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SAN FRANCISCO: The Cow Palace may be history
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/28/8 | Jonathan Curiel

Posted on 02/28/2008 7:55:34 AM PST by SmithL

The Cow Palace has hosted some of the biggest musical acts in the past half-century, from the Beatles in 1964 to Metallica in 2004, and it was at the Daly City venue that John F. Kennedy gave his 1960 speech that first outlined his idea for the Peace Corps.

Though it is one of the Bay Area's historic venues for concerts and events, the Cow Palace may soon go the way of other old structures - like New York's Polo Grounds and San Francisco's Playland at the Beach- that are torn down to make way for redevelopment.

State Sen. Leland Yee has introduced a bill to let Daly City purchase the Cow Palace property, which is owned by the state. He said he wants to fix up the neighborhoods near the Cow Palace and put more money in state coffers.

Ultimately, say Yee and Daly City officials, the 68-acre property will be used to build a grocery store, bank, housing and other projects that will benefit people in the underserved areas - including San Francisco's Visitacion Valley - that border the Cow Palace.

Yee, D-San Francisco, said it's not a fait accompli that the Cow Palace would be razed under the terms of the bill and a subsequent sale of the property. But Daly City's manager says otherwise.

"The Cow Palace has outlived its usefulness," said City Manager Patricia Martel. Events there "contribute nothing to our community. Why would we keep it?"

Since Yee introduced the bill Friday that is making its way through State Senate committees, opponents have gathered forces in a bid to preserve what they say is a Bay Area treasure. If anything, they argue, the Cow Palace - built in 1941 with funding from the Works Progress Administration - should receive special status ...officially designated landmark.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist; gunshow; sanfranciscovalues; yee

The Cow Palace rises above smaller businesses on Geneva Avenue in Daly City on Wednesday. State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, is proposing that the state of California, which owns the property, should sell it to the city of Daly City, which in turn would raze the historic structure and build a shopping center and residential units.
1 posted on 02/28/2008 7:55:35 AM PST by SmithL
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Martel and the Daly City Council, which lobbied Yee to author his measure, say the Cow Palace hosts too many gun shows, erotic balls and rap concerts, which, said Martel, "contribute nothing to our community
As always in San Francisco politics, there is an agenda behind the agenda. San Francisco does not care about the Exotic Erotic Ball. They have tried time after time to prevent gun shows from being held there, but they can't, since the State owns it. So, the next best thing would be to bulldoze the place.
2 posted on 02/28/2008 7:56:54 AM PST by SmithL (That's my story & I'm sticking to it!)
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To: SmithL

Hatred of gun shows runs deep.

Democrats, raise taxes, fund socialism and gun control. Whatever it takes. Like a broken record, it’s all they know.


3 posted on 02/28/2008 7:59:10 AM PST by Tarpon (Ignorance, the most expensive commodity produced by mankind.)
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To: SmithL

“The Cow Palace rises above smaller businesses on Geneva Avenue in Daly City on Wednesday. State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, is proposing that the state of California, which owns the property, should sell it to the city of Daly City, which in turn would raze the historic structure and build a shopping center and residential units.”

More residential units in a depressed market?


4 posted on 02/28/2008 7:59:12 AM PST by Slapshot68
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To: SmithL

Pink Floyd, 1974 Dark Side of the Moon Tour, at the Cow Palace *ping*

Best concert ever...


5 posted on 02/28/2008 8:03:59 AM PST by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts...)
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To: SmithL
They paved paradise

And put up a parking lot

With a pink hotel, a boutique

And a swinging hot spot

Dont it always seem to go

That you dont know what youve got

Till its gone

They paved paradise

And put up a parking lot

6 posted on 02/28/2008 8:08:19 AM PST by AGreatPer
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To: Slapshot68
Realistically, by the time any development clears all the planning and environmental hurdles, we'll probably all be dead and gone. Meanwhile the building will sit and collect garbage and rats or be demolished and the land will sit vacant.

All in all its the same old story. A goof ball gets elected and now he thinks he has all the skills to deal in one of the toughest businesses in America - Real Estate Development. So, he'll spend millions, maybe billions in taxpayer dollars on an idle statement he made while pandering to the press and, as always the people will be the ones to take the brunt of the folly.

7 posted on 02/28/2008 8:08:59 AM PST by Baynative (www.motorlinellc.com)
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To: Bean Counter
I saw Sonny and Cher there, when they where still wearing the furry vests and boots..
circa 1964-5 I guess
8 posted on 02/28/2008 8:13:35 AM PST by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: SmithL

This was also the site of the 1964 Republican National Convention I believe.


9 posted on 02/28/2008 8:17:36 AM PST by Parmenio
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To: SmithL

The 1964 Republican National Convention was held at the Cow Palace.

Rockefeller was constantly booed during his speech.

In his acceptance speech, AuH2O declared “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice and . . . moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”


10 posted on 02/28/2008 8:21:26 AM PST by Peelod (I do renounce Hillary! and all her pomps and works.)
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To: SmithL
The whole affair has a putrid air about it.

Whether a public version of Kelo or a camouflaged attempt to suppress 2nd Amendment pursuits, Yea and Martel's little conspiracy wreaks.

Electing a liberal, child psychologist to high public office can come to no good.

11 posted on 02/28/2008 9:07:42 AM PST by Amerigomag
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To: AGreatPer

I was thinking of the Kinks “Come Dancing”

They put a parking lot on a piece of land
When the supermarket used to stand.
Before that they put up a bowling alley
On the site that used to be the local palais.
Thats where the big bands used to come and play.


12 posted on 02/28/2008 9:07:53 AM PST by Swiss
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To: Swiss
Swiss, the Kinks song works too.

I was looking at the upcoming schedule there. The place is not very active. The National Rodeo is the big thing along with some other spotty liberal events.

Where I live (Hershey) they built a new $$$ indoor arena.
They did not tear down the old one and tried a 5 year plan to see what they could do with it. The old place is making more money today than before with High School sports and hockey leagues. Sometimes it's all in the marketing.

13 posted on 02/28/2008 9:19:51 AM PST by AGreatPer
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To: SmithL
I saw a basketball game there in 1994...USF vs. Purdue (with Glenn Robinson). Horrible place to watch hoops.

I don't understand the opposition to razing the place. It's a dinosaur.

14 posted on 02/28/2008 9:24:42 AM PST by GSWarrior
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To: GSWarrior
I don't understand the opposition to razing the place.

Second Amendment.

They (City and County of San Francisco) have tried time after time to prevent gun shows from being held there, but they can't, since the State owns it. So, the next best thing would be to bulldoze the place.

15 posted on 02/28/2008 9:41:41 AM PST by Amerigomag
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To: Amerigomag
So you are saying that an outdated structure that could be used to generate more tax revenue for the city or state--that sits empty for much of the year--located in a depressed area of the city that is sorely in need of redevelopment, should remain untouched solely over a pissing contest with gun grabbers?

Do you even live in the Bay Area?

16 posted on 02/28/2008 9:46:56 AM PST by GSWarrior
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To: SmithL
Ultimately, say Yee and Daly City officials, the 68-acre property will be used to build a grocery store, bank, housing and other projects that will benefit people in the underserved areas - including San Francisco's Visitacion Valley - that border the Cow Palace.

A couple of our local chain stores are pulling out of "that part of town" because the shoplifting by those who go there and those who work there mean the store is giving money away...and All The Regular Suspects a bemoaning how "racist" they are, for "abandoning the neighborhood." Let's see if this redevelopement actually yields more taxes, or is simply the removing of an barrier to "new thinking".

17 posted on 02/28/2008 9:51:45 AM PST by 50sDad (Liberals: Never Happy, Never Grateful, Never Right.)
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To: GSWarrior; Amerigomag

I have a solution. Offer the Libs an opportunity to replace the Cow Palace with a Wal-Mart.


18 posted on 02/28/2008 10:02:13 AM PST by SmithL (That's my story & I'm sticking to it!)
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To: SmithL

I like it. It’s a great location for one.


19 posted on 02/28/2008 10:18:07 AM PST by GSWarrior
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To: GSWarrior
That's where the Hell's Angels ran out onto the dirt and flipped the birds to Evel Kneivel when he was riding wheelies for the crowd before a jump. Evel, who later said "I've always wanted to punch one of those sons of b$tches", steered his bike into the group and ran one of them over. The fans emptied the bleachers and finished the job.

I love the footage of the cops carrying out the trash all knocked out.....

The Cow Palace is a fine monument to American culture !

20 posted on 02/28/2008 10:30:10 AM PST by SENTINEL (SGT USMC COMBAT VET)
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To: SmithL

A better show would be Rush (the band).


21 posted on 02/28/2008 10:41:35 AM PST by wastedyears (This is my BOOMSTICK)
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To: wastedyears

Rush? I’d rather listen to nails on a blackboard.


22 posted on 02/28/2008 10:47:34 AM PST by SmithL (That's my story & I'm sticking to it!)
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To: Bean Counter
Attended alot of events there over the years - concerts, hockey games rodeos, etc etc. The CP is a Bay Area icon.

Reagan's "The Speech" was delivered there in '64.

23 posted on 02/28/2008 10:54:15 AM PST by skeeter
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To: GSWarrior
So you are saying that an outdated structure ... should remain untouched solely over a pissing contest with gun grabbers?

Yes. Absolutely! I'm also very opposed to Kelo or subsidizing redevelopment. The legitimate function of government is to get out of the way of the free market. I'm also a fan of market driven gentrification.

Do you even live in the Bay Area?

No. I'm even uncomfortable visiting the region. I'll remain so until the loony left, both Irish and Italian, the excesses of permissiveness of the city itself and the adulteration of founding principles are less well represented in the region.

Baghdad by the bay is beautiful on a few spring days but I'll stick to photos, thank you. As an acquaintance of mine once warned; "It's a city that's waiting to die."

24 posted on 02/28/2008 12:19:34 PM PST by Amerigomag
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