Thank all of you who have signed, shared, and supported the petition and cause to Save the OACCE. I also want to thank those who donated money to help advertise the petition on change.org. I only recently became aware that people have been donating. That money goes straight to change.org, and we don't see it.
Here's the latest. I'll start with the troubling news. Due to the workings of the Philadelphia budget process, aspects of the Mayor's proposed budget take effect on June 1. However, City Council is still working on the budget through June. After they ratify the FY21 budget, it takes effect on July 1.
Since the Office of Arts, Cultures, and the Creative Economy is set to be eliminated in the proposed budget, it will be closed on June 1 and its staff laid off. Last week, City Council passed a resolution asking Mayor Kenney to hold off closing the office until Council finished its budget process, but it seems that he did not heed their request.
But... The promising news. During the budget hearings and my interactions with council members as well as the fact that they adopted that resolution, City Council seems to favor the idea of saving the office in some form. Public testimony on Wednesday, May 27, during the budget hearings was full of stories from constituents in favor of saving the office and how important it is to Philadelphia.
I encourage you to stay engaged over the next few weeks. Just because the OACCE is 'closed' on June 1, doesn't mean it won't reopen under a finalized City Council budget in a few weeks. Message your councilmember. Sign up to give testimony at the next public budget meeting (June 9).
Please SHARE this petition. TELL anyone you know who has a stake in arts and culture to SIGN and SHARE.
CONTACT your Councilmember: https://philaculture.salsalabs.org/pcfadvocacy0/index.html
Budget Hearings: http://phlcouncil.com/council-budget-hearing-schedule-revised-fiscal-2021-budget/
http://phlcouncil.com/budget2021/
Al Clay
Executive Director
iradiophilly
*Pictured - staff of the OACCE