Breaking News: Arts Included in LA City Parcel Tax Measure

http://www.artsforla.org/news/breaking_news_arts_included_la_city_parcel_tax_measure

Earlier this morning, Arts for LA reported that the LAUSD school board would vote today on whether or not to put a parcel tax ballot measure on the June 2010 ballot. The proposed measure will help raise millions of dollars for the district. The summary parcel tax language did not include designated funding for the arts in the 75-word summary to be used in ballots for the June special election.

Within three hours, nearly 100 local advocates wrote to the School Board asking that the arts be included in the parcel tax summary language. The proposed language was: "To offset severe state budget cuts, improve student achievement in reading/mathematics/science/arts, maintain vocational education and job training programs…"

L.A. Unified to seek $100 parcel tax hike - latimes.com
2/17/10
[The Board of Education approved the ballot measure on a 5-1 vote, with Tamar Galatzan dissenting and Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte absent.

"We're funding [education] like a third-world country, and I have to take a stand and do something about it," said board member Richard Vladovic. "I'm voting to give parents the chance to say yes or no."]

Please write and thanks the Board Members who stood up on Tuesday for education in Los Angeles, and for including arts education in the parcel tax measure. Please ask all board members for their continued support in maintaining the Elementary Arts Programs: 
http://advocate.artsforla.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1919
Thank you!

"Protect the Arts" DIY fold-and-send letter to the Board of Ed

http://drop.io/saveartsfoldsend#

Feel free to print and distribute. Thanks!

Strength in Numbers: Defending LA Cultural Affairs Department's Funding

The voice to maintain the arts in Los Angeles in the face of budget shortfalls is being heard. Let's extend this movement to arts education in our public schools!
From Arts for LA site:
"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 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."
LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-culturalaffairs3-2010feb03,0,6772199.story
and
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/02/la-city-council-feels-heat-over-a-proposal-to-shut-off-the-municipal-artsfunding-pipeline-.html

Commentary:
Is Art Important?
Bettina Korek
Arts commentator and founder of ForYourArt (http://losangeles.foryourart.com/)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bettina-korek/this-week-in-art-is-art-i_b_450377.html