media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Mental Amusements Is a Global Hit!

Live, Interactive, Online Show Starring Vinny DePonto
Draws International Audience

www.dezartperforms.org 

11 February 2021 – Palm Springs, CA:  From January 13 – 31, the world came to Palm Springs! As if by magic, the award-winning Dezart Performs (www.dezartperforms.org) extended its reach around the globe with its critically acclaimed virtual online interactive production of Vinny Ponto’s Mental Amusements.  Delighted audience members tuned in and took part in real time from as far away as Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. In the US, cross country viewers watched from New York to Seattle, as well as many locally here in the Coachella Valley. Designed exclusively for the virtual stage as an interactive live-streamed event, Mental Amusements used a combination of psychological tricks, illusion, visual art, and immersive storytelling that astonished viewers with DePonto’s mind-boggling skills.

“The wonderfully clever and personal engagement between Front Row patrons and Vinny was the closest thing to live theatre we’ve experienced in a long time. Until we can get back to in-person performances, this fit the bill,” said Dezart Performs Founding Artistic Director Michael Shaw noting that over 500 people tuned in for the unique and first-of-its-kind effort for the award winning ensemble.  “The performer, Vinny DePonto, was in New York, the stage manager was in Atlanta, and tech support was in Palm Springs.  So popular was the production that the show was extended. While we’re hopeful and anxious to soon get back to live, in person performances, this virtual experience was truly eye-opening. We’ve seen the present, and part of it’s on our screens and directly in our homes.”

“Last night, I saw the future of theater—the immediate future, at least—and it is bright and beautiful,” said V.J. Hume of The  Coachella Valley Independent. “Just like other unforeseen advances that have resulted from this pandemic, theatrical technology has been hard at work behind the scenes. The result? We can now stay home in comfort and watch a live production from New York! The show transformed us all into wonderstruck children, as he pulled out surprise after surprise, making us laugh and clap our hands and shake our heads in amazement. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I felt like that.”

So, what’s next?

“COVID has certainly forced us to be creative and nimble,” said Shaw,  who is already looking at options for another hybrid show to entertain Dezart Perform’s loyal, and now international, fan base. “As we said at the beginning of the pandemic, we’re still here and dreaming. Now, some of our dreams are showing us the way to new audiences and new ways of presenting theatre.”

Audience Reactions to Vinny DePonto’s Mental Amusements:
“Fun, inclusive, intriguing…still cannot figure it out. HOW DOES HE DO IT!?” –Tammy H.

“We loved it! Minds truly blown!” –Rachel and Dave

“The ‘grand finale’ was amazing!” –Barbara

“Crazy Incredible! Congratulations on an outstanding show! Vinny DePonto is absolutely spec-freakin-tacular!!!!” –Chet and Pamela

“Seriously – this was one of the most enjoyable things our family has done in all of quarantine! You will be SHOCKED and AMAZED! You will not be sorry!” 

–Annie and Matt

“It was a wonderful show!  Bill and I really enjoyed it and it was well worth the cost of admission.” –Joni

“Vinny was TRULY amazing and I haven’t stopped thinking about the show!!”

–Shannon

“Mental Amusements and its star, Vinny DePonto, provided a much-needed dose of wonder and joy.” –Vivian

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Valencia Street Shared Spaces Continues February 5 – June 27

Small Businesses Given Boost by Limiting Cars Weekends Beginning This Friday

“Valencia Lights Project” Raising Funds for Beautification Effort 

2 February 2021 – San Francisco, CA:  Buoyed by positive response from shop owners and residents alike the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association is leaping into an expanded version of the COVID-induced Shared Spaces Program. Beginning this Friday, February 5 and continuing through June 27, on weekends Valencia Street will become a pedestrian only area to encourage retail and outdoor socially distant dining options.  Cars will be prohibited during this period in the following blocks of Valencia: 16^th to 17^th; 18^th to 19^th; 20^th to 21^st during the following times: Fridays 5pm to 9pm; Saturdays 12pm – 9pm; Sundays 12pm – 4pm. Vehicular traffic on the cross streets will not be impacted. Additionally, over the next few weeks, funds are being raised for the Valencia Lights Project whereby LED ambient string lights will be installed along Valencia from 14^th to 24^th Streets.

“We’re so excited to do something lasting and bright for our neighborhood, our residents, and our merchants,” said Jonah Buffa, co-owner of Fellow Barber and President of the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association. “Lighting up Valencia from end to end, from 14th to 24th street, for years, maybe even decades to come, will bring a sense of community and warmth we all need this winter and beyond as we re-emerge as a City.”

To pay for the project, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched, having raised over $ 17,000 already with another $ 23,000 needed so as to install the lights by late March or early April. The campaign link is: https://www.tinyurl.com/valencialights

“I’m so excited that the community will be able to enjoy all of the glory of Valencia street shared spaces and the potential it has to save the small businesses on our precious corridor once again,” said Manny Yekutiel, owner of Mannys and Valencia Corridor Merchants Association Board Member. “We need the love now more than ever.”

“We see this as a way to bring light back to the street to clear away the darkness,” said Buffa. “This will help create jobs and support the economic recovery of this important commercial corridor in the City. “

The Valencia Corridor Merchants Association is a member-operated neighborhood association including merchants in and around the Valencia Corridor. Our mission is to cultivate and beautify the corridor for the benefit of visitors, residents and merchants. Additionally, we endeavor to combine our voices and views toward the goal of maintaining the unique identity and independent spirit of the neighborhood.

Media Contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

Pete Buttigieg Confirmed as Secretary of Transportation
First Openly Gay Member of Presidential Cabinet Called
“Historic and Smart” by BuildOUT California

2 February 2021 – San Francisco, CA: Former Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg has been confirmed by the United States Senate in a bipartisan vote of 86 to 13 to be Secretary of Transportation, making him the first openly gay Cabinet member in United States History.  

“Mayor Pete, now Secretary Buttigieg, understands transportation at street level from his time heading up an American city,” stated Paul Pendergast, President and founder of BuildOUT California. “This is an appointment that is both historic and smart.”

About BuildOUT California:

BuildOUT California is the world’s first LGBT Industry Association dedicated to the sustainable growth of LGBT owned & certified businesses, and our allies, in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, Construction Services, Real Estate Development, and Related Industries. BuildOUT California’s efforts are directed toward advocacy at the regional, statewide and national levels, providing relevant technical assistance & training and delivering connections that lead to measurable business growth. BuildOUT California’s 21 Founders represent over 620 years of experience in the A&E/Construction industries. For more information, visit www.buildoutcalifornia.org

Media Contact:
DP&A, Inc. / David Perry / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

LYRIC Founder Carmen Vázquez
Remembered as “Champion of Economic and Social Justice”

Longtime LGBTQ Advocate & Activist
Died from COVID-19 January 27 in New York City

29 January 2021 – San Francisco:  Carmen Vázquez, who died on January 27 in New York City from complications due to COVID, is remembered as a “champion of social justice” for her work in helping found LYRIC (www.lyric.org) and creative “safes spaces and critical services for LGBTQ youth.” She was 72.

“LYRIC is deeply saddened by Carmen Vázquez’s passing. Carmen was one of the community leaders that founded LYRIC in 1988 to create safer spaces and provide critical services for LGBTQQ youth,” said a statement on behalf of the LYRIC staff and board.  “As a long-time LGBTQ activist and organizer, Carmen worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others.  We thank Carmen for her remarkable contributions to our community and the greater social justice movement.”

In addition to her work on behalf of LYRIC, Vázquez, a butch lesbian, was the founding director of the Women’s Building in San Francisco and the LGBT Health & Human Services Network, a coalition of over 55 organizations and groups in New York advocating for LGBTQ health and human services.

“Carmen was a tireless champion of economic and social justice,” said LYRIC Interim Executive Director Toni Newman. “Her death would always have been a great loss to our community. Coming now during COVID, and because of COVID, is yet another example of how marginalized communities are at risk from the current pandemic.”

LYRIC is a leader in the San Francisco Bay Area offering safe spaces, workforce development, healthcare navigation, individual counseling, and group-based community building to marginalized low-income LGBTQQ+ youth.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, LYRIC has continued its vital work for LGBTQQ youth in our community. LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities. For more information and to make a donation, go to www.lyric.org  

For the complete text of Mayor Breed’s State of the City speech, go to: https://sfmayor.org/mayor-london-n-breeds-2021-state-city-address

For the video of the State of the City, go to: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTV0CTigETs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

MAYOR LONDON BREED DELIVERS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

Mayor Breed lays out her vision for San Francisco’s recovery from COVID-19, with continued focus on public health, supporting small businesses, creating more housing, and addressing challenges around mental health and homelessness

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today delivered the State of the City, in which she laid out her vision for San Francisco’s recovery from COVID-19 and her policy priorities for 2021, including helping small businesses, building housing, advancing her Homelessness Recovery Plan, getting kids back in school, investing in infrastructure projects that create jobs, and supporting arts and cultural institutions.

Drawing on San Francisco’s history of resilience, Mayor Breed spoke of her optimism for the future of San Francisco and her goals to ensure the city continues its strong COVID-19 response and get on the road to recovery: “The fact is the state of our city is resilient, and it is resilient because of what all of us, every one of us, have accomplished this past year,” said Mayor Breed.

Due to COVID-19, the speech was live streamed from the Moscone, and the public was invited to watch virtually. The Moscone Center, which is San Francisco’s main convention center, has served as the City’s COVID-19 Command Center since March 2020. San Francisco’s second high-volume vaccination site will soon open at the Moscone Center, following the first high-volume vaccination site which opened last week at City College. 

Mayor Breed spoke of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of the past year. She recognized the strength and sacrifice of San Franciscans, and their efforts to protect one another over the past year: “Years from now, people will look back on what we’ve done, and I hope they will remember not the frustration and pain we feel now, but the love we showed, the lives we saved. Take pride in that, San Francisco. Find hope in that.”

Mayor Breed outlined her plans for San Francisco’s recovery and expressed her confidence in the future of San Francisco: “San Francisco has always been and will continue to be a magnet, a destination, a place that draws people. We are the City of Pride. Today, with hard lessons learned, and so much yet to do, I believe we are at the start of an incredible recovery. We aren’t just going to repair. We are going to reinvigorate. To come back even stronger.” 

To support San Francisco’s recovery, Mayor Breed presented her policy priorities for this year to create jobs, support businesses, and ensure San Franciscans have opportunities to succeed and thrive. These efforts include cutting red tape that makes it difficult to open and operate small businesses, directing more than $3.5 billion in public infrastructure investments, and continuing the Mayor’s commitment to building 5,000 units of housing per year and streamlining the housing approval process. 

She commended the work of San Francisco’s health care workers and other frontline workers throughout the pandemic. In particular, Mayor Breed spoke of the health care workers at Laguna Honda Hospital, and their efforts to keep residents and employees safe throughout the pandemic, and most recently, to administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents and workers. As of Wednesday, January 27, Laguna Honda residents have received two doses of the vaccine and are fully vaccinated. 

“The men and women at Laguna Honda, the nurses, doctors, paramedics, and staff there, along with all those taking care of people in need across the City, they are the heroes. They are the best of us. […] Thanks to our frontline workers, the Department of Public Health, and everyone who did their part, COVID was contained at Laguna Honda.”

Additionally, Mayor Breed expressed optimism with the recently announced reopening of some businesses and activities, and the ongoing administration of COVID-19 vaccines. She referenced San Francisco’s plan to facilitate 10,000 vaccine doses per day, as soon as supply is available, and recognized the private healthcare partners who are working with the City to make that possible.

“Today, San Francisco can begin to recover. Today, we can begin to re-open our doors, re-open our businesses, begin to resume our lives. With some restrictions, and many, many precautions, of course…but we are reopening. We are vaccinating more and more people each day, and very soon we will open another large vaccination site right here at Moscone Center. And with support from the state and the new Biden-Harris administration in the White House, we have a plan to administer 10,000 vaccinations a day.”

Additionally, Mayor Breed spoke of the importance of advancing her Homelessness Recovery Plan, which includes the creation of 1,500 units of Permanent Supportive Housing, supporting San Francisco families by working with the School District to get kids back in school, and helping arts and cultural institutions—such as music venues, clubs, and bars—survive the pandemic and reopen. She committed to continuing reforms to the criminal justice system through programs like the Street Crisis Response Teams, which divert non-criminal 911 calls away from police and allow officers to focus on violent crimes and burglaries.