Join MACLA and members of the San Jose Arts Alliance* to make a visual statement in support of Arts Funding at the San Jose City Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 12 at 7pm.

As you may know, the City of San Jose is currently projecting an $84 million budget deficit for FY09-10. As such, we need to show a strong presence in order to ensure the arts are a priority in the City Budget.

We need you to join us at the evening session of the Tuesday, May 12 San Jose City Council meeting. Our goal is to mobilize as many artists, community members and supporters of San Jose arts organizations to attend the Public Hearing on the Proposed Operating & Capital Budget for FY09-10.

(At the May 7 Budget Study Session, District 3 Councilmember Sam Liccardo, who is also the Arts Commission Liaison proposed that the City figures out a way to backfill the arts grants for art organizations, like MACLA and the San Jose Arts Alliance. Other council members supported this proposal.)

As a follow up we need to show a major presence at the May 12, 7pm session Council Meeting.
- Wear a black shirt
- We will provide a sticker with a red letter A that says "Support SJ Arts."
- If you really want to speak you can, but the main goal is to have a visual representation for the City Council regarding the number of constituents who support the arts.
- Our message is simple - the Arts add value to our city and we are requesting that the City backfills the declining TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax, i.e. Hotel Tax) to ensure our grants at the current levels.

The San Jose City Council Meeting takes place:
Council Chambers
San Jose City Hall
200 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Click here to view the May 12th Agenda, the budget is item 3.4.

Thank you in advance for your support of a flourishing, healthy and multicultural arts community in San Jose!

Best wishes,

Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez
MACLA, Executive Director