DIRK DIRkSEN ALLEY  

By Kathy Peck

Dirk Dirksen and Howie Klein 

Photo: Chester Simpson 

SUPPORT DIRK DIRKSEN ALLEY  STREET RENAMING... Looks good. We passed  

The Fire dept, Police dept, City Offices, looks like it will pass  

The Traffic dept, too.  And most importantly we passed
 the Nov 15  Hearing at City Hall!

We rounded up about 20 people to come to the hearing. Many of them  

spoke at the podium about Dirk and why he was so important to so many  

and why we should honor him... among them: Klaus Fluoride- bassist  

for the Dead Kennedy's, Music attorney -Barry Simons, H.E.A.R. co-founder and Contractions  

Bass player -Kathy Peck, Musician/ Audio Consultant - David Denny,  

Videographer and Dirk's life partner -Damon Molloy, Music Journalist - 

Carl Macki, Road Manager- Andy Moraga, Sound Engineer and partner with  

Ole Mabuhay Gardens-Jack Johnson, Drummer of the Vktms and Abstract  

Artist- Lou Gwerder, Kay, Patti Davis, DJ Denise Demise, Club Manager  

of Slim's and Great American Music Hall-Dennis Juarez, Film Maker and  

Counter Culture Hour producer -Miriam, Symptoms Drummer- Bobby Imsolucky
 and many other members of the music community.

We also brought in many of letters of support... from North Beach famed  

Artist Winston Smith, Radio Personality Paul Lobster Wells, Pulitzer  

Prize winning Author Ron Jones, Tambre Bryant, Partners and The Staff  

of the old Mabuhay Gardens, Club 443 and TnT Productions, Haight  

Ashbury Street Fair, Brian Webster, Lennon Studios, Craig Pop  

Artist, Debbie Hopkins Drummer of The  Contractions and a petition of over 

300 signatures from Ginger Coyote of the White Trash Debutantes and Punk Globe.

 We brought a big photo of Dirk and propped it up on the railing so Dirk could watch  

the proceedings at City Hall and enjoy all of the controversy.

 Tom Ammiano 

Our champion, Supervisor Tom Amminao read a statement about the life  of 

Dirk Dirksen and why the City of San Francisco should give Dirk  

this honor as Dirk was a major music force in pop culture. As a young  

Comic, Tom recalled performing at the Mab for Dirk. Tom, Dirk
 and  Damon were lifelong friends. 

Dirksen Molloy Productions produced many  of Tom's video spots.

 The Cons

We had 3 people that came to oppose: one of the building owners next  door- 

a stern Germanic accented senior who obviously hated Punk,  

Francesca who managed the property at 443 Broadway St. for the  

Filipino nonprofit since the existence of the Mabuhay Gardens and the  

On Broadway upstairs and a guy who was the owner of a condo on  

Rowland St..  After the owner of the condo heard what a cool guy Dirk  

was, he changed his plea to be in favor.. Aaron Peskin

Supervisor Aaron Peskin whose district is in North Beach weighed-in  

and said he was in favor of the name change from Rowland St. to Dirk  

Dirksen Alley. He recalled going to the Mab as a kid.

What Happens Now ?

Since there was opposition and it is obvious that everyone wants to  

honor Dirk (even the dissenters), Supervisor Tom Amminao is going to  

call a meeting in his chambers to discuss how we can work everything  

out and move
 forward with the street naming and honoring of Dirk Dirksen.

Yipee!!!!!

After that meeting the proposal goes to the full San Francisco Board  

of Supervisors for the final decree.

I will keep you posted. Thank all of you for your wonderful support!   

Remember it�s not over until it's over....so we might need your help  

again.. As Dirk would say... Onward and Upward!

For those of you who don't know, Rowland Street is really the alley  

next to the old Mabuhay Gardens location at 443 Broadway St in North  

Beach. The street is closed off now and is not a through street. It  

is a very short alley. There would have been no opposition 2 years  

ago but, now there are people living in condo's next to our 

Dirk Dirksen Alley.

Dirk Dirksen produced over 10,000 shows 7 nights a week at the at the  

Fab Mab with partner Ness Aquino the former owner of the Mabuhay  

Gardens Filipino Super Club at 443 Broadway St.  Dirk gave many young  

Bands there start such as the Dead Kennedy's, Black Flag, Devo,
 The  Mutants, Crime, The Nuns, Vktms, Mary Monday, Jane Dornacker,  The Symptoms, 

The Avengers, Pearl Harbor and The Explosions, Translator, Minus One, 

The Lifers, Romeo Void, The Go Gos, The Punts, Chris Isaak, The Lewd, The Sheets, 

The  Contractions, Blondie,Whoopi Goldberg and others...even a young comic Robin Williams  

opened up at the Mab for the Ramones making pop culture history.

Cheers Kathy

Kathy Peck, HEAR

hear@hearnet.com