May 24, 2004

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AREA BILL:
CALL. WRITE. VISIT.

Your legislators need to hear from you again in support of the CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AREA BILL, # 7018-A (ASSEMBLY) # 3109-A (SENATE). Send an email, call the district office, or meet with your legislators.

The CDA BILL has moved from the Assembly Conference committee to Ways and Means, chaired by Assemblyman Herman Farrell. In the Senate, it has moved from the Economic Development Committee to Finance, chaired by Senator Owen Johnson. In addition to contacting your legislators, calls to both of these Committee Chairmen will be very effective at this time.

Assemblyman Farrell 518-455-5491; Senator Johnson 518-455-3411. Just leave your message with the staffer who answers the phone and include your name and address.

It is urgent that as many people as possible contact their legislators and committee chairs within the next 2 weeks to urge support of the bill. The bill already has huge community and legislative support statewide. We do hear opposition to the Bill from one individual in New York City, who has a problem with the very premise of private investment incentives to stimulate economic development that benefits the non-profit arts community. On the other hand, strong support downtown and uptown in NYC and statewide indicate that there are a number of areas that are poised and ready to take advantage of this Bill when it passes.

The CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AREA BILL proposes an expansive vision of arts development, using two forms of designation-cultural development areas (not less than six nor more than nine statewide), and designated cultural assets (up to 100 statewide) -and tax credits to induce private, non-governmental money into the development of facilities for arts groups. These incentives for private investment will bring new revenue to stimulate development and facility expansion that will benefit both sectors. The bill requires a partnership of local government with local arts corporations, and is designed to augment the traditional general operating and program support provided through the New York State Arts Council but does not influence the peer review process.

Through this legislation, arts groups are well on the way of realizing a twenty year dream of being at the center of community initiatives that stimulate economic development and create jobs. This is a realization of a vision that has long been discussed and put forth in recent years as another justification for public support of the arts.

If you would like to review a more detailed explanation of the Bill, click here.

The Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations has a 29-year history as New York's service association for community based arts and cultural organizations. The Alliance provides leadership and vision, and delivers services, resources and tools that strengthen community cultural organizations. The Alliance monitors, informs and mobilizes the field on statewide and national issues affecting the arts and assists local arts agencies in building community support and developing effective grassroots public policy, community support and developing effective grassroots public policy.

245 Love Lane, P.O. Box 96
Mattituck, NY 11952-0096
Phone (631) 298-1234 / Fax (631) 298-1101