Highland Park Residents Blog

Sorry for the late notice, this is quite important. Some of you have heard of the motion coming up tomorrow AM in the city council, a proposal to eliminate the 1% hotel tax which is the Dept of Cultural Affairs only dedicated source of funding.  Ed Reyes is not one of the sponsors. Please act tonight or tomorrow morning, email or call him, or if possible, attend the meeting and speak. His office number is (213) 485-3451. Email:   councilman.reyes@lacity.org

Kathy Gallegos of Avenue 50 Studio wrote: Re:  Action Alert Cultural Affairs grants in jeopardy

Dear Friends:  I want to alert you to a City Counsel meeting that will take place Wednesday, February 3 at 10:00 am at City Hall in the council chamber.  There is a motion being heard “Item 13” which will remove the guaranteed funding from the hotel tax which comprises the entire budget for the Department of Cultural Affairs.  DCA is not funded though tax dollars, solely through this tax on hotel tourism.  The grants program is being targeted; all existing grants will be revoked and no grants will be given next year.  Please see motion http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2010/10-0150_MOT_01-27-10.pdf, and LA Times article http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-la-budget30-2010jan30,0,7045652.story.

What this motion does is open the door for the City Council to reduce or eliminate funding for DCA’s programs without any impediments.  It is clear through the LA Times articles that the grant program that support small arts organizations such as the Avenue 50 and other arts organizations throughout the city is the target.  Our organization is dependent on this funding which supports artists and the arts community and has social and economic impact for the many artists we serve.  This is a serious situation unlike those that may have happened in the previous years.  This is real.  If you want the City Council to see the faces and hear the voices of those impacted, I want to encourage you to attend this meeting. If you want to speak you need to fill out a card and hand it to the bailiff.  There is public comment opportunity for you to speak for about one minute. I will be there.  I hope to see you there too.

Kathy