City Council has agenda items before it that regularly include fee waivers for events. The matters below in Item No. 28 show up today and were routinely approved for whatever was asked for each sub-item listed.
Should the council continue to approve such expenses in this budget crisis?
The Mayor's State of the City speech contained the message to city employees to "share the pain" of the budget crisis. The name of the City Council member sponsoring each motion appears beside each matter. Giving away money for a lot of the events tries to make things look as if "all is well with the city," which it is not. Council members should not continue to make themselve look good by giving away money and services like they have done in the past and begin to accept the Mayor's direction to "share the pain." Yes, cutting down awards will cause them pain- after all, it reduces their ability to be the "benefactor" to so many groups and individuals, but that's what the pain has to be. They are not above it.
"Sharing the pain" should be seen in an even more strict treatment of the Fee Waivers that the City Council approves. When the city sees that lots of the partying FUNDING is cut down, the tone of people to think about how serious this situation is may finally sink in. This doesn't mean to eliminate all events, but the City should not have to finance everything that it does, and maybe fundraising with private money should be used for funding such events.
On the other hand, it might be the intent of the City Council to move as if "ALL IS WELL" with the City. They might be keeping up various facades to convince the public that their Council members are doing "a great job", a routinely heard phrase in City Council's comments on one another's work. If they cut down the fee waivers, there'd be lots of disappointed and maybe angry consituents and many of these have some political clout that could be turned against the Council members. That may be why the spending continues and reality is pushed to the side. All is not well with the city finances, and more is to come.
TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM NO. 28.
"ITEM NO. (28)
07-1304-S2
et al. MOTIONS relative to “Special Events” to be held in the various Council Districts.
Recommendations for Council action:
DECLARE the following community events as “Special Events”; APPROVE any temporary street closures as requested; and, INSTRUCT the involved City departments to perform such services as detailed the Council motions attached to the various listed Council files, including the waiver of fees, costs and requirements and other related issues, as specified:
07-1304-S2
CD 9
a. MOTION (PERRY - REYES) relative to declaring the Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month on April 24, 2009 to May 27, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = none submitted).
09-0915
CD 1
b. MOTION (REYES - PERRY) relative to declaring the Cinco de Mayo Parade on May 2, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,800).
08-0624-S1
CD 1
c. MOTION (REYES - PERRY) relative to declaring the MacArthur Park Spring Carnival on May 1-3, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the
City = $6,000).
07-0037-S1
CD 5
d. MOTION (WEISS - ROSENDAHL) relative to declaring the Westwood Village Certified Farmers’ Market on each Wednesday from April 29, 2009 to June 30, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,500).
08-1050-S1
CD 5
e. MOTION (WEISS - LABONGE) relative to declaring the Opening Night of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on April 30, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,188).
08-0748-S1
CD 5
f. MOTION (WEISS - LABONGE) relative to declaring the Temple Beth Hillel’s 5K Run, Walk and Stroll/Health Fair on April 26, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,755).
07-3034-S1
CD 15
g. MOTION (HAHN - LABONGE) relative to declaring the Island Avenue Block Party on May 8, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,226). "
Posts
