HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-14 Jessica Harston
Charlene Way
From:Jessica Harston <jessica.harston@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, March 14, 2021 9:33 PM
To:City Clerk
Subject:Oasis night club
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
This letter was originally written to Brian Tsai in response to his email sent to me regarding the building of the Oasis
Night.
I never truly explained my reasons for voicing my opinion in regards to the Oasis being built near my house. I love a
good concert and have frequented the Knitting Factory for just that purpose. I am good friends with one of the leading
light designers in the northwest and have another very good friend who tours the world as an audio guy for a venue with
a following of 12 million plus and runs a side business in the concert world. My husband has worked both in audio and
lighting several times. The concerts aren't my issue.
I don't think you can name anyone whose life hasn't been touched by alcohol. My neighbor a few doors down had a
husband who got his second DUI two months after his baby was born. He landed himself in jail. This neighbor struggled
to make ends meet on top of taking care of twins and a newborn and eventually had to move. My own sister attempted
suicide as a result of alcohol use in her familie's life.
When you toss a pebble in the water the ripples begin and spread outward. While I believe everyone has a choice to
take that drink to toss that pebble into the water as it were, in my mind the Oasis is the one that will be offering the
pebble to them in the first place. You say that "there is no detriment to the community or family life as a whole." You
might not see it but there definitely is. How many of your patrons will leave and do the "responsible" thing and take an
uber home from your establishment only to be too hung over in the morning to cheer their kids on in their soccer game
or get them up and ready for school leaving the burden to an older sibling.
I posted about the Oasis on the neighborhood forum Nextdoor which you may or may not have seen and ended up
being lambasted. I was ridiculed, called names, and was described as being ignorant. I had a few people come to my
defense even if they didn't agree with my statements. If these people were the only ones who were going to patronize
the Oasis I might say go for it. They can hold their liquor. They will look but not linger and they will treat others with
respect. It's the people who have no problem calling names and writing disparaging comments that I am worried
about. These are the people who are going to decide to grab some food after the concert and make crude comments to
the teenager working in the fast food joint and they will do it "all in fun." These are the people who will "accidentally"
bump into you at the concert and touch you inappropriately. These are the ones who aren't drunk driving but impaired
driving and not stop quickly enough to avoid an accident. These are the people I want as far away as possible from my
doorstep.
I have little hope that my comments to the city council or you will make a difference in the least. I am certain that the
Oasis will be erected on the corner of Eagle and Ustick road and your establishment will ripple out and affect my life
whether you acknowledge it or not. So when that time comes I will cheer for the child whose parent isn't there, take a
meal to the neighbor in need, and comfort and cry with a sister in distress but please, please, please don't tell me that
the Oasis is not going to be detrimental to someone's family. It will and for the family it does it will be heavy to bear.
I applaud your proposed use of your facility for the city and non-profit organizations. The question is will it be enough to
offset the harm that will be done. Maybe, but it won't be for the neglected child, the teenager who feels unsafe, the
single mother, or the grieving sister and it is for them that I raise my voice in opposition.
Sincerely,
1
Jessica Harston
2