Let's Rock Arts & Heritage Day 2014!

Advocate4Culture encourages all advocates to attend Arts & Heritage Day on February 5, 2014 in Olympia. Washington State Arts Alliance and the Washington Museum Association have organized this day for artists, heritage specialists, cultural workers and advocates to visit with legislators and learn more about legislation that impacts the cultural community in Washington State.

How to Prepare for Arts & Heritage Day?

Find and contact your Team Captain and let him/her know you will attend Arts & Heritage Day. They can help you identify which legislators are yours if you don't already know, and they can help you meet others who may interest you.

When you arrive in Olympia (directions, parking, campus map), check in at the registration table in the Cherberg Building on the Capitol Campus. Here you will to receive your attendee packet and name badge. You are welcome to attend one of two orientations offered at 8:30 am and 9:30 am. Meet colleagues from across the state, discuss arts and heritage issues with legislators.

Special Events

The day before, February 4th also offers some special events for advocates like you. Join us and attend:

• Small Museum Workshops sponsored by the Washington Museum Association.
• Arts & Heritage Reception from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the
  State Capital Museum in Olympia. Please RSVP to Susan Rohrer. 

If you can't join us in Olympia 

Call, write or e-mail your legislator. Tell them, from your personal perspective, how arts and heritage contributes to Washington and it's future, and how they can help!

Back from the dead: SHB 1997 lives again!

Legislation that can save 4Culture and its support of arts and heritage in King County is still being considered in Olympia, during the 2011 Special Session.


On April 26th SHB 1997, "by resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status" in the House of Representatives.


There will not be any public hearings, but as we've mentioned before, we may well need advocates to speak up once again to their legislators and fellow advocates to let them know that this is it - our last chance to save our most valuable funding resource for culture in King County. Get ready - it's comin'!

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! 

No news just may be good news

SHB 1997 is waiting to be considered by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means Committee and SSB 5834 is awaiting a vote in the House Committee on Ways and Means. We will of course let you know if things start looking really good or really bad.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN THE MEANTIME?

1) Keep the pressure on our legislators, so they vote favorably for these bills, each time they have an opportunity to do so. If you haven't lately (or ever) please write, call and send emails, and attend meetings or town hall events or parties for them and urge them to keep arts and heritage in King County alive by voting YEA for SSB 5834 and SHB 1997.

2) Let's educate ourselves on the issues in and around these two bills so we can write and respond to legislators, friends, and the media with confidence.

3) Let's respond to incorrect, negative media by commenting on blogs, writing letters to the editor and calling in to radio programs. We need to dispel myths about these bills and about who we are. Take down the stereotypes of lazy, livin-on-the-dole artists, reprogram the notion that the only people that care about history and preservation are retired people with nothing better to do. Lets remind legislators and the public that we are tax paying, home-owning, grocery-buying, citizens that spend much of our days working very hard to draw tourists to our region and make our communities stronger.

There have been some negative pushes in the press lately that are simply not true. We will try to attack these with facts. If you don't feel confident... read up, or simply write or call in response of the arts and heritage component of the bill and speak from the heart. You don't have to know everything. All you have to know is how you feel about 4Cutlure getting supported and passed THIS YEAR. It doesn't have to be much. Just "I actually thing SHB 1997 is a great idea and it's important to me."

We will post an FAQ in the next day or two with some of the common misconceptions and negative talking points in the press and how we suggest countering them. Until then... assume no news is good news.

Stay active and we’ll keep you posted on the latest!

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!

Arts and Heritage Advocates Statewide are Needed - Reach Out!

Can SHB 1997 make it out of the senate committee of economic development, trade and innovation? Honestly, we don't know. Last year, we were in this same position - a bill passed in the Senate, and another in the House, bills that did not match up. Both bills died.

We need state legislators to work together and come up with a plan that will save 4Culture!
What can we do? Do our best to support the upcoming hearing for SHB 1997.

SHB 1997 has been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Economic Development and Trade & Innovation Committee on Thursday, March 10th at 1:30 PM. The committee is mostly non-King County senators. There is speculation that senators are likely to vote down any bills that are seen as extending taxes of any kind.  It is critical that we reach out to this committee about why this legislation must be passed this session.  
Talking points (what we should start getting adamant or even angry about):

• SHB 1997 provides economic development and supports tourism related activities that will draw visitors to all of Washington State. Plus the projects outlined in the bill will not only stimulate our economy but also retain and create jobs for citizens in and out of King County.
• 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.
• The temporary re-authorization of the restaurant tax (which by the way, only amounts to a $0.25 tax on a $50 meal) is supported by key leaders in the restaurant and tourism industry. Why? because it will create possibly thousands of jobs in the region as we build and then maintain an expanded convention center. And because with the expanded convention center, we can attract more tourists, who will stay in hotels and eat in restaurants and pour money into our state coffers to pay for other services we need.
• Re Housing: hmmm... maybe this could be built for the minimum-wage earning work force (artists, custodians, servers, managers, bartenders, and service people) who make this tourism industry plausible.

We don't know why this bill didn't go straight to ways and means, but we face a HUGE hurdle getting this bill to pass this Senate committee. Please act. Please write and call your senators. Please go to the town halls in your area this weekend and speak up for SHB 1997. This is go go go time, if there ever was one.
If you are a resident of any of the areas listed below, or know arts and heritage advocates who are, we urge you to contact these Senators [contact info here], who serve on the Economic Development and Trade & Innovation Committee, and ask for their support of SHB 1997!  Otherwise, please write your own Senator and ask them to pull whatever strings they have to see that this bill is passed. It is a time to call in favors.

The message is simple, these legislators voted positively for SSB 5834 so you can THANK THEM for their recent support of SSB 5834 and let them know, that SHB 1997 deserves their support too.

• Jim Kastama (D) District 25, Puyallup (CHAIR)
• Maralyn Chase (D) District 32, Edmonds, Kenmore, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park (VICE CHAIR)
• Brian Hatfield (D) District 19, Wahkiakum, Grays Harbor, Pacific and Cowlitz Counties, Longview, Westport
• Janea Holmquist Newbry  (R) District 13, Ellensburg, Yakima, Moses Lake area
• Derek Kilmer (D) District 26, Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Fox Island 
• Paull Shin (D) District 21, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Everett
• Joseph Zarelli (R) District 18, Clark County 

These two Senators on the committee voted against SSB 5834. If this is your legislator, please write them and say you are disappointed they voted against SSB 5834, but that they can right the wrong by supporting SHB 1997:

Michael Baumgartner (R) District 6, Spokane area (RANKING MINORITY LEADER)
Doug Ericksen (R) District 42, Whatcom County 

Advocates: We need you again - NOW!

How a Bill Becomes a Law

The two bills that can save 4Culture (HB 1997 and SB 5834) have made it through two committees and are now ready for full floor votes, perhaps by the end of the week!

We know many of you have contacted your legislators already to ask them to support arts and heritage funding through 4Culture. We need you to contact them again and urge them to support these bills when they are asked to vote on them.

These bills have been moving through the legislative process quickly. We know it's because legislators are hearing support from you. If we are successful at this stage, the bills will move to the opposite chamber for review through their committees. We need to keep the pressure on at each step of the process. Thank you for writing and calling, and encouraging your contacts to do the same.

CONTACT 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.

SAMPLE TEXT
Dear Representative ____:
I contacted you recently, asking you to support HB 1997. As you may know, the bill will be coming up for a floor vote in the next few days. Again, I urge you to please support HB 1997. This bill, which supports arts and heritage funding through 4Culture, is important to me because ___________________________.

Sincerely,
Your Name

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Senator _____:
I contacted you recently, asking you to support SB 5834. As you may know, the bill will be coming up for a floor vote in the next few days. Again, I urge you to please support SB 5834. This bill, which supports arts and heritage funding through 4Culture, is important to me because ___________________________.

Sincerely,
Your Name


Thank YOU!

Advocates: Now is the time to act!

The moment we've all been waiting for is here! King County's Economic Development bill just dropped in the House today. According to 4Culture's blog post on the subject, HB 1997 would secure a solid future for 4Culture’s arts, heritage, and preservation funding programs.

Advocates in Olympia

"HB 1997, was drafted by King County leadership in conversation with key support from key legislative champions in the House and Senate. The lead sponsor is Representative Orwall. The bill proposes to secure existing visitor taxes and direct them toward economic development activities: arts & heritage, tourism-related facilities, such as the convention center, community development activities, low-income housing developments, and revitalization of the historic Pioneer Square district and culturally rich International District."

King County’s press release on HB  1997

NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO ACT!

There are more than 700 people and organizations listed on this site who are part of the Advocate4Culture Coalition, and all of our House Reps across King County and the state need to know that we support this bill, and we need their leadership to pass it!

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY:

1. Find the contact information for your Representatives. You've got two. They both need to hear from you in the next 4 days (by Tuesday). Call or email them and tell them you support HB 1997 and that bill needs to get passed this year, or the arts/heritage programs you value in King County will be cut by 90%. This is urgent and has no impact on the current year budget.

2. HB 1997 is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, February 22nd at 1:30 p.m.  We need a flood of advocates at the hearing. We know it's a burden for some to get off work, but if it's at all possible, YOUR attendance will make a huge difference. We can arrange transportation. Email us by Monday at 4pm if you want a ride. Otherwise, check back on the blog soon and we'll post more info about the room. Here are driving directions and a campus map. 

3. Tell everyone you know about steps 1 & 2.

YOU ROCK.

----

P.S. We also want to note that the Senate dropped a bill SB 5834 that addresses some of the funding for 4Culture, but not the rest of the economic development/tourism package that King County leadership is pushing for. The best message you can give legislators now is: "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."

Get ready, get set....

Now that the election results are in, we know who the players in Olympia will be during the 2011 legislative session.

Some legislators are new and will need to be educated about why 4Culture funding is critical to the health of arts and heritage in King County. We must also remind returning legislators, as they are overwhelmed with so many demands. We will be reaching out to all of you in very near future to contact your legislators. We'll make it fun and easy. Stay tuned!

Update from Olympia

The Advocates showed up in force last Thursday for hearings in the Senate and House on the bills that would dedicate a portion of future lodging taxes to arts and heritage in King County. Almost 75 people attended the hearings and signed-in in support of the bills SB6661 and HB2912.

Many others sent emails to legislators asking for support of these bills. We are waiting to hear whether these bills will be voted out of committee and passed along to the next stage in the approval process. We are hearing that HB2912 looks to be on track and may move ahead quickly. SB6661 is having more difficulty. It was passed out of the Senate Economic Development, Trade and Innovation Committee without a recommendation (bills can be given a “do-pass” recommendation; killed in committee; or moved without a recommendation).

February 2nd was Arts Day in Olympia and more than 175 people showed up to meet with legislators. Thanks to many friends of Advocate4Culture and the organizers, Washington State Arts Alliance for a productive day!

Reaction to the bills that support 4Culture and arts and heritage in King County, was generally positive. Many legislators expressed reluctance to support the bills as long as “publicly-owned stadiums” was included in the list of activities that King County would be allowed to fund when stadium bonds are retired. The list includes tourism promotion, youth sports fields or activities, community development authorities, performing arts centers, public health and human services, in addition to low income housing, which is specified in the two bills.

The 60-day legislative session is one-third over and there may be one more hearing in Olympia before the session ends. We may need to call on you one more time to make the trek! Until then, please write these legislators and ask them to support arts and heritage funding in King County!

Photo by advocate, Scott Squire

public hearings ~ how they work

• Be punctual; Be present at the beginning of the hearing.
• Sign in on the sign-up sheet near the entrance of the hearing room and write your name,
address, and whether you favor or oppose the bill.
• Take any written materials you’ve prepared to the committee staff for distribution.
• If other persons will be offering similar testimony at the hearing, try to coordinate your
testimony and avoid duplication.

Your Verbal and/or Written Testimony
Be brief, direct and personal. Focus on telling the committee about the organization and/or
the community you represent and how lodging taxes support your work.

Verbal Testimony: You may have notes when speaking. Begin by introducing yourself to the
chair and committee members and stating your purpose. For example, "Mr. or Madam Chair
and members of the committee, I am Jenny Smith from Shoreline. I am here on behalf of the
Shoreline Historical Museum. I support this bill because . . ."
Be prepared for questions and comments from committee members, but don't answer you
are not sure of the answer.

Written Testimony: Written testimony should not be read. Committee staff will distribute
copies of written testimony to the committee if you bring a sufficient number -- one for each
member.