[Imc-newsroom] IMC Shut Down by City of Urbana

[Zachary C. Miller]

This is an urgent emergency message about the Urbana IMC for community
members. Apologies for broadcasting it, we wouldn't do this for
anything but the most dire emergency.

Last night the IMC performance space was shut down by the city of
Urbana. Attempts to negotiate with the city have been met with
disrespect, hostility, and abuse.

Concerned citizens who want to help get the IMC performance space
reopened should meet tonight at 405 West Illinois Street in Urbana for
our an emergency response meeting.

Please email me if you have any questions.

The following is a press release that was sent out last night to local
and Chicago media:

Press Release

Community Center Unexpectedly Shut Down by City of Urbana

On Thursday, May 8, 2003, at approximately 6 PM, the performance space
at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) at 218
W. Main St. was closed by the City of Urbana under highly irregular
circumstances.

The UCIMC was first inspected three days earlier, on Monday, May 5.
At that time, the UCIMC was given notice of six violations of the
Urbana fire code and informed that a follow-up inspection would be
conducted on May 29, 2003.  

On Thursday evening after business hours, the Division Chief of the
Fire Rescue Services Department returned unannounced with a building
official to close the performance space.  It is extremely unusual for
an inspection to occur after business hours and with little notice.
Furthermore, the city has thus far given no reason why the space was
suddenly shut down instead of reinspected on May 29, as stated in the
original notice.

The UCIMC has already made significant progress in addressing the
violations listed by the Fire Department, and plans to continue
addressing these concerns. It is unclear why the decision to close the
performance space was made after it was determined at the initial
inspection that the organization would have 24 days to fix the
problems.

The performance space at the UCIMC is Champaign-Urbana's only all
ages, volunteer operated, not-for-profit, non-smoking venue for
regularly scheduled touring and local music performances.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Zach Miller         Meghan Krausch
217-367-4678        217-390-6051                                    
217-265-8458        217-244-4682   
zach at ucimc.org      meghan at ucimc.org