Fall 2014 Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys: Alhambra City Council District 3
Candidate order: Luis Ayala
As part of our work to foster greater civic dialogue and encourage greater voter turnout, Arts for LA presents these Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys to promote dialogue around issues facing our community.
Survey responses provided by each candidate are for voter information purposes only. Arts for LA does not endorse candidates seeking office. We are committed to fostering respectful, nonpartisan dialogue about issues relating to arts and culture. For more information, please read about our mission and values or our FAQ.
All eligible candidates were contacted to participate in the survey. If you would like to submit new or revise existing responses, please contact Arts for LA at [email protected] or 213-225-7580.
The Actors Fund, KCET Artbound, California Alliance for Arts Education, LA2050, LA STAGE Alliance, Latino Arts Network, Otis College of Art and Design, and the Social & Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) served as Regional Partners by promoting Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys throughout Los Angeles County.
Voting for Alhambra City Council District 3 will be held on Tuesday, November 4.
Elections are at-large, with five seats available in this election.
For more information on where to vote, visit the Los Angeles County Clerk/Registrar-Recorder’s Office website.
Question 1: What was the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up?
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Question 2: What do you believe the role of City Council should be in the development and support of the region's cultural infrastructure?
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Question 3: How would you champion modifications to, or expansion of, the city's current funding stream for local arts and culture?
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Question 4: What three things would you do to deepen the city's investment in its creative economy (cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit)?
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Spring 2014 Arts & Culture Candidate Survey Archive
Arts for LA invited eligible candidates in Los Angeles County elections to participate in our Spring 2014 Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys.
We thank the following organizations for supporting this round of Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys:
Arts for LA Releases School Board Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys
Arts for LA Releases School Board Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys
With an estimated $5.3 billion in educational funding set to invigorate California’s schools due to Proposition 30, school board leaders will be tasked with setting the priorities and direction for their schools’ future. To help spark dialogue around arts and education issues, Arts for LA has distributed Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys to every eligible candidate for election in 33 school district races throughout Lo
Spring 2013 Candidate Surveys Archive: L.A. City Council Dist. 6
Survey responses provided by each candidate are for voter information purposes only. Arts for LA does not endorse candidates seeking office. We are committed to fostering respectful, nonpartisan dialogue about issues relating to arts and culture. For more information, please read about our mission and values.
All eligible candidates were contacted to participate in the survey. If you would like to revise or submit responses, please contact Abe Flores at [email protected] or 213-225-7526.
Elections for this city council are run by district, meaning voters in each district may elect one name from the district’s candidates. Voters may vote in only one district.
To determine your home district, please visit the Los Angeles County Register-Recorder/County Clerk website.
The primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. A runoff will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd, if no single candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. If one candidate receives a majority of votes in this election, that candidate wins and no runoff will be held.
Candidates: Walter Escobar, Jose Roy Garcia, Nury Martinez, Cindy Montanez, Richard Valdez, Derek Waleko
Question 1: What was the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up?
The most meaningful arts experience I had was going on a field trip to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The music and the architecture of the Walt Disney Concert Hall is amazing. To all music aficionados, you can feel the vibrations of the music inside your own body and it soothes you. I am planning to go again in the near future.
This candidate has not yet responded.
I grew up in a family and community that cherished its culture and identity and celebrated that through music and the performing arts. Murals flourished at parks and along main thoroughfares. In an integrated arts program at San Fernando High School, I discovered a love of theater, dance, visual arts and extraordinary exposure to the arts and cultural diversity available in Los Angeles. This inspired me to stay in school, love learning and eventually go to college. As a School Board Member, this experience motivated my efforts to freeze any deeper cuts to already underfunded arts education and to establish art as a core subject at LAUSD.
This candidate has not yet responded.
My Mother, who is now 68 years old, has been an artist since before I was born. I grew up watching her engage and teach in many forms of arts, from acrylic and water base painting to huge murals with amazing messages. Although I did not inherit the artist gene, I am glad that my 6 year old daughter has.
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Question 2: What do you believe the role of City Council should be in the development and support of the region's cultural infrastructure?
The City of Los Angeles must take the initiative to foster growth and make sure that we stay above all other cities in the cultural dynamic that this city has. We have the largest entertainment industry here and we must make sure that we continue to grow that industry because it is revenue to the city and it gives people job opportunities. We need to have festivals at least once a month to show how ethnically diverse this city is.
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Access to community art is essential to the quality of life. As much as we need to emphasize smart development, job creation, housing, and transportation in all areas of the City, the human and creative components of our neighborhoods must be nurtured and the arts is a critical way to do so. I experienced that growing up and I’m glad to see it in my neighborhood today at spaces such as the Sun Valley Youth Arts Center. We need more of these facilities and organizations so that community members can have access to lessons, exhibitions and celebrations of their visual, performing, and media arts.
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I believe the City Council needs to be engage in facilitating avenues to our community to promote learning and performing different types of arts.
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Question 3: How would you champion modifications to, or expansion of, the city's current funding stream for local arts and culture?
We need to find new revenue sources or continue to expand on existing revenue sources. We do not need to raise taxes because it hurts the people. The City Council needs to first cut its own budget and must lead by example by cutting from the top down. Let the City of Los Angeles be transparent for people to see where all the money goes. The money is being stolen by these same politicians that are elected and someone needs to call them out. A perfect example is that two days after the March 5th, the Mayor said that the deficit is $100 million and not the $250 million that was originally said. If the sales tax had passed, where would the millions of dollars go?
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The Arts Development Fee and the dedicated portion of the Transient Occupancy Tax are positive funding streams for local arts and culture. These still only provide a limited amount of resources compared to the tremendous need for arts support throughout the City. My experience at LAUSD has shown me that there remains a tremendous opportunity for the City and School District to strategically pool resources and leverage the impact of their investments. At the City, I would introduce a motion to explore the use of the City’s bonding capacity, at an appropriate level, to accelerate the availability of funds for additional investment in community art.
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I would advocate for the funding of after school programs that would provide FREE of cost courses in art to the community. I would want the children of our community to have the same opportunity that I had.
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Question 4: What three things would you do to deepen the city's investment in its creative economy (cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit)?
We need to conduct fundraising events so that the money can be invested in the creative economy. The way to generate more revenue is to become a small business friendly city. We need to work with small local businesses and give them a break. By growing our economy, the revenue can be used to get our creative economy going once more. The City of LA must also become more aggressive in promoting tourism. Not just Hollywood, but every cultural center in Los Angeles. If you talk to a tourist, they always talk about Hollywood. There are many more places to see in LA and we need to tell people that. There is the Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, Olvera Street, Santa Monica Pier, Chinatown, Koreatown, Universal Studios, the Great Wall of Los Angeles and much more.
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1) Establish a consolidated Art Week to complement dineLA’s Restaurant week. Cultural Tourism is currently a series of individual activities, as opposed to the collective social and entertainment experience it should be. 2) As the City considers a phase-out of the Gross Receipts Business Tax, businesses that serve the creative economy may warrant prioritization to encourage creative industries to reinvest in direct and indirect jobs. 3) Lastly, there is an opportunity to partner with private and nonprofit organizations to establish an arts industry “incubator,” to support the establishment, growth and success of business that would become part of the creative economy.
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I would advocate that the City of LA partner with local organizations to assist the development of programs in arts to be made available to our community. This can also be done through the parks and recreation facilities, by either volunteers of paid art teachers. I would also support art exhibits of famous artist to take place within our city.
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Inglewood Candidates Respond to Arts & Culture Survey
Inglewood Candidates Respond to Arts & Culture Survey
Three of nine candidates for the Inglewood City Council have responded to Arts for LA’s semiannual arts & culture candidate surveys. The surveys, which cover the overlap between the economy and public funding for the arts, were published today on ArtsforLA.org.
Glendale Candidates Respond to Arts & Culture Survey
Glendale Candidates Respond to Arts & Culture Survey
Every candidate for Glendale’s Board of Education and eight of eleven candidates for Glendale City Council have responded to Arts for LA’s semiannual arts & culture candidate surveys. The surveys, which cover the overlap between the economy, public funding for the ar
Spring 2013 Candidate Surveys: L.A. City Council Dist. 13 Archive
Survey responses provided by each candidate are for voter information purposes only. Arts for LA does not endorse candidates seeking office. We are committed to fostering respectful, nonpartisan dialogue about issues relating to arts and culture. For more information, please read about our mission and values.
All eligible candidates were contacted to participate in the survey. If you would like to revise or submit responses, please contact Abe Flores at [email protected] or 213-225-7526.
Elections for this city council are run by district, meaning voters in each district may elect one name from the district’s candidates. Voters may vote in only one district.
To determine your home district, please visit the Los Angeles County Register-Recorder/County Clerk website.
A runoff may be held on May 21, 2013 between the top two candidates who received the most votes if neither receives a majority. If one candidate receives a majority of votes in this election, that candidate wins and no runoff will be held.
Candidates: John J. Choi, Alexander Cruz De Ocampo, Roberto Haraldson, Sam Kbushyan, Emile Mack, Robert Negrete, Mitch O’Farrell, Octavio Pescador, Josh Post, Michael Schaefer, José Sigala, Matt Szabo
Question 1: What was the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up?
When I was 12 years old, my mom took me to see Pavarotti perform at the Hollywood Bowl. Experiencing an international virtuoso artist at one of LA’s most historic venues left a lasting impression that resonates with me even today. I credit my lifelong appreciation for arts and culture to this experience.
Growing up my family didn’t have a lot of money. I will always remember our school sponsored trips to local museums, which gave me a great appreciation for the arts. I believe that art is the root of curiosity and creativity in our children, and that we must preserve our art community and continue to expand it for future generations.
I have been a musician my whole life. I have a degree in Art with an emphasis on video production, worked for Bill Viola and recording artist Seal. Art has been a constant throughout my life, but I remember one meaningful experience. One day arriving at work I found theater director Peter Sellars at our office. I admired his work since my early days at the Los Angeles Festival. Upon entering the room, despite the fact that I was surrounded by many prominent artists, of whom I was certainly not one, he walked straight up, focusing all his attention on me and made me feel I was the most important person there. I realized then, that part of Peter’s art was making those he came in contact with feel great about having met him.
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I was raised in Central Los Angeles in a low to mid income neighborhood plagued by gangs. When I was about 6 years old I began taking piano lessons at the USC Preparatory School of Music. This began my love for music and experiencing the arts. I was lifted from my surroundings and exposed to the world beyond my neighborhood.
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Art classes all through my public education experience every year in grade school. Elective art classes through Junior High School. I later became a professional dancer, actor, and singer.
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My most meaningful arts and cultural experience as a child occurred by those around me simply encouraging me to be creative and open minded. As a child I was always creating, whether snowmen out of marshmallows or remaking music videos in costume with my siblings. I took these experiences to adulthood where I still enjoy painting modern art and exploring the fantastic art/culture scene of Los Angeles, especially in District 13. One of my highest priorities as a public servant is to make sure we, as a society, do not cut arts programs for kids. I believe arts, dance, music, and programs that encourage our youths' creativity and imagination are vital to the well being of a child's development.
Meeting Santa Monica artist known for his drawing of big cartoon fish in a tank; meeting Mrs. Jonas Salk in La Jolla, Frances Goulet, who was Picasso's Mistress, touring the Hemitage in St. Petersburg Russia, the El Prado in Madrid Spain. often visiting the Washington DC National Gallery, seeing the Mona Lisa there(on tour) and at her home when I visited, twice, the Louve in Paris. Was in high school with Frank Zappa the RockIcon and he drew cartoons expressing his rage, little monsters banging spoons. Not just one experience, just am supporter and fan. Know Kent Twitchell, shame on you if you don't, he paints tall figures on tall buildings, and (thank God for our local law) when feds took over a bldg.with his artwork on it, and demolished it without notice to him, he sued and recovered over $1,000,000 for government misconduct. Have invited him to pick out a bldg. to paint and I'd buy it and commission him.
This candidate has not yet responded.
This candidate has not yet responded.
Question 2: What do you believe the role of City Council should be in the development and support of the region's cultural infrastructure?
City Council members need to understand that promoting arts and culture is an essential responsibility. My goal is to lead the effort to develop a comprehensive Arts and Culture Tourism policy that promotes and better connects all of our arts and cultural institutions within the city.
Los Angeles is rich with cultural diversity and has many landmarks dedicated to celebrating the traditions of many of our racial, ethnic and religious communities. It is important that the City Council preserve and promote this cultural infrastructure even as new development opportunities arise. Having been born and raised in Council District 13, I have seen how communities can change with new development and economic opportunities. I intend to work with developers to strike a balance to preserve the cultural and historical nature of parts of the district, while also promoting investment in the district.
Throughout history when societies prosper, arts and culture prosper. As we battle the difficulties of budget shortfalls, now more than ever our City Council needs to protect and invest in our cultural growth. The very identity of Los Angeles, our place in the world is as a center for cultural development and creative innovation in the arts. It is crucial to the future of our city that we make more opportunities for that development and stimulate the economic engine that our city is famous for.
This candidate has not yet responded.
The City Council plays a crucial role in three areas: funding, education, and outreach. We must continue funding arts programs and find ways to incentivize small artisans in their development. We must encourage art education. It has shown that art education has an impact on not only one’s educational goals but also promotes a healthier and more civically engaged citizen. We also need to do more outreach to the art community and encourage members of the art community to become part of commissions and serve on boards. We must hear the voices of artists.
This candidate has not yet responded.
If we wish to call ourselves a world class city then we must have a world class arts program in partnership with city government. This city has one of the greatest arts community in the world, yet the culture of art appreciation and support from our government, our public schools, and our civic institutions, is practically nonexistent. The City Council should play a direct role in making the case for economic development, tourism revenue, and quality of life in a city that has a thriving cultural arts community, and that the city should support that community with public arts funding.
This candidate has not yet responded.
The City has a responsibility to support the art community by encouraging development of artistic and/or cultural projects and promoting these projects, and by providing funding opportunities for the arts. The city should also consider increasing the 1% art ordinance to encourage developers to include art in their new developments by providing a tax incentive or potentially finding matching funds through state, federal or non-profit programs. The City should reach out to the community and engage them in their efforts to enhance the art and cultural infrastructure. We must also support arts programs in our schools for our youth. And as a councilmember, I will always support cultural festivals and activities that explore our rich diversity in Los Angeles.
Seek out or support all endowment/grants staff in doing so, funds available from federal state and county sources and the many foundations, trusts, that permit support of artists and art, LA has a nexus to Andy Warhol Foundation/Trust, we must see who in LA has influence in the arts and lend official and unofficial support of our leadership.
This candidate has not yet responded.
This candidate has not yet responded.
Question 3: How would you champion modifications to, or expansion of, the city's current funding stream for local arts and culture?
While it is clear that there must be an increase in the current funding for our local arts and culture, we cannot simply fund arts on the backs of developers. We need to find real solutions to dedicate streams of funding specifically for arts and culture. It is also imperative to build better relationships with major cultural stakeholders that will lead to a re-funding of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Along with a comprehensive tourism policy, this will lead to a more sustainable source of revenue for the arts.
Through my work with the Saban Family Foundation, I have extensive experience managing budgets. In my current role, I manage the foundation's $200 million budget for large-scale nonprofit projects. It is crucial that we find new sources of revenue to fulfill our obligations.
I would allocate a certain percentage of our city’s general fund for arts and culture. I would work with our unions and local businesses to create apprenticeship programs that would offer all citizens an opportunity to learn a craft in our entertainment industry. I would create incentives for local production and partner with other cities to try to attract their business here. I would partner our expat communities with artists from their native and other county’s to bring more cultural inclusion in our arts and industries.
This candidate has not yet responded.
To create a more stable funding stream for art we must work with artists, private agencies, and non-profits to create dedicated funding sources. We must also coordinate with economic development and tourism officials on how best to get more artistic growth to the area. For any effort to be successful we must have an effective coordination effort that involves various disparate groups. I have the experience in coordinating many different groups, including regional governments and agencies, non-profits, and educational institutions, and bring people together. I also believe we need a strong development plan that includes arts and cultural programs. I also want to improve funding for green spaces, parks, and libraries and see art as playing a crucial role in the development of these areas.
This candidate has not yet responded.
For starters, we can require greater funding for arts programs (currently 1% of new development funding) than we currently have. Furthermore, we can develop a scale of arts funding that rises based on the cost of the project. For instance if the AEG development downtown were to proceed, can you imagine what a 2% increase in funding for the arts could do compared to a 1% increase - of a one billion dollar project? We can also prioritize for arts funding. The Cultural Affairs department is woefully underfunded. We can identify funding elsewhere once we get our budget catastrophe under control, and increase it.
This candidate has not yet responded.
The City needs to have a consistent funding source so arts programs will not be affected by poor leadership and personal politics. The City's Cultural Affairs Department should consider setting up an Arts Fund and agreeing to maintain a set amount to sustain a viable cultural and arts community. The program can be funded through public-private partnerships and the City can provide funding through government grants and council discretionary funds. The City should also ensure that at least 25% of the Arts Program funding goes directly to outreach in undeserved and disadvantaged communities to engage a younger population in the arts.
Do not know about the current programs, will be researching that, best I can offer is an open door, open mind, a mature appreciation of the arts(am going on 75, have doctorate in law), was two term City Councilman of San Diego before moving to LA and was associate with the museum and art offerings of San Diego and La Jolla's museum; we must stay competitive with other cities nationally and internationally. Am impressed with Chicago's downtown Art Museum. Probably have more nexus to art that my 11 opponents combined.
This candidate has not yet responded.
This candidate has not yet responded.
Question 4: What three things would you do to deepen the city's investment in its creative economy (cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit)?
As mentioned above, an Arts and Cultural Tourism policy will play a huge role in boosting the creative economy here in Los Angeles. First, efforts should be made to better promote and market Los Angeles as an international tourist destination. Second, we need to create long-term plans for our city. These plans should include standardized signage for parking, broader language accessibility, smarter land use decisions, and designated cultural zones like Hollywood. Last but not least, our cultural centers and enclaves (Historic Filipinotown, Little Armenia, Thai Town, etc.) should be included as part of the efforts to promote our city as a world-class destination.
Though it is the backbone of our economy, the entertainment industry is bleeding jobs and City Hall is not doing enough to support this sector. Through my relationships and experience, I will promote the industry and support new areas of growth, such as the incubators of new music and entertainment that are emerging in Silver Lake and Echo Park. We also need to do more to make it easier to film in Los Angeles, which will help drive tourism. Lastly, we need to incentive studio upgrades for production and post-production facilities, which will help preserve jobs in the creative economy.
Although we may not have the birthright to the entertainment industry, it is synonymous with Los Angeles. We need to educate the residents of our city on the importance of arts and culture to our local economy. As a councilperson I would create programs that back up opportunities for local artists and help foster a cottage industry of do-it-yourself programs supported in part by the city and local businesses. Lastly, I would work with our studios to find a mutually beneficial means to reduce the outsourcing of our production services in the entertainment industry.
This candidate has not yet responded.
Strengthening our local creative economy is one of the three planks of my Jobs Plan. I will work with the arts and entertainment industry to bring film jobs back to LA, creating destination tourism, invest in parks and recreation, libraries, and museums to create a culturally vibrant community. Continuing to build a creative economy around the arts will encourage other creative enterprises, including the job-producing medical care community and the burgeoning high-tech and green-tech sectors.
This candidate has not yet responded.
1. Clean up Hollywood so tourists actually want to stay longer and spend money there. 2. Consult our various cultural community leaders, put a plan of action together and work with the city and LA Tourism Inc. on messaging, updating city websites, and promoting cultural tourism in Los Angeles. Some communities have no presence and they should, such as Historic Filipinotown, Thai Town, etc. 3. This will bring jobs and beef up the non-profit and for profit sectors of arts, culture, and tourism.
This candidate has not yet responded.
Encourage a partnership between small businesses, local artist and the city to develop cultural tourism outlets. Make it easier to navigate the city's business permitting process so that artist entrepreneurs can open art galleries to display and sell their wares. Work with local artists, schools, community colleges, universities and small businesses and help them partner with each other and show case art created locally. Create a social media campaign focused on promoting, educating, and engaging tourists and others in the city's creative outlets.
1. Seek advice of your organization as to needs, and what is feasible. 2. Support programs providing employment for local artists in providing art, sculptor in any and all public places, where it is constantly seen and enjoyed rather than locked away. 3. Perhaps a major placement such as the Arc in St. Louis, or Statute of Liberty in NYC. 4. The major and minor foundations, trusts, are obligated by law to divest and spend their earnings and more, per federal law; we must know who these sources are, not just in LA but elsewhere--because $1 invested in Art of any kind in LA is seen by many more people than in smaller communities; perhaps Stephens Media(Arkansas) who has spent millions in Las Vegas and Washington DC(Newseum) would find merit in a media-related art-project in LA. Support strongly our sister-city program and would invite your counsel as to how my visits outside LA could include a pitch for art.
This candidate has not yet responded.
This candidate has not yet responded.
Spring 2013 Candidate Surveys: L.A. City Council Dist. 9 Archive
Survey responses provided by each candidate are for voter information purposes only. Arts for LA does not endorse candidates seeking office. We are committed to fostering respectful, nonpartisan dialogue about issues relating to arts and culture. For more information, please read about our mission and values.
All eligible candidates were contacted to participate in the survey. If you would like to revise or submit responses, please contact Abe Flores at [email protected] or 213-225-7526.
Elections for this city council are run by district, meaning voters in each district may elect one name from the district’s candidates. Voters may vote in only one district.
To determine your home district, please visit the Los Angeles County Register-Recorder/County Clerk website.
A runoff may be held on May 21, 2013 between the top two candidates who received the most votes if neither receives a majority. If one candidate receives a majority of votes in this election, that candidate wins and no runoff will be held.
Candidates: Manuel Aldana, Ana Cubas, Mike Davis, Ron Gochez, Terry Hara, Curren D Price, David Roberts
Question 1: What was the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up?
This candidate has not yet responded.
This candidate has not yet responded.
I have had several meaningful arts and cultural experiences such as winning the semi-finalist position at the NCNB National Arts Competition when I was in the 7th grade. I also remember my first airplane ride to the New York World's Fair and seeing the monorails. It was not until many years later that I had rode the bus to Orlando, Florida on a field trip with my church and visited Disney World where I once again saw the monorails, but this time going through the lobby of the Contemporary in the theme park. In some way there is a connectedness in my serving as the Chair of the Rail Transportation Committee of the State Assembly and its relationship to art. My discovery of the significance of rail transportation and art collectively made for the most meaningful and cultural experiences as I travelled in my earlier years.
This candidate has not yet responded.
As a child, I was presented with the opportunity to play the violin, an opportunity that challenged me and opened up new worlds to me as well. I played the violin from the time I was in 4th grade through high school and was able to participate in several district-wide orchestras. Both art and music have meaningful effects on personal growth and development, and because of the availability of resources at my school, I was afforded these enriching opportunities. I want to ensure these same opportunities are available for those currently disenfranchised from the arts.
I attended Normandie Avenue Elementary School in the Ninth District where the arts were an integral part of the curriculum. I played the drums and bells in the band and created arts and crafts projects for my parents and family members. When I matriculated to Audubon Junior High School I was active in drama. Having an in-school arts program was crucial in developing my critical and creative thinking skills. I believe the foundation for my ability to succeed at Stanford University and Santa Clara University School of Law was rooted in the comprehensive education I had which included the arts.
I was fortunate to be raised by parents who encouraged travel and exposure to the Arts to me and my three sisters. I have a wealth of memorable visits and experiences. I recall trips in our station wagon and trailer to places like the Hearst Castle in San Simeon and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. I recall hearing live jazz being played in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I have vivid memories visiting the old Getty Museum in Malibu and the La Brea Tar Pits with my grandmothers and family from other parts of the country. I remember being “forced” to see the Nutcracker being performed at El Camino College, and then begging my mom to go again the following year. My family instilled art appreciation at a young age, and I continue to value the power of arts and culture as an adult.
Question 2: What do you believe the role of City Council should be in the development and support of the region's cultural infrastructure?
This candidate has not yet responded.
This candidate has not yet responded.
Provide resources, recruit talent and assist in providing an infrustructure where art can exist and thrive in Los Angeles, as well as increase the awareness of the value of art to Los Angeles. Art can enhance our city as a place of destination for tourism. To this end, we want to ensure that our architectural standards are implemented in areas of the city in which there can be distinctive charactistics realized in various communities throughout Los Angeles. We need arts communities, food courts, performing arts centers and technical arts as we prepare to maintain our postion on the Pacific. The City Council should take the leadership in creating an overall vibrant environment for the City of Los Angeles.
This candidate has not yet responded.
City Council should encourage school districts to develop arts education infrastructure on the long-term basis. LAPD annually sponsored the Traffic Safety Mural Project, an art competition to raise traffic safety awareness among teenagers and the community. As a representative of LAPD involved in this contest, I deeply understand the importance of arts education among the youth, and strongly believe arts should be a core curriculum subject in school education. Schools should integrate arts education into their general fund budgets. City Council can get more arts-related grants from the state and set up more grants for arts education to help schools solve funding issues.
I served as Chairman for the Joint Legislative Committee on the Arts for the 2011-2012 session. In that capacity I worked with policy makers as well as those in the arts, humanities and entertainment industry to explore issues from the threat of piracy on California’s economy to increasing funding for California’s schools. I will bring that knowledge base to the City Council where I believe the role of the Council is to be ambassadors and advocates for the arts and cultural tourism; and to create funding and partnership opportunities for institutional programs.
The City Council can play a stronger role in the development of a cultural infrastructure, assisting in the funding of parks, museums, nature preserves, gallerias, and many other attractions that attract tourists and generate jobs and taxes for the city. Los Angeles is in a unique position compared to other cities because of the sheer number of our diversity and the sheer number of attractions located across the City. We need to better collaborate among city officials, business leaders, artists, museums and local Community Based Organizations. Through these efforts we can generate more cultural and artistic oriented tourism here in Los Angeles.
Question 3: How would you champion modifications to, or expansion of, the city's current funding stream for local arts and culture?
This candidate has not yet responded.
This candidate has not yet responded.
As the immediate past chair of the California State Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee, I have championed several projects and bills that addressed the need for exposure to local arts and culture. As the next city councilman, I would expand more financial resources for the development of a more robust and comprehesive and multi-cultural arts society in Los Angeles by enhancing our relationship with both corporate and philanthropic organizations. I would look into creating partnerhips by and between area schools and businesses for the purpose of improving the awareness and appreciation for local arts and culture. Given that Arts Education Month is celebrated and duly recognized on the state legislature calendar per a Bill I introduced, ACR26, I would continue to make the discovery and appreciation of arts as an important learning experience.
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Arts and cultural festivals have a particularly unique way of bringing diverse people together as the arts are a universal language. I have experience in overseeing budgets for such festivals in such a way that increases revenue/sponsorships, making them a feasible reality even in times of economic downturn. Many candidates may have the intention to advocate for local arts and culture, but may not have the know-how. As Councilmember, I will use my experience as well as leverage my unique partnerships to make local arts and culture a reality for my district even when public funds are not sufficient.
In 2010, I authored SB 1076 which was sponsored by the California Arts Council. The bill allows taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to the California Arts Fund through a designated box on their state personal income tax return(s). To date, the program has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars for arts education programs. If I am elected to the Council, I would like to supplement the funding for the Arts lost to budget cuts by exploring similar programs in partnership with business, labor and community organizations who believe that the arts are the foundation for civic engagement.
The first thing we need to do is put more artists onto boards and commissions to ensure their viewpoints are expressed when the City moves forward with new projects and policies. I know that Art is an important component of economic and cultural development, and have managed efforts to expand new art projects and programs in Leimert Park Village and Exposition Park throughout my career in public service. I have worked with leaders like Karen Mack from LA Commons and Jay McAdams from the 24th Street Theater. They understand my passion for youth arts programming and have endorsed my campaign. We must also expand our view of creativity. Often times we define entrepreneurship in terms of innovation in business or technology but art is probably the most innovative and creative field that has ever existed. We need to find ways to expand artistic businesses by encouraging artisan entrepreneurship. We need to encourage further arts education in our schools and promote after school arts, music and cultural programming. Without art there is no culture; we need art in order to promote Los Angeles’ history and culture. I have worked to do precisely this at the EXPO Center (city’s largest recreation center) with the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, and collaborative efforts with LA Commons, USC and the MTA on the Expo Light Rail Banner Project.
Question 4: What three things would you do to deepen the city's investment in its creative economy (cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit)?
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The three things I would do to deepen the City's investment in its creative economy is: 1) Give incentives to Companies and Departments which set expamples by intergrating art into their organization 2) Institionalize an appreciation for art by conducting a citywide arts contest 3) Support creative projects like Marketplaces which encourage international trade with other countries Each of these ideas will encourage an appreciation for art, an awareness of the education of art, and the opportunities for direct and non-direct employment for both non-profit and for profit entities in our multi-cultural city.
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First, I see a need to highlight this regions talent and culture by identifying local talent and providing the avenues to showcase that talent, particularly the talent among our youth, such as the Inter-city Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles. Next, I want to advocate for arts and cultural festivals, such as the Nisei Week Festival, which celebrates Japanese American culture in Little Tokyo each year. I have seen first hand how these festivals are enriching, but also can generate profit to meet the needs of our community. I plan to focus on reviving the Central Avenue Historic Jazz Corridor – a cultural landmark here in CD9 that would strengthen our level of pride in our community as well as foster tourism and business development.
1) Create measurable rankings for education in arts related fields. In 2011 I introduced legislation to establish within the Department of Education an Advisory Committee on Creative and Innovative Education for the purpose of rating K-12 schools based on creative/innovative activities offered. I did this because we need to cultivate creativity in schools and measure the outcomes. 2) Partner with corporations and non-profits to create pipelines for jobs and internships in the creative economy. 3) Promote and encourage local points of interest in communities with a rich diversity of arts and cultural history through partnerships with trade and tourism organizations.
1. Re-examine the effectiveness of the 1% City Arts Fee and MTA Public Arts Program 2. Expand public-private partnership for After-School Arts and Cultural Programming at Recreation Centers, Libraries and Non-Profit Facilities like A Place Called Home and 24th Street Theater 3. Expand and encourage marketing efforts with MTA and other Public Agencies for visual, performing and art exhibition programs at public facilities and during large public events (i.e. Special Events at Exposition Park and USC—CAAM Target Sundays, First Fridays at the Natural History Museum, LA Times Festival of Books, Rose Garden, Central Avenue Jazz Festival) I believe that we have a “wealth” of tools and opportunities to expand Art appreciation here in Los Angeles. However, we must do a much better job at effectively managing these programs and seeking collaborative opportunities to promote and expose these programs and festivals to the general public.
Spring 2013 Candidate Surveys: L.A. City Council Dist. 1 Archive
Survey responses provided by each candidate are for voter information purposes only. Arts for LA does not endorse candidates seeking office. We are committed to fostering respectful, nonpartisan dialogue about issues relating to arts and culture. For more information, please read about our mission and values.
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Elections for this city council are run by district, meaning voters in each district may elect one name from the district’s candidates. Voters may vote in only one district.
To determine your home district, please visit the Los Angeles County Register-Recorder/County Clerk website.
A runoff may be held on May 21, 2013 between the top two candidates who received the most votes if neither receives a majority. If one candidate receives a majority of votes in this election, that candidate wins and no runoff will be held.
Candidates: Gilbert Cedillo, Jose Gardea, Jesse Rosas
Question 1: What was the most meaningful arts and cultural experience you had growing up?
The most meaningful arts and cultural experience I had growing up was being introduced to ethnic theater as a young person. I was in a summer program for three years where I lived on campus at UCLA, and was exposed to all sorts of social critical theater, film, ethnic dance, and I realized the impact that the arts could have on a person. I want to make those types of experiences available to every kid in my district, to show them that the arts can be for them as well.
I grew up in the MacArthur Park and Echo Park neighborhoods where exposure to the arts and culture included historic architecture, community murals, and music. The diversity of the neighborhoods I grew up in reflects in my public service, culture and community.
When I was growing up in Mexico City, I went to the art museum there. They had a Picasso exhibit up at the time, and I found it fascinating. In seeing the world through Picasso's eyes, I realized how the world can be viewed so differently by others, and that it's important to keep an open mind about perception and perspective. Everyone sees things differently, and it's necessary to realize the before we can agree on anything.
Question 2: What do you believe the role of City Council should be in the development and support of the region's cultural infrastructure?
Cultural infrastructure can shape a community just as profoundly as physical infrastructure. One needs only look at the Inner Harbor District of Baltimore’s concerted efforts to fill its blocks with museums, sculptures, and memorials. Residents of District One have been underserved in this regard – both public and philanthropic dollars often neglect us in favor of richer environs, and it will be a goal of mine on the City Council to provide meaningful opportunities for cultural enrichment to the young people of my district – both through public money and through creating partnerships between civic leaders, local schools, and non-profits. As a part of these partnerships, I want to see our district be filled with sculptures, murals, and other visual art pieces that represent our unique community’s unique character.
The role of the City Council in support of the region’s cultural infrastructure should be aggressive, proactive and creative. The role of the City Council, especially during lean budget years, must be to aggressively highlight arts and culture. As a council, we can proactively create opportunities within the arts and culture community to create jobs that will benefit the city’s taxpayers. I believe creative powers can be unleashed by looking at art and culture as a prime partner in economy.
I believe their role is to facilitate the creation or alteration of public or unused spaces in order to provide studio and gallery space, as well as help coordinate events, such as the Art Walk and Second Saturday, that both display and support the work of local artists here in the community.
Question 3: How would you champion modifications to, or expansion of, the city's current funding stream for local arts and culture?
I have long been a major supporter of the arts – both through public funding in the Assembly, as well as through raising private funds for the arts as Chair of the Latino Caucus. I have long been a major supporter and fundraiser of ethnic theater groups like Culture Clash, and as a City Councilman, I will continue to use my platform as a public official to raise private funds while fighting for more public funds. Many residents of the community I represent often think of arts as something that only goes to other parts of the city. I want to change that. As a City Councilman, I want to combat inequalities in where arts funding goes. I want kids in the neighborhoods I represent to empower themselves by picking up a musical instrument, or a paintbrush, or a typewriter (i.e. a laptop).
I would address this challenge by incorporating the limited arts resources into our more traditional community development structure, whereby we can leverage outside resources to enhance exposure of arts and culture to our families.
I will take the initiative to work with local non-profit artistic organizations so we can begin a dialogue surrounding the development of policies that are both feasible for the city and helpful to the artists. I will also approach the Council with data showing the financial and cultural benefits artists and their art have on a community.
Question 4: What three things would you do to deepen the city's investment in its creative economy (cultural tourism, indirect and direct jobs, nonprofit and for profit)?
First, when I talk about job-training, I don’t only want to train at-risk youth in the building trades. Some can write, some have a story to tell, some can paint, some can build sets for plays. There are a lot of jobs in the arts, and I want to bring them to the 1st Council District. Second, I want to weave USC, CSULA, and Occidental into the cultural fabric of this district. I want to create programs for young people in our district to visit the theater, arts, dance, music, and film departments at those Universities, and to bring arts students from those universities into the schools in our district to mentor our young people. Third, we have great cultural centers in the district that ought to be expanded, from Plaza de La Raza to the Chinese American Museum, Southwest Museum, and I want to make these into hubs of rich cultural exchange, to attract new events and acts to venues throughout our district. In addition, I will bring acts into underutilized venues in the first Council District like the band shell and the hall in Arroyo Seco.
-Create an LA City Cultural Diversity Policy for economic growth and tourism. -Aggressively pursue outside funding sources to support such policy. -Work with community infrastructure to Create art incubators in every neighborhood.
As mentioned in the previous answer, I would devise a fact-based presentation for the council detailing the tangible financial and cultural benefits artists and art have on any given community. I would also encourage the expansion of current artistic events to strengthen their positive impact, as well as encouraging the council to provide new events and art projects that help both artists and their community, such as the painting of electrical boxes, poles, and encouraging street art to take the place of gang graffiti.
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