Letter: Help Save the Culver City Cultural Affairs Department

The following comments were made by Marla Koosed, vice-chair of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission at the commission's May 14 meeting. 

My comments are not to slight City Manager John Nachbar or City Clerk Martin Cole’s efforts on behalf of the Cultural Affairs staff, the Commission or the Foundation. I am extremely appreciative of Mr. Nachbar and completely understand and respect his fiscal responsibility to the City of Culver City.
 
On the heels of the new City budget being presented, with no changes in sight for Cultural Affairs, it is time to speak out and make public what happened to Cultural Affairs on April 24, 2012.
 
On that day, 13-full time regular employees and one full-time limited term employee were issued layoff notices as part of a reorganization plan due to the now dissolved Culver City Redevelopment Agency.
 
Each of the full-time regular employees was offered a choice of reassignment to another position, acceptance of a paid leave severance package or acceptance of an early retirement incentive (if eligible). The vacated 14 positions were proposed for a City savings of $2.3 million annually to the City’s General Fund. Of the 14, three made up the entire Cultural Affairs division. (Thankfully, each chose to accept reassignment so we at least kept the employees ‘in house’ so to speak).
 
Susan Obrow, Performing Arts and Special Events Coordinator was reassigned to Parks and Recs, with her previous duties adding the management of Vet’s Auditorium and other Parks and Rec administrative responsibilities. Jeremy Green, former Administration and Special Projects Coordinator, was reassigned to the City Manager’s office, leaving Christine Byers, Public Art and Historic Preservation Coordinator, with an odd pairing -- Transportation  four days a week and Community Development one day a week.
 
In one moment, Cultural Affairs was dismantled and defunded without any discussion involving the commission, the foundation or more importantly the public. It’s one year later, and staff, the commission and the foundation have been more than patient hoping for a minor adjustment to current Cultural Affairs staff for the 2013/2014-budget year. 

The problem lies with the fact that the Cultural Affairs Division and Commission were established by the City Council in 2001, bearing the responsibility to oversee the Art in Public Places program and Historic Preservation.  That same Council adopted the Community Cultural Plan with a 5-0 vote in March of 2003. The public voted for and trusted the 2001 City Council and future City Council’s to carry on that legacy, promise and responsibility. 

The decision to dismantle and defund Cultural Affairs was done so under the auspices of it being solely a financial decision.  But this decision is not a financial one. It is simply about the fact that there was no public input, no discussion about the impact this would have on a department that had worked well over the last decade putting Culver City  on the map. No discussion about the legacy that the 2001 City Council established. And, it was the only division that was cut by 70 percent.

Currently, staff, Commission and the Foundation are nurturing Cultural Affairs to the best of their abilities. However with current staffing levels, they have had to cut out all but essential parts of their job descriptions and work programs. Staff is unable to apply for grants (without a herculean effort including involving commissioner and foundation board members). 

Staff cannot manage and apply for quality interns, oversee foundation fundraising and have had to cut non-relevant sub-committee meetings for the Commission and the Foundation. We cannot underestimate the institutional knowledge that the Cultural Affairs staff has in their grasp, along with their professional relationships that benefit Culver City tremendously. Their expertise is just the tip of the iceberg if we lose them. We are severely temporarily disabled and could become  permanently so if no action is taken.
 The cities of Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Monica and West Hollywood all have Cultural Affairs departments that are absorbed into the general fund, not Redevelopment. 

So in honor of the 25th anniversary of our Art In Public Places program,  advocate  for taking the first small step to shore up a weak foundation by reinstating Ms. Byers' position to full time in Community Development for the 2013/2014 budget year, thereby making us 70 percent operational for the next few years, while we figure out a long-term solution to fund and re-imagine Cultural Affairs, post Redevelopment Agency. 

Take action and speak up and out to your council members via email, phone and all social media before June 4 or during the scheduled budget hearings from the departments. On June 5 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a  special  Cultural Affairs Commission meeting with the City Manager to discuss this topic. 
Attend on June 5 to show your support. On June 10 the City Council is scheduled to adopt the  2013/2014 budget. We need to reinstate one, full time highly specialized and dedicated staff member. 

Thank you,
Marla Koosed Citizen Vice-Chair Cultural Affairs Commission

Editor's note: Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity