We need your support!

　WaFooが毎年、無料のコンサートを開けるのはなぜでしょうか。助成金があるからです。WaFooがスタッテン・アイランドを拠点にして、ここまで活動を展開できているのはなぜでしょうか。助成金があるからです。我々の行動範囲は助成金の多寡によって大きく左右されます。このたび、パターソン・ニューヨーク州知事が文化・芸能の予算の大幅削減案を州議会に提出するそうです。この案が通ればスタッテン・アイランドのみならず、ニューヨーク州全体の文化・芸能関係の予算が相当カットされる事になります。COAHSI（コアシ。スタッテン・アイランドの文化・芸能を支援する非営利団体）から、その旨を伝える悲痛なメールが届きました。

Why can WaFoo hold free concerts every year? Because we have a grant. Why has WaFoo been able to perform in everywhere, in and out of Staten Island. Because we have a grant. Our range of activities is heavily depended on the amount of the grant. Gov. Patterson of New York is proposing the radical budget cut on arts, and if it passes, the arts in not only in Staten Island but in whole state will suffer. Counsil on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island (COAHSI) sent us the email to tell us this bad news.

　地域コミュニティの活性化には、こういう草の根の文化・芸術活動が不可欠です。それを守るのは社会の役割の一つだとも思います。回り道のように聞こえるかもしれませんが、こういう事に注ぐお金は将来、きっと生きてきます。こんな率先して地域文化を潰すような行動が行政改革にはなりえないと私は思います。政府からの既得権益を無駄に使っている所が他にあるはずです。一番予算を削減しやすい文化関係を切り捨てる前に、州政府はもっと一つ一つの予算の総点検をする必要があるのではないでしょうか。

　我々にできる事は少ないですが、州議員と知事に陳情の手紙を書いて下さいとCOAHSIから協力を求めるメールがきました。メールを下に転載します。詳細はそこに書かれています。皆様、ご協力をお願いします。

I believe the grass-root activities of arts, like what WaFoo is doing, are indispensable for the development of local communities. I also believe that preserving those activities is one of the duties of societies. Putting the money on the arts may sound like taking the long way around for the development of communities but it worths every penny in the future. I strongly believe the act that the State Government taking the lead in bringing down the local arts activities can not be the administrative reform. I think the State needs to investigate each budget and find out who really is hemorrhaging the tax money meaninglessly before so readily cutting off the budget of arts in the whole state.

There are not too many things we can do but COAHSI asked us to write a letter and vocalize our opinion to the Governor. I attached the email below and it explains in details.

Dear Supporters of the Arts, WE NEED YOUR HELP! CONTACT THE GOVERNOR BY MONDAY (11/17) AT THE LATEST!! CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLITICIANS BY SATURDAY (11/15)!! Governor Patterson is proposing massive budget cuts for New York State, which includes cutting funding for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). If this budget proposal goes through, it will affect COAHSI's ability to operate and give out grants to the arts community impacting directly on arts organizations and arts-in-education programs that receive regrants. We need to take steps to ensure that we don't lose our funding! Take a minute to email Gov. Patterson here or fax: 518-474-1513 Tell him you object to the size of the proposed cut, and point out that it pretty much eliminated the last half of the year's funding for applicants at NYSCA, and that NYSCA is now taking a 20% cut. Fax OR email - but make sure you do something! Contact our State Senators: Andrew Lanza and Diane Savino and our Assembly Members: Matthew Titone; Michael Cusick; Janele Hyer-Spencer; Lou Tobacco - and let them know how this impacts you!! NYS Senator Andrew Lanza: 3845 Richmond Ave. Suite 2A Staten Island, NY 10312 (718) 984-4073 (718) 984-4455 (Fax) NYS Senator Diane Savino: 36 Richmond Terrace, Suite 112 Staten Island, New York 10301 Tel: (718) 727-9406 Fax: (718) 727-9426 NYS Assemblyman Matthew Titone: 853 Forest Avenue Staten Island, NY 10310 718-442-9932 NYS Assemblyman Michael Cusick: 1911 Richmond Avenue Staten Island, NY 10314 718-370-1384 NYS Assemblymember Janele Hyer-Spencer: 586 Midland Ave Suite 1B Staten Island, NY 10306 718-667-5891 NYS Assemblyman Lou Tobacco: 4062 Amboy Road Staten Island, NY 10308 718-967-5194 Again, you should point out the size of this potential cut and impact on the agency. Ask the Assembly and Senate members to decrease the proposed cut significantly. Don't get dragged into a conversation about how much, if you can avoid it. Letters are best, but if you know the person or can talk directly to their Chief of Staff or budget person, a phone call is OK. Email is not a good idea. SUPPORT WHAT YOU LOVE! It only takes a minute. PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ARTS IN NEW YORK. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND CONTACT THESE PEOPLE TODAY! Let them know that funding for the Arts is EXTREMELY important. Thank you, The COAHSI Staff