Don’t let the Ché Café get punked by budget cuts

In a press release dated today, May 12, the Ché Café collective is calling for community support in the University Centers Advisory Board (UCAB) vote for a budget plan that may close the venue for “an undetermined time period until funds can be allocated to carry out, what the University deems, ‘critical renovations.’”

According to the collective’s statement, such a delay could be “detrimental to the continuity of the Ché Café as a reputable all-ages venue and community space.” In other words, out of sight, out of mind, out of time.

The Ché opened its doors in 1980 as a campus/community food co-op (Ché is in the Universty’s charter as an acronym for “cheap healthy eats”) and meeting hall, later earning its upkeep by hosting reggae and punk shows that, over the years, has garnered an impressive visitor’s book that includes [deep breath] Green Day, Rise Against, Billy Corgan, Blonde Redhead, At the Drive-In, Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, Deerhoof, Lightning Bolt, Black Dice, Bright Eyes, Mike Watt, Acid Mothers, Animal Collective, Dan Deacon, Bon Iver, Unwound, Jawbreaker, as well as many local notables, including Drive Like Jehu, Gogogo Airheart, the Locust, Three Mile Pilot, Heavy Vegetable, The Album Leaf, Rob Crow, Cattle Decapitation, and Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower.

So, you see, this place, this hand-painted hall that has sound history in and on its walls, is one of the last bastions of all ages and all sorts. If you’re even aware of the Ché Café and its import to San Diego’s youth as a safe house for exchanging artistic and political ideas, then not showing, not voting, is not an option.

Unfortunately, this all comes with short notice to the public at large: “The Ché Café Collective urges community members to come voice the importance of keeping the Ché's doors open at this Tuesday's UCAB meeting, which will be held at the Earl Warren Room in Price Center West on UCSD's campus from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.”

If you absolutely cannot make it, sign the ongoing petition.