REMARKS
Council Member Carlina Rivera remarks on cuts to cultural institutions
2:51:09
·
3 min
Council Member Carlina Rivera expresses frustration with the administration's lack of cooperation in expanding the budget for cultural institutions.
- Rivera states the administration has not been a willing partner in budget expansion efforts
- Rivera finds relying on council 'one shot' funds to cover operating costs unrealistic and irresponsible
- Rivera urges the administration to restore $45 million to cover expenses for cultural institutions
- Rivera highlights the negative impact of budget cuts on major institutions like La MaMa and smaller organizations funded by the Cultural Development Fund
Carlina Rivera
2:51:09
I don't know where to begin.
2:51:11
Commissioner, I I'm a little taken aback because I agreed that I would love to expand the budget.
2:51:21
I would love to work with the administration.
2:51:23
Yes.
2:51:25
But we need a willing partner in the administration.
2:51:29
And that is the the part where we might agree to disagree
Lauren Comito
2:51:33
Mhmm.
Carlina Rivera
2:51:33
In terms of where the administration has come forward in terms of meeting us.
2:51:38
I find it unrealistic and irresponsible to depend on counsel one shots to to cover SIG operating costs.
2:51:48
That's the city's responsibility, we urge the administration to restore $45,000,000 to cover these expenses.
2:51:56
And what was mentioned, which I thought was important is that there of these investments that have been made in in black and indigenous people of color run institutions finally.
Lucy Sexton
2:52:04
Mhmm.
Carlina Rivera
2:52:05
We finally invited them to come to the table to expand their programming, and now you have long term institutions who you would think are are quite established and they have the infrastructure and they're incredible.
2:52:18
But because of these cuts are are seeing so much.
2:52:26
They're likely to close if these cuts are not restored.
2:52:29
And I haven't even gotten to the smaller organizations who are funded by the Cultural Development Fund Mhmm.
2:52:35
Who don't even know where to begin in terms of what they've experienced in terms of losses.
2:52:40
And I'll ask you about the safety net awards because I think those are important.
2:52:44
But just to highlight because again, the the smaller organizations, I can't wait to talk about because, you know, they're they're so important to our communities.
2:52:52
But when you have you know, LaMama asking for a $1,000,000 in expense.
2:52:58
And the Queen's Museum of Frey, they won't be able to keep their doors open.
2:53:02
You have the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Sirius operating distress.
2:53:07
These are major institutions that have now been really sort of undercut by the administration.
2:53:14
So I I do have I do have questions.
2:53:15
I just have to vent a little of my frustration because I I appreciate, you know, flowers.
2:53:21
I love flowery prose, and I I love breaking ground and cutting ribbons and these institutions that I've been able to bring money to in my district were so important to me growing up.
2:53:33
And I see your enthusiasm and your love for arts and culture every single day in the work that you do.
2:53:38
Mhmm.
2:53:39
But how do you explain the cuts that have come and have not even been restored nearly half.
2:53:47
I mean, there is so much going on right now with the groups who were cut, you know, 8 months in, they received those letters, and we went over this.
2:53:57
And the last budget hearing, I wanna note your presence at that last hearing because you stood in its entirety and you heard every single person testify.
2:54:07
So I wanna make sure that I thank you for that.
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What is the adequacy of the proposed headcount increase for meeting the cultural community's needs?
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What are the reasons for DCLA's reliance on one-time council funds to cover the Social Inclusion Grants (SIG) operating costs and the exclusion of $45,000,000 urged funding in the executive budget?
