AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

L.A. City Council to Strangle Artists

Dear Friends,

I rarely send/share or post any blogs before to you but this needs to be shared with as many people as possible. Feel free to forward this to all your friends - just follow the forwarding directions below.

This information, from Newtown, an Altadena arts organization, can affect everyone who loves the arts in our great City.

As you probably know, Los Angeles is one of the biggest supporters of individual artists. They allow us to bring unusual, experimental and "fringe" performances, events, and residencies to everyone free of charge or for very modest prices.

Please help by taking any or all of the actions described below.

Thanks so much for your help and support.

Peace,
Ferril Nawir & all other artisans concerned
-----------------------------------------------------

Let It Be Known That:

The Los Angeles City Council wants to take all mandated funding away from the Department of Cultural Affairs! Once again, in a time of fiscal crisis, the cry goes out from the phlegm-packed throats of City Hall, "Kill the Artist!"

When · Where · What We Can Do
Wednesday · 2/3
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Room 340, City Hall
200 North Spring St.
Los Angeles

WHY THE ALARM?

Back in the day, the arts community coalesced, energizing an otherwise apathetic City Council to pass Los Angeles Code Section 5.115.4(d), creating the 1% Transient Occupancy Tax and, in time, making it the sole funding source for the Department of Cultural Affairs. As a matter of fact, the entire Cultural Affairs budget of $9,500,000 out of a city budget of $4,400,000,000 is paid by these taxes on hotel visitors. That's about 0.2% of the budget.

Our community fought for it and we are due this relative pittance. At the next City Council meeting they will take up a motion that amends the Administrative Code to "remove subsection 5.115.4(d). We can only assume OUR Transient Occupancy Tax money would then revert to general funds to be allocated to other departments, effectively crippling the arts as a part of the City's function and spirit.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Without that money your arts options get slashed!
This cut means a loss of grants sorely needed by arts community. If you attend the more interesting arts events, outside the walls of commercial entertainment, there is a little, easily overseen logo appearing on an amazing number of programs and posters, crediting the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs as a funder. That money comes from Los Angeles Code Section 5.115.4(d). If the myopic Philistines have their way, you get to stay home more and watch the television.

WHAT CAN I DO?

1) Go to the City's website
From there you will find information to contact your Councilperson or any Councilperson of your choosing or all of them. In approximate order of effectiveness, you can:

Email your outrage at this move to defund the Arts

Phone them and voice your opinion

Send a letter

Visit your Councilperson's office and tell them or their staff what you think

And do the same for the Mayor's office.

2) Go to the City Council meeting and sign up to speak. It may not be fun, but it is effective and you get to spew your frustration or satisfaction at the powers that be.

3) Make this go viral. Pass it on to any and all people and lists you can. Forward this to everyone you know!