on my part in getting my entertainment license renewed. Yes that's right one must have the permission of the SDPD to allow customers to Dance. They even threatened to arrest me when I asked the question "Are you really going to shut down the only alcohol free night club in San Diego?"The reason my license did not get renewed on time is because they did not know what to do with a nightclub that did not have alcohol. I was even advised by a SDPD detective to bring the booze back, it would be easier he said. Almost six weeks went by before I was able to get my permit back causing me irreversible financial damage. This set back along with the economy and the competition from 18+ places serving alcohol has made it impossible for me to keep Static Lounge open. It breaks my heart to have to walk away knowing there are no other safe alternatives for those under 21 to go. I feel ashamed for my city as many of the regulars at Static were men and women in uniform. What kind of message are we sending to them when we let them fight for our county but we can't even provide them with a safe place to have fun. I have seen first hand the devastating effects of alcohol and hope that someday San Diego will wake up and see the importance of having safe alcohol free places for the young adults of this city. I am not sure what is next for me I have lost everything to keep Static open as long as we did. I may look for another city one which would support a alcohol free night club. I also would love to help someone else who might be interested in opening up something similar to Static provided it is alcohol free, maybe my hard lessons could go to some use and help pave the way. I hope the City of San Diego wakes up soon and gives their full support to any future alcohol free clubs that might open up. If you are upset about the loss of San Diego's only alcohol free night club please speak up and call your council office, call the SDPD and make your voices heard. Thank you all for your support. Regretfully, Travis