patrick.net

Some of us went to the Cubberley Ballroom in Palo Alto yesterday and were turned away. They pointed out to Judy (the hostess) that it was a violation of California law to turn away people from a public accommodation on the basis of medical condition, and Judy agreed. She also agreed that vaccination status is covered by the Unruh Act as a “medical condition.” She then claimed that she was following “city policy” in turning away people on the basis of their vaccination status.

This needs to stop! Please email the Palo Alto City Council! city.council@CityofPaloAlto.org Here’s what you can say:

The organizers of ballroom dance classes at the Cubberley Pavilion are currently turning people away on the basis of their medical condition (being unvaccinated).

If there is to be any public dance event at the Cubberley Pavilion, it must be accessible to all, regardless of medical condition, just as it must be accessible to all regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, sexuality, gender identity, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, source of income, or in fact any personal characteristic that has nothing to do with one’s ability to participate safely in the event. Please see this Unruh Act fact sheet:

https://dfeh.cdev.sites.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/173/2018/08/DFEH_UnruhFactSheet_A_Eng.pdf

You must let the organizers of this event know that turning away people on the basis of their not having received an elective medical treatment is not City policy, and that in fact, is a violation of it, since it is City policy to comply with all civil rights legislation applying to any activity occurring on City property.

I suspect Judy lied about Cubberley and the Friday Night Dancers following “city policy” seems more like it may be "Judy's policy”.

So this is something it would be good to clear up at the meeting. Perhaps it was city policy for a short while in 2021, but I think Judy and Sammy (and maybe Phil) kept the dancing shut down during 2021. Someone can check on this.

But I can tell you that I emailed Judy and Sammy (I suspect the Friday Night Dancers' email goes only to Judy, but I don’t know for sure), and she NEVER got back to me. I must have sent 3 or 4 emails over the course of two years, and received not a single reply. Not even an acknowledgment that my email had been read and considered. Nada.

If they were just following “city policy” why didn’t they write back and tell me that?

And why the snooty last line of their public dance calendar emails: If you are not fully vaccinated we look forward to dancing with you another time.

Fully vaccinated means boosters, too!

I checked Palo Alto City’s website and saw nothing about a "city policy" to exclude unvaccinated people from any venues at this late date, three-and-a-half years after the pandemic emerged, and after Newsom's state of emergency has been revoked.

The justification was NEVER the city rules. They used to say that the toxxine was required per CDC guidelines.

https://www.facebook.com/cubberleypavilion/posts/221193750257388

"In keeping up with CDC guidelines: Attendees must be fully vaccinated"

Now, this "CDC guidelines" line is gone but the requirement still stays.
I expect this will be another win for our side; my only worry is that Judy and/or Sammy may be so spooked over Covid that they’d shut down the Friday Night Ballroom Dance at Cubberley rather than let healthy unvaxxed people dance there.

Please email Palo Alto City Council ( city.council@CityofPaloAlto.org ) and join their meeting this coming Monday (April 10) at 5 pm, to provide a public comment, as described here:

https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=1109

“VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN ( https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238 )
Meeting ID: 362 027 238 Phone:1(669)900-6833”

Why don't we come at 6:20pm? No reason to sit there for over an hour before it starts and for 5 hours total. Unless, we hope to enjoy the study session 5:20-6:20pm, "Report and Discussion on Community Engagement Activities Planned to Implement the City’s Workplans for Calendar Year 2023"

Proof that the toxxine is still required:

http://cubberleyballroom.com/calendar/