Thanks to your efforts, the Campaign to retain the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs' TOT allocation was a success.
Over 5,000 letters were generated to City Council members from their stakeholders. An additional 100 advocates attended last Wednesday's city council meeting, in which 30 impassioned speakers voiced the value of arts and culture to the city and the communities they serve.
The motion was put into file. We have been told that means it is a polite way of saying it will quietly go away. For how long is a question we are still trying to get answered. This great news is tempered by the fact that we have a long road ahead of us and the City is faced with very difficult decisions.
The positive outcome of our collective efforts affirms our belief that advocacy is a collaboration. Although the battle is far from over, over this past week we saw firsthand just how strong, when united, our voice can be.
We've created an "anatomy of a campaign" story on our site to help inform you how we, along with our partners, responded to the crisis. Please contribute to the story and share it far and wide. Let's inspire and build more advocates for the arts in Los Angeles. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get ready to face the next challenges head on!
This past week we saw firsthand just how strong, when united, our voice can be. Our victory is in mobilizing a groundswell of support to maintain DCA's only dedicated revenue stream. We know that the DCA, like every other city department, is going to face mid-year cuts. Our goal is to ensure the cuts are proportional to other city departments.
While we are indeed celebrating a victory, our voice is still vital to maintaining support for arts countywide. Take two minutes to thank members of the City Council for listening to the public and maintaining the dedicated funding stream for the Department of Cultural Affairs. Then, show your support for elementary arts teachers and send your school board member a note urging them to maintain their commitment to arts education. You can find contact information for your School Board members on your district's website. if you live or work in Culver City, click here to thank the School Board for maintaining the Arts Coordinator position. If you live or work in the LAUSD district, please take action on the current campaign to maintain elementary arts teacher positions.
Your continued participation in these efforts is crucial to ensuring that the City of Los Angeles maintains its commitment to arts and culture in this difficult financial time. Onward! 
Danielle Brazell
Executive Director
Update: Department of Cultural Affairs Proposed Mid-Year Cuts
Yesterday, the Arts, Parks and Aging Committee accepted DCA's proposal to apply a 10% mid-year cut to 09 grants that have not been paid out. The Department's General Manger, Olga Garay, made the case that a 10% cut across the board cut was more equitable and cost effective than renegotiating each grant contract. The 10% mid-year cut will amount to approximately $200k in savings for the City. The Committee also gave DCA the authority to identify the additional $300k needed to fulfill the CAO's recommendation that DCA implement a $500k cut. However, later that morning City Council removed the $300k requirement. To learn more and read Olga Garay's statement, please click here.
Culver City School Preserves Arts Coordinator Position We learned earlier this week that the general funds allocation for the Culver City Unified School District Arts Consultant position was slated for elimination in the 2010-11 budget. After hearing testimony organized by the Culver City Arts Ed Advocacy Team at Tuesday's board meeting, we are excited to announce that the CCUSD Board of Education unanimously voted to remove the position from the proposed expenditure reduction list. If you live, work or go to school in Culver City, please click here to send a personalized thank-you note to the CCUSD Board of Education members. Click here to learn more about the Board's decision and the Culver City Arts Ed Advocacy Team.
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