[NEohioPAL]What If There Were No Arts?

Fri Aug 11 12:14:09 PDT 2006

I haven't seen many who do, not to argue the point, but that is my
experience.

My main problem with this tax is that is directed at a small minority, not
unlike a poll tax.  If this were to help the arts, and with honest
leadership in attempting to gain support a 1 cent tax per gallon of fuel
would be a much wider revenue generating prospect.  The fact that things
like this and gateway are pawned off on the vile smokers, seen and regarded
with an almost vile disgust is what bothers me.  Why not a tax on theater
tickets, movies, sporting events, or something art related?  Why target
smokers if not as a means of punishment and yet another attempt as social
engineering?

There are many other ways to help the community then to keep raising taxes
on everything.  Hasn't history taught that it doesn't work?  People will
move, shop elsewhere, or change their habits enough to make this
counterproductive.  Also, I'll be waiting to see how things go with the
smoking ban issues, can you say "quitting" and an even lower return on this.

Tom

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "E.B. Smith" <starringeb at gmail.com>
To: "Tom" <tzandar at sbcglobal.net>; <neohiopal at lists.fredsternfeld.com>
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 1:14 PM
Subject: Re: [NEohioPAL]What If There Were No Arts?

Dear Tom,

I would like to ask if you were a member of the local arts community.
But in point of fact, I don't need to because if you were, you would
realize that a good number, if not a majority of local artists SMOKE.
Myself included.  And yet, I don't see any reason why this tax should
not be implemented.  To answer your question, if we, as a community of
artists could afford to fund the arts solely on our own, we would.
There isn't a theater or a studio in the world that doesn't need or
couldn't use more money.  We are all underfunded.  Listen, we are now
paying rediculous amounts of money for gasoline, and these hiked
prices are going straight into the pockets of oil companies that are
recording record profits!  THAT is robbery.  An added tax on
cigarettes that will aid in the intellectual development of the region
and the region's future generations is not.  If you don't want to
support the arts, it's your business to steal from our young peoples'
development.  THAT would be the REAL crime,  not you having to pay an
extra 30 cents.  I don't see this as stealing from anyone, but as the
red cross commercial says: "we're tired of asking nicely".

-E.B. Smith

On 8/11/06, Tom <tzandar at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>
> This is the most disgusting thing I've seen in a while.   Instead of
funding
> things yourself, you wholly support stealing money from smokers while at
the
> same time no doubt supporting the asinine smoking bans in all public
places
> rather then allowing a business to choose to allow smoking.    Are you
only
> targeting cigarettes for a reason?  Why not alcohol?  Is it because you
> don't mind drinking?
>
> As a smoker who puts money into the arts, this is just another reason to
> stop...supporting the arts.  If this legalized theft passes, I will be
> shopping in another county and you won't see a dime.  First it was the new
> stadium, now it's the arts, what will be next?  Maybe we can have a tax on
> top of a tax to pay for new cars for everyone in the "immoral majority."
>
> I fear that the fools in this county will pass this, since it won't cost
> most of them anything.  Maybe I'll have to get more involved in acting,
> dress up like a robber and start taking your money for what I want to do.
> The only difference is that I don't have the force of corrupt county
> government behind me.
>
> If you want to get money coming back into this community, get the tax rate
> on everything CUT.  People are far more charitable when they have some
money
> left after all these taxes to give.  Of course, they also want to see
things
> that don't horribly offend them.    That fact seems to be lost on many in
> the community.
>
> Thanks for the list of places to attend and counter this abuse of a
minority
> group.
>
> Tom
>
>
>
>  A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the
> people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.
> Thomas Jefferson
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: jessica colombi
> To: neohiopal at lists.fredsternfeld.com
> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:45 AM
> Subject: [NEohioPAL]What If There Were No Arts?
>
>
> Are you aware that YOU will be able to vote this November 7th to support
all
> of our individual artists, projects, and arts and cultural institutions?
The
> Cuyahoga County Commissioners have placed on the November 7, 2006 ballot a
> cigarette excise tax in support of the County's arts and culture sector.
>
> Here are the facts:
>
> - The tax is equal to one and one half cents (1½ cents) per cigarette. A
> pack of 20 cigarettes would have a total tax of 30 cents per pack.
> - The levy can be in force up to 10 years.
> - By law, Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3381, the proceeds from such a tax can
> only be used in support of arts and culture and can not be used for any
> other purposes. It would be a dedicated arts and - culture public fund
only
> in Cuyahoga County
> - If the ballot passes it is expected to yield in excess of $23 million
> annually. The County Commissioners would establish a base of $20 million
> that will be allocated annually for use by arts and cultural organizations
> primarily as general operational grants through the County's Arts and
> Culture Investment Models as adopted by the Board of County Commissioners'
> Resolution No. 040801.
> - The Arts and Culture Investment Models are a series of four competitive
> grant categories that include operating support, project support, artist
> education residencies and research support, and special initiatives or
> one-time emergency grants, e.g. fire damage, natural disasters. Debts or
> deficits would not be considered emergencies.
>
> Now, we need YOU to help us get the word out so we can pass this thing!
>
> We have some specific volunteer opportunities this weekend and we NEED
YOUR
> HELP:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Greetings!
>
>
>
> It is only with your help and participation that we will see victory on
> November 7th.  Please encourage your co-workers, friends and family to
help
> us by covering an easy and fun TWO HOUR SHIFT this weekend! We need to
> spread the word of the importance of this issue. Pick a shift and we'll
get
> you a t-shirt, flyers, and volunteer sign up sheets.
>
> _____________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
> FRIDAY, August 11
>
> Brooklyn Home Days (7600 Memphis Ave)
>
> North Olmsted Cultural Arts Show (Frostville Museum)
>
>
>
> SATURDAY, August 12
>
> Brooklyn Home Days (7600 Memphis Ave)
>
> North Olmsted Cultural Arts Show (Frostville Museum)
>
> Feast of the Assumption (Little Italy)
>
> Union Miles Community Expo (9250 Miles Park)
>
> Cleveland Ward 6 Expo (Artha Woods Park)
>
> Black Culture International on Parade (Tri-C Metro Campus)
>
> Great Lakes Burning River Festival (Whiskey Island)
>
> Open Air in Market Square (West 25th & Lorain 10AM-4PM)
>
>
>
> SUNDAY, August 13
>
> Brooklyn Home Days (7600 Memphis Ave)
>
> Walk and Roll Cleveland (MLK Blvd. 11:00AM-5:00PM)
>
>
>
>
>
> NEXT WEEK! LOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING:
>
> Greek Festival in Cleveland Heights
>
> Olmsted Falls Heritage Days
>
>
>
> You may view a more comprehensive listing of events at the web address
> below:
>
>
>
> http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=jessicavioletta%40gmail.com
>
>
>
> Please  call our office :  (216) 479-0555 and ask for Erin
>
> or contact Jessica Colombi: jessicavioletta at gmail.com or call 216 402 7990
>
> or
>
> Julian Rogers: julian_rogers at hotmail.com or call 216 973 3966
>
>
>
> to sign up to help at ANY of these events this weekend!
>
>
>
> Thank you for all of your support!!!!
>
> Campaign Team
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Peace, love and hair grease all.  Be strong.