Peri's and live music in Fairfax

Let's talk about the vibrant Fairfax music scene, noise ordinances, and families. But first, it may be helpful to agree on some basic underlying facts. (Or if not, to do so in a respectful, fact-based, hyperbole-free manner.)

Fact: Fairfax has a vibrant music scene that attracts tourists from all over Marin County and beyond. Which, in large part, helps contribute to a vibrant local economy that supports many small, botique family businesses.

Fact: The noise that emanates from Peri's (and to a lesser degree 19 Broadway) is so loud and focused, that it disturbs at least dozens of families - at least hundreds of individual Fairfax residents - in adjacent neighborhoods, most days of the week. While the noise levels exceed most any city ordinance in the country, Fairfax uniquely has vague, relatively lax, and rarely enforced noise ordinances - that can be traced back to the town's rowdy history as a family-free party destination in the mid-1800s. Back when drunken brawls routinely started or spilled out into the dirt streets next to the railroad track. Back when the last political pistol duel in the nation happened, right here.

Fact: Fairfax is now a safe, sleepy, family-oriented community with several public and private schools, with free-range children clogging the sidewalks during the day. That it also still has a vibrant nightlife does not negate that fact.

Fact: No one (at least that I know) wants to prevent Peri's or 19 Broadway from featuring live music or remaining the go-to live music destination for residents and tourists any day of the week.

Since the majority of Fairfax residents don't hear anything from Peri's except when they choose to go into town at night or weekends, the majority of peripheral residents seem to be on the side of "What is the problem?" or "Don't change anything!" At least the most vocal ones on the issue.

I'd like to present the case that not only is such a "no change" stance harmful to our community - real people and real children who live, shop, and go to school here - it is also harmful to our property tax base, and harmful to the establishments' long-term viability. And that such a conservative "no change" stance is antithetical to our overwhelmingly progressive, forward-moving political leanings - in the most demographically liberal incorporated area of one of the most liberal counties in one of the most liberal states in the nation. We pride ourselves in moving forward with positive change, based on facts and science - not feelings, nostalgia, who can spend the most, or who can shout the loudest.

(I won't go over the arguments that the establishments attract drugs and crime - and random drunken fights and shouting in the street - other than to note that such arguments exist, and have legitimacy though to what degree is highly debatable and is a fight I'd prefer to stay out of. Such fear-based arguments - even if very real - seem to appeal to our basest instincts; a tactic that we that in this progressive town reject. For that reason, I feel that adding this argument to the mix would distract from my central point. I also do not pretend to represent the entirety of either side of the argument.)

To support a political issue - especially a local community one - ideally requires an active understanding of both sides of the argument. So please, try visiting a family living in a neighborhood situated in the cone of Peri's music. It's a surprisingly long, wide, and loud swath. I myself welcome such genuinely curious visitors.

Otherwise, it's hard to understand the full scope of the issue you are supporting. Supporting Peri's patio music and/or Fairfax live music in general - based solely on the "side" of preserving live music in town exactly as it is - would be like voting for Donald Trump based only on what Sean Humanity has to say about him, to heck with contravening facts and concerns. This issue affects the well-being - and even health - of countless families and individuals that live in our community. The issue affects property values and the town's tax base. To simply blame the neighborhood residents for their choices and circumstances - informed or not - would be like blaming Trump's groping victims for knowing who they were sitting next to.

But again, this isn't about stopping live music in Fairfax. On the contrary, it's about preserving and protecting it over the long run. I personally don't mean that hyperbolically or patronizingly.

Having bands play on a concrete structure that efficiently increases gain - concentrates and projects the sound across the town - is not something that should be strictly supported without question, or without willingness to compromise. But it's not just Peri's patio - the venue itself, as it is currently, is extremely ill-suited to simultaneously A) host live music, and B) respect the peace and quiet of the surrounding family community. Which also applies to a lesser degree to 19 Broadway. Fortunately, these problems are easily and relatively inexpensively remedied. More on that later.

I love live music, have played in a few active bands including a hard-working college town favorite, and have some work experience in sound reinforcement (and abatement). With that experience - and having lived in every geographic and demographic corner of the country - I can say with some credibility that there is no other city noise ordinance or enforcement in the country that would allow what is going on. Only Fairfax's history as a remote and rowdy party destination - combined with historically long-standing commercial influence in local politics, multiplied by general resistance to change - has allowed the substantial noise ordinance violations - and the significant reduction of peace and quiet in general - to continue this far. (Not to mention the difficulty with open-window cooling of un-airconditioned homes under such noise.)

Political corruption of any degree or level, and resistance to change, are both - again- antithetical to the overwhelming political leanings of Fairfax residents.

Either way, it is only a matter of time before Fairfax ordinances and enforcement catch up with the rest of the county, state, and nation - which will surely threaten the very existence of Peri's and 19 Broadway, at least as live music destinations. To fight noise ordinance enforcement in a short-term attempt to "save Peri's", is like fighting anti-poaching regulations while ignoring the obvious fact that there would be far more ivory for all if everyone just waited for elephants to die naturally.

Being good to your neighbors is good for your own long-term survival; and the sooner you start, the more goodwill you build. Personally, I like living near downtown, and I like having live music so close by. Just not the completely unnecessary and easily mitigated noise that goes with it in this case.

I believe we don't have to take the same "winner-take-all" approach of our dangerously polarized national political atmosphere of late. Each "side" need not demonize the other. Compromise is possible, as is realizing we are all in the same boat, with shared destinies. It is said that "A good compromise is when both parties are dissatisfied." I disagree. There can be and are countless examples of win-win compromises.

Here are a few ideas on what compromise might look like. I've included some specifics, such as exact times, only for the sake of discussion:

1. Sensible patio music: Expand Peri's patio music to not just weekends, but to any/every day; however limit it to un-amplified acoustic instruments only, and without traditional drum sets. Patio performances end at 8:00 pm weekends, 6:00 pm weekdays, let's say for the sake of argument.
2. Patio not a bullhorn: Install noise absorbing materials on the patio walls, ceiling, and floor in Peri's patio. (There are weather-resistant sound-absorbing materials made just for such purposes. It isn't cheap to do it right, but the cheapest long-term alternative as an ongoing business concern.)
3. Noise manageent: Require Peri's and 19 Broadway to:
   1. Install L-shaped sound-insulated entrance porticos to prevent the music inside from blasting the neighborhoods when the door is open. I'm sure the city could be encouraged by us townfolk to work with both establishments to ease the permitting process, to accomplish such substantial public good.
   2. Install double-paned glass. (If I recall correctly it's currently only single-paned?)
   3. Improve or install air-conditioning to adequately keep the air cool and fresh, with the doors closed, at full occupancy, on hot summer nights.
4. More sensible weeknights: Music stops at midnight on weekday nights, rather than 2:00 am. (Still 2:00 am Fri/Sat nights).

If just points #1 (un-amplified acoustic-only music on the patio) and #3a (L-shaped porticos) were implemented, that would be a huge win-win, for the town and the residents of the neighborhoods. Bands would be able to play louder if they wished. (Louder isn't better but it can be undeniably fun when things really get rocking and the beer is flowing with a great band.) But perhaps more importantly, Peri's and 19 Broadway wouldn't be under constant attack and existential threat from angry neighbors whose children can't sleep (but should and would be able to sleep in any other city with normal noise ordinances and enforcement).

I would be the first one to set up and contribute to a GoFundMe campaign to help the establishments pay for the L-shaped porticos, patio sound insulation, better A/C, and double-paned glass. And I'm sure there would be multiple legal experts lined up to facilitate the permitting process, free of charge. (Or if not, included in the GoFundMe campaign.)

In summary: We can preserve and expand Fairfax's nightlife and tourist destination status, while also allowing it to continue evolving into a family-friendly community.