[BATA] FW: Just 50 cents

[Charlie Holliday]

-----Original Message----- From: Ann Tracy, Artistic Director
[mailto:beyond_pro@earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 1:05 PM To:
Ann Tracy Subject: Fw: Just 50 cents

Hi, Friends & Acquaintances: -- that is about what you pay in taxes for
keeping the California Arts Council going -- about 50 cents a year per
person.

Probably you don't have to be convinced of this great bargain, but this note
is about how to keep the great bargain which could quickly be lost VERY SOON
through public indifference.

If, this last year, you went to a play, a concert, an opera, a community
celebration, to see a touring dance company or an arts exhibit, you have no
doubt received back your 50-cent investment, and then some. The dancers at
those neighborhood arts festivals? Probably the CAC helped pay for them,
either directly or through funds to community arts programs.

The CAC is one of the smallest state agencies. It is a miniscule part of the
state budget: if you made one line on a state pie chart, it would be too
thick to show the budget percentage of the CAC. If you saw the hours the
staff puts in, much of the time uncompensated, but done because they care so
much about the value of the arts to the everyday quality of life, you would
see again how much you get out of that 50-cent investment. If you saw a
grant, you would realize that much of the Arts Council money goes for ways
to give all people, not just the wealthy, access to the arts.

Every cent the CAC uses generates far more in matching funds, as well as
local revenue from arts audiences and participants, bringing jobs and tax
money to the state.  The CAC is part of the foundation for a healthy arts
environment.

Cutting the Arts Council will not save the state budget and it will cause a
great loss to the public, educational and cultural life of the state. And
also, in case you're concerned, to the business climate. If ever there was a
case of false economy, it is the proposal to reduce the arts council to
1977 levels.

Your legislators and the governor need to hear from you that this butchery
is unacceptable. Please invest another 37 cents for a stamp, and 25 minutes
of time to write your legislator and the powerful people below. Tonight if
possible? Not sure who to write to? Find out below.

Do it for yourself, your kids, your neighborhood, your city and county. And
for every writer, painter, singer, dancer or actor you know. Write now,
right now.

Thank you,
JoAnn Anglin

---------------------------
Subject: CAC Budget Crisis

In response to numerous questions received on how and who to contact about
the proposed 75% cut to the Arts Council budget here are some suggestions:

WHO TO CONTACT The persons to contact are the "Big Five", that is Gray Davis
and the four legislators who will do the final negotiating on the state
budget. (Their contact information is at the end of this email).

HOW The most effective method is to send a letter. Emails are ineffectual.
Faxes can be discarded. Write a letter to YOUR OWN legislator then cc each
of the "Big Five". You can find out who your legislators are on the CAC
website www.cac.ca.gov

WHAT TO SAY The message to send is that you are outraged at the idea of
cutting the Arts Council budget by 75%. That this is unacceptable. State the
impact of the budget cuts and what will be lost. Facts and figures are
available on the CAC website.

WHEN NOW (the next three to four weeks are critical) and forever. Political
advocacy must become part of the non-profit arts culture for the arts to
survive.

VOLUME To be effective these legislators need to receive thousands of
letters.
20,000, 30,000 ? Ask friends, participants, parents, etc to participate.

MEDIA Media attention is critical as well. Rally, protest find an effective
(safe and sane) way to attract the TV cameras.

The Big Five

Speaker of the Assembly Herb J. Wesson, Jr. State Capitol, Room 219
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 319-2047

Hon. Jenny Oropeza California State Assembly State Capitol, Room #6026
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 319-2055

President pro Tempore John Burton California State Senate State Capitol,
Room 205 Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-1412

Hon. Wesley Chesbro California State Senate State Capitol, Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-3375

Governor Gray Davis State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-2841

*********************



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