[NEohioPAL]Public funding for the Arts?

[Ensemble Theatre]

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Hello Tom, 

I am wholly in agreement with you in your stance
against the cigarette tax. But the truth of the
matter is this: when the County Commissioners
went to Columbus to request the taxing
authority(ALL taxing authority comes from the
state legislature in Columbus) they were given
two options - either tax cigarettes or FORGET the
arts levy. There was no other choice. 

If you have a beef, take it up with the
Republicans who control the House and Senate in
Columbus. Don't forget that the same tax was
levied, along with an added alcohol tax, to built
the stadium for the Indians. 

It is unjust, unfair, to tax smokers, when most
of the richer citizens of this state do NOT
smoke, and they are the ones who have the
disposable income to support the arts. Don't
forget that smoking, and drinking, are LEISURE
activities- you can't tax food(NOT a leisure
activity) or raise property taxes any higher than
they already are. A TAX ON BREAD??!! Are you for
real?? 

What do you suggest? You are damn right, it is a
disgrace.
But if you are a supporter of the arts, what,
might I ask, do you 
suggest, for a city the size of Cleveland, and a
county the size of Cuyahoga, to raise public
funding for arts and culture?

Most US counties containing populations of more
thatn two million people have public arts
fundings. Check it out. 
Or call your state representative or senator and
find out what 
screwballs in Columbus cooked this up anyway. 

By the way, IF Thomas Jefferson really said that
democracy is 
MOB rule, then either you misread the quote, or
all the historians got it all wrong. .for over
two centuries!!!


Martin Cosentino
Special Projects Associate
Ensemble Theatre of Cleveland


--- Tom <tzandar at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> BlankThis 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!
> 
> 
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