Viva 4Culture!

What a night for advocates! We hope you were able to join us on Tuesday night at the Paramount Theatre for a terrific line-up of performances and accolades to and from political leaders we've come to know (and love)! If you want to live it all over or couldn't attend, check out some of great stories here and here about Party Like It's 5834.

Executive Dow Constantine, Senator White, Senator Murray, Representative Hunter, Representative Chopp, former Representative Louise Miller, and Councilmember Phillips were all there to soak up the love from the arts and heritage communities for helping pass our beloved ESSB 5834. 

The best part for us advocates was seeing and hearing nearly 1000 people CLAP, SHOUT and YELL thanks to YOU! Advocate4Culture was a force in this fight. Our voice was as loud as those West African drums that made our hearts pound. 

Individually may not have been on stage, but trust us advocates, you matter and you will be re-elected. Viva 4Culture!

You did it!

We did it! YOU did it. ESSB 5834 just passed on the House floor.  Now on to the Governor for her signature. 

Now relax, take a breath, pat yourself on the back and stay tuned for information on how we are going to celebrate! It's time to party and toast this HUGE accomplishment.  One that wouldn't have been possible without the incredible advocacy done by the Advocate4Culture Coalition!

Thank you to our legislators that voted YEA! We won't forget your support at voting time.

Good work advocates!

You showed up and we're so proud! There were more than 100 people at Wednesday's public hearing for SHB 1997 - possibly the best attended hearing we've ever had for an arts/heritage bill. United in their support of the bill were representatives from labor, low income housing, construction unions, restaurant and hotel associations, current and former politicians (Republican and Democrat alike), and dozens of arts supporters (touting their yellow scarves). The overwhelmingly positive testimony lasted over an hour, and was gracefully chaired by a major arts and heritage champion Ed Murray. Only a few people were in opposition to the bill, and all three that testified against the bill were representing car rental companies.

So what's next for SHB 1997?

1) Today was the last public hearing for the bill. Now the bill goes to Executive Session where the Ways and Means committee will vote. If your Senator is on the Ways and Means Committee, please write them today to urge their support when the bill is considered in Executive Session.

2) If the bill is voted on favorably in this Executive Session it will move to a full Senate vote on the floor. This is a big deal, every Senator in the state will get to vote on the issue.

3) If the bill is voted on favorably on the floor, any amendments that are made to the bill in the Senate, would need to be approved by the House of Representatives during a process called "reconciliation".

4) Finally, the bill will go to Governor Gregoire for signing.

Work is not done, but the heavy lifting of advocates having to make their way to Olympia for hearings is complete. Thanks to all who came to this or other hearings in the process. Letter writing/phone calling and communication with your legislators is still appreciated.

It ain't over till it's over, but we have a lot to be proud of so far!

This is It!

Advocates, we need you as much as ever. Our LAST PUBLIC HEARING (woo hoo!) is scheduled and we need everyone and anyone to show up, sign in and be present. This is the most important action you can take to help save arts and heritage funding. If this is a basketball game, we're in the last 5 minutes, and the hometown crowd needs to jump to it's feet. This is our last chance to show up en mass and show our legislators who's lives/economies/communities/jobs they're dealing with.

Senate Ways & Means hearing on SHB 1997

THIS Wednesday,  03/30/11,  1:30 pm 

J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Rm 4 - Olympia

Driving? Click Here for Directions & Parking

Plan to arrive in Olympia around 1:15 to sign in. We don't know yet where we are on agenda, so plan to stay as late as 5pm if possible (if you have to leave early, that's okay though... signing in is a great help).

Need a ride? Email us at advocate4culture@gmail.com

We'll be leaving the Pioneer Square neighborhood (in Seattle) around 11:30 a.m. and hope to be back no later than 6:30 p.m. BE THERE!

If you cannot attend, please write or call the members of the committee hearing the bill and urge them to support SHB 1997. They will likely vote on it in the next few days. The clock is ticking! Save arts and heritage in King County TODAY! 

Join us in Olympia for a public hearing this Monday!

Arts and Heritage advocates are needed this to sign up and/or testify in support of SSB 5834. This public hearing is a great opportunity to let our Representatives know that why culture is so valuable to King County, and how it serves as an economic engine for all of Washington State. 

Join us in Olympia!

• WHEN: Monday, March 14th at 3:30 pm
• WHERE: Ways & Means Committee, John L. O'Brien Building, House Hearing Room A
• GETTING THERE: Contact us, we can give you a ride.

Sponsored by Senators Murray, Litzow, McAuliffe, Nelson, Hill, White, Kohl-Welles, Fain and Eide, SSB 5834 enables "Permitting counties to direct an existing portion of local lodging taxes to programs for arts and heritage." 

Change of Plans: Attend Town Hall Meetings this Saturday!

We just contacted Jim Kelly, Executive Director at 4Culture to find out the latest with SHB 1997. He told us that the bill is being moved from the Economic Development, Trade and Innovation Committee to Senate Ways and Means Committee. We think this is great news as we have more support for arts and heritage among members of Ways and Means. 

WHAT CAN WE DO NOW TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD?

1. ATTEND one of the many Town Hall Meetings hosted by your legislators this weekend - March 12th. Two of the most critical legislators for our bills, Speaker Frank Chopp and Senator Ed Murray, will be hosting a Town Hall on Capitol Hill at 2:00pm [click here for details]. This is a great opportunity for advocates to ask them to come to an agreement on the best way to save arts and heritage in King County. Even if they don't represent your district, lets pack the house!
2. WRITE your legislators, even if you have already, and urge them to support SHB 1997 and SSB 5834, which both secure the future of 4Culture. 
3. WATCH this blog for updates about public hearings that will scheduled for these bills. We will need advocates to join us in Olympia. We can offer rides.

Check out these tips on contacting your legislators. Below are a few interesting facts to keep in mind as well:

• SHB 1997 and SSB 5834 provide economic development, jobs, and support tourism related activities, which draw visitors to all of Washington State and benefit all of it's residents. 
• Culture is an economic driver. A recent study shows arts and culture generate $1.75 billion dollars in revenue for Washington businesses. 
• We need to save 4Culture this year or we have a 90% cut in funding that will amount to the agency shutting it's doors and an end of support.
• Regarding the reticence of senators to pass SHB 1997 - these taxes were planned and plotted during some of the most flush years our state has ever seen. We know they were scheduled to end, but we are now in the deepest recession our state has seen and could use some innovation and stimulation to create jobs and get us out of this mess.

Thanks all!

Critical Week for 4Culture!

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT:

1. CALL OR EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATORS

Ask your Representatives to VOTE YES and support HB 1997 and your Senator to support SB 5834. Tell them why arts and heritage in King County matters to you. CLICK HERE to find their contact information.

2. ATTEND A HEARING
Your attendance at a hearing makes the greatest positive impact. All you have to do is sign in in support. 
Email us by Monday at 4pm if you want a ride. Here are driving directions and a campus map. 

• House Bill 1997 is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, February 22nd at 1:30 pm in the John O'Brien Building,  Hearing Room A; and 
• Senate Bill 5834 is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, February 23rd at 1:30 pm in the Cherberg Building, Hearing Room 4. 

3. SPREAD THE WORD

Tweet, blog, Facebook, email and shout from the rooftops. Get fellow advocates to join in the fight. 

WHAT DO I SAY? HERE'S A SUGGESTION:

Dear Representative _______,

Please support HB1997, King County's Economic Development bill that includes 4Culture. Arts & Culture are an important part of King County's plan to create jobs and improve our economy by bringing more visitors and tourism spending to King County communities. Additionally, I personally value 4Culture because _____________.

Sincerely,

_____________

Dear Senator _______,

Please support SB 5834, a bill that supports 4Culture. Arts & Culture are an important part of King County. Arts and heritage creates jobs and improves our economy by bringing more visitors and tourism spending to King County communities. Additionally, I personally value 4Culture because _____________.

Sincerely,

_____________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• 4Culture's blog post on HB 1997 
• King County’s press release on HB  1997

Three cheers for Kings of our County!

The 2011 legislative session started today and we're feeling pretty optimistic that we (that includes you) just may be able to save 4Culture. We have some great leadership this year in Representative Ross Hunter, Senator Ed Murray, and King County's Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Larry Phillips among others.

In addition to a commitment from Dow, last week, many advocates received some much anticipated and welcome news from Councilmember Phillips. Check this out!

Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of arts and culture.

I am pleased to announce that on January 3rd the Metropolitan King County Council passed Ordinance 2010-0624, adopting King County's State Legislative priorities for 2011. The attached agenda outlines-in two short pages-the top ten priorities that King County government is asking state legislators to consider during this year's session. You will be pleased to know that among our government's top priorities are extending King County stadium and tourism revenues for arts and cultural programs and preserving 4Culture.

Overall, these priorities underscore a single objective: King County seeks the flexibility, tools, and authority to help address critical needs in a time of continuing fiscal challenges. These objectives focus on customer service, partnerships, and ways to bring down costs.

Thank you for your continued support of arts and cultural programming!

Sincerely,

Larry Phillips, Councilmember

Metropolitan King County Council, District Four

What does this mean? It means we're not alone. King County is with us! In the coming days we will outline what YOU can do to help save 4Culture. We'll make it so easy and fun. You'll be ready to take on the other Washington when we're done!