| One of San Francisco's and for that matter, one of the country's premier Hip Hop spots, Maritime Hall finds itself under attack. It seems like there's a couple of folks who have a lot of juice within SF's Police department that are trying to shut them down. For folks who aren't aware there are very few all ages concert halls where one can see the likes of artists from Jay-Z to Public Enemy to Ghostface Killer to Das EFX and Black Sheep who were featured recently with any sort of regularity. The cavernous venue has also been the spot for far too many local acts who have very few venues available to them. Because of its consistency and frequency of shows the Maritime has been the Bay Area's version of NY's now defunct famed Latin Quarters. Over the past few years the Maritime has played host to more then 500 Hip Hop and Rave shows with not one major incident of violence, stabbings shootings or any of the other mayhem people like to associate with Hip Hop. One of the keys to Maritime's success has been its tight security. Unlike other venues where 'intimidating' mean mugging muscle bound folks are hired to work the door, Maritime has used folks who have good reputations and strong community connections. Most notable has been Your Black Muslim Bakery , The Nation of Islam and more recently a Samoan Crew headed by Baki [sorry I can't remember the name of his company]. In all three cases these outfits have the respect of folks coming through to the shows which has resulted in a low number of incidents especially when one considers how packed Maritime shows can be. Its not unusual to see a couple of thousand people crammed into a general admission venue that contains hardly any seating. In most places that sort of set up wouldn't work, but at Maritime it for the most part it has been chill. Last week a press release was sent out to the Bay Area's Hip Hop community alerting folks that Maritime Hall was being threatened with a six month suspension. It was the latest nite club to come under attack by Captain Dennis Martell who until recently headed the Southern Police station which is located within SF's South of Market club district. Over the past year Martell has stepped up and has been severely regulating on SF Nite club venues residing within his district which has resulted in some highly publicized and contentious incidents. Thus far six popular spots have been either closed or threatened with closure including the Covered Wagon, Cats, The Endup and 1015 Folsom. There has been speculation that the once shunned and forgotten club district is now undergoing a gentrification change as more and more people are moving into newly remodeled lofts which start at 4000 thousand dollars. Many of these live/work lofts are right next to these long standing nite clubs. Fancy restaurants are popping up and the SF Giants are set to open up a new ball park. These new residents have been using their political muscle and money to either shut down or shorten the hours of the neighboring nite clubs.The case surrounding Maritime is particularly troubling because, unlike other club venues within the district, they actually have a pretty cool relationship with their new loft neighbors. In five years there have been only 18 police complaints, almost all of them minor. Some of the neighboring nite clubs have garnered more then 60 complaints.. In a recent conversation with Maritime club owner Boots [note this is not Boots from the Coup] , he pointed out that the police have been sweating him ever since he started doing Hip Hop shows that attract large numbers of people of color. It appears that the police under the direction of Captain Martell have been looking for any excuse to shut him down. Initially they tried to say it was Maritime's security. But why no complaints about this same security who are highly visible throughout in many bay Area communities and who who frequently work other venues? After that was washed aside, the police tried to claim the neighboring loft dwellers were beefing. That too was successfully refuted. As was mentioned before Maritime has demonstrated good relationship. No matter the excuse, Maritime has managed to hold its own at each every juncture. Boots speculated that Captain Martell choice to file charges against Maritime Hall as a parting shot. It was like his last act of revenge. The result is Maritime having to go before a permit hearing on April 5th at 850 Bryant Street. Bay Area folks who are reading this article are being asked to come out in force as a show of support. Folks are also being asked to send emails supporting Maritime Hall at mailto:savemaritime@yahoo.com For more info on this matter call 415-974-0634. This scenario surrounding Maritime is not isolated. It appears that Hip Hop venues are under attack all over-from coast to coast. What's going on SF has taken place in New York and other cities. Now I'll be the first to admit in some cases there is a good excuse to be concerned. Some club owners are irresponsible and their patrons are rowdy. In high profile incidents like the the ones involving Puffy at Club New York, Jay-Z at the Kit Kat Club or Da Brat at Chili Peppers in Atlanta, one can see how some one could come to a conclusion that a nite club should be closed. However, there appears to be far more incidents where faulty perception and selective enforcement is the motivation to come after and shut down Hip Hop nite clubs. Lets face it a bar room brawl involving a bunch of drunken white frat guys is seen in a much different light then a brawl involving a group of brothers/Hip Hoppers. One is seen as a brawl. The other is seen as a 'gang related' incident with more trouble to come. The end results are usually high insurance rates, stiff police fines and increasing pressure to eliminate Hip Hop nights or simply shut down clubs. Lets hope that Maritime which has played host to some of Hip Hop's best doesn't fall victim to politics and the scapegoating of Hip Hop.
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