Oakland Budget Alert 2011

Budget Update July 1

Budget Update June 27

Email Action by Monday, June 20, 5pm

Arts Action In The News

Update June 8: Arts Action

Arts Action at Oakland City Council- Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Budget Update May 26, 2011

Budget Update July 1

Arts Advocacy in Action! City Council passes budget retaining 100% of arts grants!
Thank you Oakland Arts community for your efforts!
Read more at San Francisco Classical Voice, Oakland Affirms Arts, Culture, and Fairness

Budget Update June 27

The Arts community raised its collective voice and elected officials are responding. The Arts headed off the last Council Meeting with a call for equity and preserving quality of life in Oakland-- Michael Morgan, Music Director of Oakland East Bay Symphony (and standing with him- Jennifer Duston, Oakland East Bay Symphony; Diane Sanchez, East Bay Community Foundation; Michael Fried, Cantare Con Vivo; Lori Zook, Cultural Affairs Commission, and Margo Dunlap, Pro Arts) -- asked the Council to ensure the budget reflects the values of Oaklanders.

The Council did not discuss the budget at last Tuesday's Council meeting. There is a meeting 6/28, tomorrow, a special session called for Thursday 6/30 and a note about a second reading on July 5.

This past Friday Councilmembers released their own budget proposals-Councilmembers are heeding the call!

All 3 reports are online here.
Analysis by A Better Oakland: here.
More coverage by the East Bay Express here.

In response to the Mayor's Budget A calling for elimination of arts funding- Councilmembers Schaaf, Kaplan, Nadel, and Kernighan propose a 15% cut to the arts grants. De La Fuente proposes no cuts. The reports are online. The Council will discuss the three proposals tomorrow and it looks as though a final vote will occur at a subsequent meeting.

Email Arts Action - Friday, June 17

Why are the Arts important to Oakland? The Council needs to hear from you to make the case for Arts funding.  The Arts started off strong with an email campaign in April-- elected officials are taking notice! We've made progress-- Let the Council know for Tuesday's Budget Meeting that ZEROING OUT Arts funding is not an option! Make this a successful campaign for Oakland Arts!

STEPS:  

1. EMAIL Council Members NOW!  Deadline: Monday, June 20, 2011 5PM

You make the difference- Email and Tell them why the Arts are important to you! (See Sample below); Remain Positive and Respectful in your communications. We need the Council's support!

2. FORWARD this alert to artists, colleagues, students, friends, families, neighbors, friends-of-friends 

 --- 

A. SAMPLE  Email:
Oakland Arts are important to me because......[ Tell Your Story ]
Oakland Arts are a priority. Consider the impact on quality of life and economic development in Oakland.  Consider equitable cuts that support Oakland's Renaissance and Oakland's recovery.  The Arts are a strategic solution for our City.
Sincerely,
---

B. Contacts: Send to Elected Officials-- Select email to auto-fill message.

ADD YOUR OWN STORY! Personalize your message for greatest impact.

Office of the Mayor, Mayor Jean Quan, jquan@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-3141;
District 1, Jane Brunner, jbrunner@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7001;
District 2, Pat Kernighan, pkernighan@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7002;
District 3, Nancy Nadel, nnadel@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7003;
District 4, Libby Schaaf, lschaaf@oaklandnet.com(510) 238-7004;
District 5, Ignacio de la Fuente. idelafuente@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7005;
District 6, Desley Brooks, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7006;
District 7, Larry Reid, lreid@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7007;
At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan, rkaplan@oaklandnet.com (510) 238-7008;

Not sure who your councilmember is? Click here to find out: http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/councils/

Back to top

Oakland Arts In the News

East Bay Express, It All Comes Down to the Unions- Oakland city services, from libraries to parks and tree maintenance, will be devastated unless public workers agree to substantial concessions. By Nate Seltenrich and Robert Gammon, June 15, 2011 

Arts Action Update- June 8, 2011

City Hall was packed! The Arts were well represented at last night's Oakland City Council Meeting. Scheduled speakers included, Margo Dunlap, Pro Arts; Barbara Johnson, StageBridge; Michael Fried, Contare Con Vivo; Judy Smith, Axis Dance; Reginald Ray Savage, Savage Dance, Helen Stoltzfus, Alice; and Amana Harris, Attitudinal Healing Connection.

The message is key: We stand together to safeguard the City's wise and long-term investment in cultural institutions, and prevent the further marginalization of the arts.

The Trust advocates for equitable cuts to the Cultural Funding Program to keep momentum in Oakland's Renaissance. The Trust is optimistic and appreciates the support of the City Council.

The Mayor plans to present the General Fund Budget Proposal to Council at the June 21 City Council Meeting. The Trust will continue to monitor the process.

Arts Action at Oakland City Council Meeting- Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Don't ZERO OUT Arts Funding!
Keep Arts funding Alive

Prevent the elimination of the Cultural Arts Funding Program and Staff in the budget proposals under consideration by City Council.  The City Council is poised to ZERO OUT funding for the arts grants and staff.  Keep Arts funding in the General Fund!

3 STEP CALL TO ACTION:

1. Get the Word Out! FORWARD this alert to constituents, colleagues, students, friends, families, neighbors, friends-of-friends-- Cut & Paste this alert or Share Facebook Alert

2. CALL, EMAIL or Write your Council Member NOW! You can make the difference- Cut & Paste sample text or write your own message (See Sample below); Remain Positive and Respectful in your communications. We need the Council's support!

3. Be There Tuesday, June 7 at 5:30 pm! SHOW UP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE during the City Council MEETING at City Hall --  Make "Save Oakland Arts Now" Banners, Signs and Stickers- Be Prepared to Make a Coordinated Impact!
   

Sign-up for speaker cards TO YIELD YOUR TIME TO SCHEDULED ARTS LEADERS in advance online -Agenda Item Open Forum AND Item 10; Identify "Oakland Cultural Trust" as organizational affiliation on speaker card application. Print and bring receipt to Council meeting.

Back to top

Back to top

Supporting Documentation & Resources:

SAMPLE Letter/Email:

Dear Council Member ________________,

Don't ZERO OUT Arts Funding! Keep Arts funding Alive

Prevent the elimination of the Cultural Arts Funding Program and Staff in the budget proposals under consideration by City Council.  The City Council is poised to ZERO OUT funding for the arts grants and staff. Keep Arts funding in the General Fund! This is a time for shared sacrifice. Make the cuts in a way that support Oakland's renaissance and  Oakland's recovery. The Arts are a strategic solution and investment.
Sincerely,

Elected Officials:

Office of the Mayor, Jean Quan, officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-3141;
District 1, Jane Brunner, jbrunner@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7001;
District 2, Pat Kernighan,pkernighan@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7002;
District 3, Nancy Nadel, nnadel@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7003;
District 4, Libby Schaaf, lschaaf@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7004;
District 5, Ignacio de la Fuente. idelafuente@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7005;
District 6, Desley Brooks, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7006;
District 7, Larry Reid, lreid@oaklandnet.com, (510) 238-7007
At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan, rkaplan@oaklandnet.com (510) 238-7008

Not sure who your council member is? Click here to find out: http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/councils

Back to top

Talking Points- Nonprofit Arts in Oakland

Fiscal impacts and leveraging power of the arts grants:

Back to top

Budget Update- May 26, 2011

The budget situation is dire and there are many uncertainties in the process-- cuts, employee contributions and the possibility of new revenue. The Mayor has presented a One- Page Overview comparing budget scenarios (PDF download).    The Trust is reaching out to Council Members about the process and the Executive Committee continues to consider next steps -- There is an opportunity tonight for public comment. Arts leaders are lined up to support the arts this evening!

1. Arts Leaders Speaking at the City Council Meeting TONIGHT -- Presentations will be heard from the following departments: Parks & Recreation, Library, The Oakland Museum, Human Services and General Government.

The ARTS are not on the agenda, however, Public Forum provides the opportunity to show support for the Cultural Funding Program (aka the Arts Grants).

What:   City Council Budget Hearing

When:  Thursday, May 26, 2011, 5:30 p.m.

Where: City Hall, 1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, City Council Chambers

Sign-up for speaker cards in advance online -Agenda Item OPEN FORUM- Item #3 ; Print and bring receipt to Council meeting.

---
2. A KEY MESSAGE from the Trust:  Don't Extinguish the Arts! Preserve the Arts in the General Fund

---

3. Mayor Quan's Budget Report - Mayor's Email May 23, 2011

Council Delays Parcel Tax Vote:  Several weeks ago the Council agreed to put an $80 parcel tax on the special election ballot planned by Governor Brown.  When it became apparent that Brown would not be able to get a special election, our office went to the Council to ask for an all mail vote.  Disappointingly, three members of the Council did not support an "urgency" vote which needs 6 votes.  

• Does this Kill the Parcel Tax Vote?  This does not kill the initiative but does delay the vote until next months because of the Council recess. 

• Why is the delay important?  It means that if we get a special election by mail, we will not know the results until August two months into the fiscal year.  Even if the parcel tax passes, we will likely have to layoff and cut programs during July & August.  This is something I was hoping to avoid.

• Is the Vote by Mail expensive?  Actually a vote by mail is about the same cost to the city as being part of a consolidated election, about $800 K.

• I believe the citizens of Oakland should be allowed to decide.  The parcel tax would raise about one fifth of the funds needed to close the gap, it would cost the average home owner about a quarter a day. 

• Without a parcel tax we will have an all cuts budget for the most part.  Ironically this parallels the struggles going on in Washington and Sacramento. 

The Budget Process:  Since I took office we have worked every day on the budget.  

• We spent most of the first two months establishing the budget baseline, correcting mistakes in reporting and estimates that were too optimistic.  We expect the current budget to run up to a $6M shortfall.

• We also started meeting with departments immediately to work out what options we would have to increase revenues or to reduce their budgets by 15-20%.

• We have spent much of our time fighting proposed deep federal and state cuts including redevelopment.  Federal cuts could be $7-8M and state cuts could be over $30 M, including redevelopment.    

• Last month we issued an 85-page budget memo for our day long Budget Workshop with the Council and the Cabinet You can download the report here.  We are starting the budget process about 6 weeks earlier than in past years. In past years the Mayor and Council had retreats to discuss city priorities in the fall or new year, that did not happen this year so this was a critical meeting.  The document focuses on the $46M shortfall in next years general fund budget.  To close that gap I believe all options must be on the table and everyone must contribute:  1) There will be cuts to programs and consolidation of programs, but we must leave the city in the best possible position for when the economy rebounds . 2) Employees will be asked to contribute; this will mean a continuation of furlough days and other items now under negotiations with all our unions.  3) We need the passage of the $80 emergency parcel tax for 5 years to reduce the necessary levels of cuts.  4)  Other new revenues including increasing rentals of city facilities, sharing of services, etc.  5) Collaborating with other government agencies and organizations to reduce costs.  

• Council Hearings and Votes:  Historically, the Council holds its final budget hearings in June.  The charter requires a budget by June 30th.

Back to top

References:

Economic Impacts in Oakland (Americans for the Arts): (PDF Download...)

Oakland Ranked 13 in Nation for Arts Businesses per Capita (page 10): (PDF Download...)

Mayor Quan's Informational Report to City Council on the City's Fiscal Condition and Framework for a Balancing Plan (Alert item on page 71 & 73 of pdf): (PDF Download...) Elimination of Art Grants, staff and film office

Back to top

Advocacy Resources:

Americans for the Arts Talking Points:
http://www.artsusa.org/information_services/toolkit/003.asp

Americans For The Arts General Response:
http://www.artsusa.org/information_services/toolkit/default.asp">

Back to top

About the Trust

Membership Application and Guidelines

I Live for Oakland Arts/ Local Giving

Back to top

Back to top