Supervisor candidates in all districts were asked by a consortium of arts organizations to submit a brief overview platform on arts issues in the City. Here’s mine:
I am committed to public policies that promote and sustain arts and entertainment in San Francisco. Having a vibrant arts and entertainment scene is critical to the City’s cultural vibrancy.
This commitment includes:
Supporting our City’s arts institutions, including those in which the City plays a direct role like the Asian Art Museum and those where the City simply needs to facilitate the creation of arts opportunities, like the expansion of the Museum of Modern Art. I will show leadership in ensuring that the City facilitates the creation and growth of cultural institutions.
Supporting arts education in our public schools, including continuation of Prop H funding. I will be skeptical of efforts to undermine Prop H funding by substituting cash contributions with in-kind contributions.
Ensuring that the arts receive adequate funding. I will support the City’s funding of arts through the hotel tax and will protect funding for institutions like the symphony and opera, which are important to the City’s cultural life and which provide educational opportunities for kids. Bad budget years require sacrifice by everyone, including the arts, but I will oppose efforts to dramatically reduce or eliminate this funding.
Supporting affordable housing opportunities for artists. This is an expensive city, and we need to be proactive in supplying artists with housing opportunities so that the City continues to have a diverse population. This includes support for planning policies that lead to artist collectives as well as more traditional affordable housing opportunities such as the inclusionary housing ordinance.
Advocating for our street fairs and festivals. These outdoor events are part of the City’s cultural lifeblood, and the City has not been supportive of them. Indeed, the City has created many obstacles, financial and otherwise, to their continued existence. San Francisco needs to embrace, work with, and promote these street festivals.
Supporting our City’s nightlife and music scene. Both are under intense pressure in San Francisco, including increased costs as well as regulatory and development pressures. Having an active and vibrant nightlife, including live music venues, is critical to San Francisco’s economy, tax base, and cultural identity.
I look forward to working on all of these issues to ensure that San Francisco remains a diverse, lively, and interesting place.
