Treasure Island Media Shutdown By San Francisco Police

By: William Lopez, Staff Writer
William@JRLChartsOnline.com

Treasure Island Media (TIM) was shut down by the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) during the 2011 Folsom Street Fair last Sunday, September 25.

Banned from official participation in the event, the Paul Morris owned studio was open for business during the fair, selling Gay Adult DVDs and greeting fans from the lobby of their offices at 9th Street and Folsom. After event officials complained to the SFPD, reporting visible sexual activity from TIM’s third floor windows, a policewoman was sent to the studio’s premises to investigate.

The responding officer told TIM General Manager Matt Mason that she had no problem with sex taking place, but suggested that it take place inside the office instead of at the open window. Mason explained that while the suggestion made sense, security would be a concern.

At that point the officer called Folsom Events personnel to the premises, so an arrangement acceptable to everyone could be worked out. “There’s no fucking way I’m going to help you guys when I’m here to shut you down,” the Folsom Event security representative told Mason.

Mason responded, “It’s your fair and I’m not responsible for what happens on public streets, but we’re not about to violate anyone’s free rights to do what they want.” When Folsom Event security remained intractable on the matter, the SFPD had no choice but to uphold the complaint.  Not giving up, Treasure Island Media quickly rearranged their offices, set up a security plan, and let in dozens of TIM fans and others who just wanted to have a good time at an event allegedly meant for just that.

“We’re the last bastion of free sex culture in San Francisco,” said Paul Morris, Treasure Island Media’s owner and indefatigable champion of freedom of expression. “It’s clear that the Folsom Events organizers don’t even like sex, but are willing to exploit everyone else’s sexuality—including yours and mine—in order to rake in huge sponsorship dollars. And they have the nerve to call us hypocrites?” Mason added, “They should be glad we decided to show up and give people at least one reason to come to their homogeneous little fair.”

Treasure Island Media is exclusively distributed by New Barbary Coast Distribution in San Francisco, California.