Mill Valley Music Festival benefits the community

As executive director of the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, I am writing in response to Stephen Redner's recently published letter to the editor about the cost of the

Mill Valley Music Festival.

His points are well taken. We would love to throw a free festival for all of our neighbors. I'd suggest there isn't a dramatic difference between the idyllic event you describe and the event we are creating. One leans on billionaires, which we are not, while we're leaning on our neighbors who are able to pay, at a variety of tiers, to attend the concert, be it with one-day, two-day, VIP or even $45 kids tickets.

I understand Redner's focus is on the cost of two-day tickets. I would ask him to please view our prices through the lens of an event that has doubled its length to two days. Attendees are not required to pay for both days, and singleday tickets will be on sale very soon. The end result, a gathering of friends, residents and guests to celebrate the history of arts and culture in Mill Valley, is the same.

I can't speak for major music events in Mill Valley decades ago, but the (fingers crossed) success of this event brings direct benefit to our community — including funding for nonprofits like Kiddo, the Tam

High Foundation and the Hannah Project in Marin City.

We're turning festival sponsorships into hundreds of free scholarship tickets to students and artists who would have not been able to attend the event otherwise.

We're a small organization that seeks to use our platform to shine a light on the amazing restaurants, retailers, nonprofits and amazing arts to our residents and guests on the heels of one of the most difficult periods in our town's history.

Lastly, the Mill Valley Chamber's entire focus as an organization is on economic and community vitality, all within the framework of a commitment to make our town more equitable.

— Jim Welte, Mill Valley