Theater activists urge calls to ‘swing vote’ supes

by John Ferrannini

Those opposed to Another Planet Entertainment’s plan to remove the fixed, orchestral seating at the Castro Theatre made their pitch in a May 30 virtual town hall, asking viewers to contact two supervisors they have identified as possible swing votes on an amendment to the interior landmarking that would have the seating remain.

Tuesday’s the day that the full Board of Supervisors is slated to vote – at long last – on approving an interior landmarking ordinance for the theater. While that’s expected to pass, the pertinent question is whether to approve the amendment to the landmarking that could require that the current style of seating remain in place.

The landmarking as originally written was recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission; District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, a straight ally, proposed the seating amendment, which passed 2-1 out of committee May 8.

Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro, has voiced opposition to that amendment, which could complicate APE’s proposed renovation and remodeling plans for the theater, which it took over managing last year. The supervisors were to have voted on May 16, but that was pushed back because District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani was absent due to a family health emergency.

Jeffery Kwong, a gay man who is the president of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, identified Stefani and District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí as the swing votes during the Zoom call.

“We want folks to reach out to Catherine Stefani and Ahsha Safaí,” he said. “If you’re a resident of those two districts, please reach out and engage them and tell them you’re their constituent.”

The town hall – San Franciscans to Save the Castro Theatre – featured other representatives of the various groups that comprise the Save the Castro Theatre Coalition, too, including the Castro Theatre Conservancy, which unveiled its own proposal for the theater to continue operating as a full-time movie house in April. That proposal was shot down by APE and the Nasser family, which owns the theater. In a letter dated May 1, Chris Nasser stated that “CTC’s latest proposal ... does not meet the minimum expectations for investment, rehabilitation, and preservation of the building.”

Peter Pastreich, a straight ally who is the executive director of the Castro Theatre Conservancy, disagreed with that assessment and framed the rejection as provisional on the supervisors’ decision.

“We don’t know what the APE and the Nassers will do,” he said, if the proposed amendment passes. “They have said they will close the theater, but that would be a spiteful response, and one that would cost them both.”

Pastreich reiterated the belief of some

APE opponents that the theater should be run as a nonprofit, and stated that there have been pledges of financial support for the conservancy’s plans.

“We hope the Nasser family will consider seriously – as they have not done so far – the conservancy’s plan to renovate the theater and run it as a nonprofit. … The Nassers and Supervisor Mandelman have objected to the plan on the basis of it being, quote, funded. Let me say, first of all, the APE plan isn’t funded either,” he said. “We have pledges from several members of our working group which would be sufficient for at least the first couple of years of operation. I don’t think I can tell you how much has been pledged.”

Pastreich said that the conservancy has shown an ability to raise money before – $200,000, which has helped it operate thus far. He conceded this is well-below the $20-40 million price tag of the capital renovations the conservancy has proposed.

Viewers were also asked to show up to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors wearing red to symbolize support for the fixed seating.

‘We’ve been betrayed’

Several speakers expressed their disappointment in Mandelman, who has facilitated negotiations between the