Community Action Items 

The Public Forum On: Small to Mid-sized Theatres held on February 17, 2009 succeeded in bringing together a diverse group of people to engage in spirited conversation about small theater in New York City.  It was a successful show of support, but action must follow to create actual change.  Many speakers called on the audience to stay activated and involved.  “It is unbelievable how few people it takes, on message, to move a politician,” said Paul Nagle, Director of Cultural Policy for Councilmember Alan Gerson. If we stay motivated, Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President said, “I promise you, that you will keep this issue alive in the ‘09 election and in the 2010 election and eventually people are going to get it: that theatre is good for business, good for the next generation, good for people who look at New York in a way that makes us the most exciting place on Earth.”

For updates to these and other important issues check out our Community Corner page.

Action Items
Here's what you can do now

1. Share your opinion on the tax abatement proposal at your local community board meeting:
        Community Board 8 will be meeting at Memorial Sloan Kettering Auditorium,
        430 East 67th Street (between First and York), on February 17th at 6:30PM.
   
   
2. The United States Department of Commerce will be conducting the 2010 Census, which will find out how many people live in New York City, how many elected representatives we will have in Congress, determine who will represent you in the City Council and in the New York State Legislature, determine how much funding we will receive from the federal government for education, healthcare, job training, transportation, senior services, and other critical services important to all New Yorkers.  It is important for NYC artists to be counted. Take a moment now to complete the Census form.
   
   
3. The Pew Charitable Trusts is about to launch the Cultural Data Project (CDP) in New York State.  This project emerged out of a common need for more robust research, advocacy and policy discussions with and about the cultural sector.
   
   • Find out more at the CDP website.
   • Provide feedback to NYSCA program staff at cdp@nysca.org
   
   
4. Help keep theatre and OOB a priority by attending community board meetings, sharing your experiences and speaking up.  Check back about important events where your voice is needed.
   
   
5. Send letters to your elected officials and representatives (see addresses below). Bring their attention to the two issues below and ask for their support:

• The Governor's recently released budget cuts arts funding by 15% write to your State Legislator and let them know how important the arts are to you and your community and consider attending Arts Day in Albany to tell them in person.
• Expanding 421A to include tax breaks for developers who include ground floor
  cultural spaces (especially for small theatres)

CITY & ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor Bloomberg
The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor of New York City
City Hall
New York, NY 10007


New York City Council
Go here to locate your Councilmember from you area

Speaker Christine C. Quinn
224 West 30th St (Suite 1206)
New York, NY 10001


Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President
1 Centre Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10007


New York State Assembly
Go here to locate your Assembly Member in your area (search by zipcode).


New York State Senate
Go here to locate your Senators (search by zipcode).

Letters can be sent to:
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247


United State Senators representing the State of New York
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.  - (D - NY)   
531 Dirken Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Schumer, Charles E.  - (D - NY)
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


United States House of Representatives
Go here to locate the Representative from your area (search by zipcode).

Gary Ackerman, New York, 5th
2243 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
 
Michael A. Arcuri, New York, 24th
127 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
 
Timothy Bishop, New York, 1st
306 Cannon H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
 
Yvette D. Clarke, New York, 11th
1029 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
 
Joseph Crowley, New York, 7th
2404 Rayburn House Office Building
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
 
Eliot Engel, New York, 17th
2161 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
 
John J. Hall, New York, 19th
1217 Longworth House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515
 
Brian Higgins, New York, 27th
431 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
 
Maurice Hinchey, New York, 22nd
2431 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
 
Steve Israel, New York, 2nd
2457 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515
 
Pete King, New York, 3rd
339 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
 
Christopher J. Lee, New York, 26th
1711 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
 
Nita Lowey, New York, 18th
2329 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
 
Daniel B. Maffei, New York, 25th
1630 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
 
Eric J.J. Massa, New York, 29th
1208 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
 
Carolyn McCarthy, New York, 4th
2346 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
 
John M. McHugh, New York, 23rd
2366 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3223
 
Michael E. McMahon, New York, 13th
323 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
 
Carolyn Maloney, New York, 14th
2332 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3214
 
Gregory W. Meeks, New York, 6th
2342 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
 
Jerrold Nadler, New York, 8th
2334 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
 
Charles B. Rangel, New York, 15th
2354 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
 
José E. Serrano, New York, 16th
2227 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3216
 
Louise Slaughter, New York, 28th
2469 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
 
Paul D. Tonko, New York, 21st
128 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
 
Edolphus Towns, New York, 10th
2232 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
 
Nydia M. Velázquez, New York, 12th
2466 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC
 
Anthony D. Weiner, New York, 9th
2104 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515