Watch For Yourself: NJN Reports On Closing Of Montclair Arts Council
Report talks about how the council had acted as a bridge between businesses and the arts
NJN reported this week on the closing of the Montclair Arts Council, calling the organization a bridge between arts and business. In December, the Montclair Town Council decided it couldn't afford the $80,000 needed to fund the council going foward. In the NJN piece, Councilor Nick Lewis said he realizes $80,000 may not sound like a lot of money, but that it's the cost of a police officer or a fireman. But MAC officials argue that the organization had brought in income and helped make Montclair a regional destination for visitors interested in the arts. To see the report, go here.
Cary Africk
10:26 am on Sunday, January 2, 2011
For me, the crux of the matter was that there was no discussion. Apparently the group was notified that they were being de-funded BEFORE the entire Council had such a discussion, and indeed such a discussion was NEVER held. The MAC funding was simply removed, by the Manager.
Mind you, I think it possible that if a discussion took place de-funding might have been the decision, but there's a difference between having a conversation and someone deciding that they already know the outcome of such a potential discussion.
Councilor Lewis is right in his statement. Eighty thousand might not look like "a lot" but it could mean a position in police, or fire.
But it is also a matter of PRIORITIES. Take the Environment, for example, we already employ an Environmental Coordinator, who I support 100%, for more than $80,000. We decided this was important.
Or take "our own" Animal Shelter. or our "our own" skating rink.
It's a matter of priorities.
And in a budget that, including the schools, is over $200MM, it's hard for me not to believe that we couldn't have funded the Arts Council, which represents EVERYONE in town, for $80,000.
Cary Africk
2nd Ward Councilor
Cary Africk
10:59 am on Sunday, January 2, 2011
To clarify:
The Manager removed the funding from the TEMPORARY budget. Another budget, the Manager's Introduced Budget, will be introduced the second week of January, at which time the Council can discuss MAC, as well as any other changes it desires before voting.
As people saw in 2010, there's a long way to go.
Cary Africk
2nd Ward Councilor