Unless We Act Now, Summer Concerts Will Be Cut

Ronnie Jayne

A formerly straight-ahead City Council agenda item concerning approval of the Cultural Affairs Commission’s recommendation for the 2012 Summer Music Festival, changed drastically after the elimination of State Redevelopment Agency money. Suddenly (and I mean, SUDDENLY) the January 9th meeting item changed from who would produce our 18th Annual Festival to whether there would be a Festival at all. The Culver City Redevelopment Agency has funded most of our Cultural Affairs events, as well as a large percentage of our Cultural Affairs staff salaries for a number of years. In the Staff Report City Manager, John Nachbar recommended that the Festival not be given any General Fund dollars, and therefore be cancelled for 2012. I delivered the following remarks when the issue was called:

“Good evening, Mr. Mayor and members of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency. My name is Ronnie Jayne, Culver City resident and current member of the Cultural Affairs Commission for the past 7 ½ years. I speak tonight as a private citizen, but with the knowledge gained from serving for at least 4 years on the Commission’s Festivals and Events subcommittee,

It’s election season (Isn’t it always?!), and Culver City citizens will be divided over candidates and issues. But the Culver City Music Festival is an issue where there is much unity. We LOVE this Festival. It’s an opportunity for people of different ages, ethnicities, economic means and musical tastes to get together, … enjoy Culver City, … enjoy each other’s company, … enjoy 8 evenings of excellent music, … and all of it , Free to all who come here.

I know that the Redevelopment Agency is funding the $ 75,000 per year to produce this Festival, and that the Redevelopment money is slated to disappear But $ 75,000 for 8 high-quality concerts is an amazing “bang for the buck – great music, good will, cultural enrichment, and a higher profile for Culver City. Over the years, there have been many discussions and struggles on how to reap the economic advantages from the Music Festival, implied by its funding by Redevelopment money.

Now that that money is leaving, perhaps we should realize the REAL purpose of the Festival – as a benefit that the City of Culver City gives to its citizens. There is a real value to this. When there is a rich cultural life in a city, it thrives. People want to buy houses here, shop here, eat here, live here. Our property values remain stable in an otherwise unstable market, partially due to our rich cultural life.

I get it – We need to find the $ 75,000 to pay for this. All the things we’d like to have add up. To quote the late Senator Everett Dirksen, …’A billion here, a billion there, … pretty soon we’re talking real money’ I get it. But, I believe we need to do a little more work to save this incredibly successful and popular program.

I know, … ‘Time is of the essence’. But, I recall that the last year’s decision on who would produce the Festival was at a City Council meeting on February 7, 2011 -- Using last year’s judgment, that would be 4 weeks from now!

We need to look at other cities – Many pay for their concert series from the General Fund. Again, we’re talking about $ 75,000 for 8 high-quality concerts.

Let’s take a few weeks to figure this out, and not decide from a position of panic. We’re smart people. If we want to do this, we can. If you can’t figure out how to fund this Festival now, .. give it a few weeks, do some research (I’ll help, if needed.), and let’s make it happen.”

After hearing from many members of the public, supporting the continued funding of the Music Festival, it was time for the Council members to speak. All of them voiced their love of the Festival, but there were differing ideas on how to proceed. Councilmember Cooper was on one end of the spectrum – making a motion to deny funding effective immediately, (and I paraphrase) so as not to prolong the inevitable conclusion that the City has no money to fund this project. Councilmember Armenta was on the other end of the spectrum – stating that the City should find a way to get funding for this important annual service to the citizens of Culver City. The other 2 were somewhere in between, although both Councilmembers Weissman and Mayor O’Leary explained that they did not support funding the Festival through the City’s General Fund.

Ultimately, the vote (Armenta, O’Leary and Weissman voting “Aye”, and Cooper voting “No”) gave the Commission, Staff, Agency, City Council and Culver City citizens 2 weeks to try to find a way to save the Festival. At our upcoming City Council meeting on January 23 the issue will come up again.

Since the January 9 Council meeting, I’ve received calls from many Culver City citizens, expressing their disappointment that this signature series could be cancelled. Some have offered dollars of various amounts, fundraising efforts and potential benefactors they have contacted. All have expressed dismay that this process is moving so quickly, … that these efforts take time to reach fruition.

I sincerely hope that our City Council sees these efforts on the part of Staff and Citizens as a step in the right direction, and will agree to accept a package that might include additional Sponsorships, Grants, Donations and some money from the General Fund.

We’re a creative town with very creative people. Culture is the life-blood of our town, and we need to keep “Culture City” alive and thriving. Preserving our Summer Music Festival is an important part of this package.

If you have an opinion and/or possible solution , please let your voice be heard. Come to the City Council Meeting on Monday, January 23. I’ll see you there.

Ronnie Jayne is a member of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, the former Chair of the Fiesta La Ballona Committee, and the former President of the Culver City Democratic Club.