Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
DCLA's awareness of Brooklyn Museum's financial situation
0:20:31
ยท
77 sec
Council Member De La Rosa asks about DCLA's awareness of the Brooklyn Museum's financial shortfall before the layoffs were announced. Commissioner Cumbo responds:
- DCLA was aware that many cultural institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, were experiencing financial challenges.
- The Brooklyn Museum's situation did not stand out as particularly severe compared to other institutions.
- DCLA did not anticipate the extent of the layoffs and programming reductions.
- The museum had been attempting various cost-saving measures before resorting to layoffs.
- The commissioner emphasizes that while they were aware of financial challenges, the magnitude of the impact on staffing was unexpected.
- This situation is described as precarious and undesirable for both the museum and DCLA.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:20:31
Mhmm.
0:20:31
And does this did DCLA have any indications that the museum was facing a significant financial show shortfall before the layoffs were publicly announced?
Laurie Cumbo
0:20:42
We understood that the museum, like many of the cultural institutions, the 34 that we represent as part of the cultural institution groups, they are all experiencing some level of challenge financially that they keep us abreast of.
0:20:57
The Brooklyn Museum did not stand out as one of those organizations that were experiencing deficits of this level, but we were aware of it.
0:21:06
We were certainly aware of it.
0:21:07
We did not know that it was going to come to the point of layoffs and a reduction in programming of this magnitude.
0:21:16
I know that they were trying to do a lot of different cost savings measures before it came to this, but this was something that we were aware of, but we didn't know that it was going to take this significant of an impact on the museum staffing.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:21:32
Okay.
0:21:32
Thank you, Commissioner.
0:21:34
I'm gonna pass it to my colleagues.
0:21:36
I have more questions, but I'll pass it to Councilmember Hudson and then Councilmember Menon, and then I'll come back.
0:21:44
Okay.
0:21:45
Okay.
0:21:46
Councilmember Mennon.
Julie Menin
0:21:47
Great.