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Today, in the very usual habit of the Los Angeles City Council, they will consider approving various special events and absorbing the costs. Usually, these are good-natured community events and sometimes they are larger ones like the Grammys and the Oscars, in which the city paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the street closures and overtime worked by employees. Today, they will likely approve nearly $73,000 for 17 community events including a raw farmers market and Dyke Day.
"This is absurd in and of itself but I am particularly appalled that among the events being sponsored is DYKE DAY in East LA," said a city employee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. "I am a member of the LGBT community and feel this is UNBELIEVABLE that we work so hard to get rid of words like faggot and dyke from school yards yet we condone it here? This is disgusting!"
But others don't see these expenditures as a waste of money. If a neighborhood street wanted to throw a block party, they don't exactly have $500 to a couple thousand to shell out so the city can pay employees overtime to close the block down for an afternoon. And small non profits and schools wanting to do a community cleanup are not going to have the cash to throw around like that.
The list of today's approvals is below, what do you think?
Special Event Motions being Considered on March 10, 2009:
09-0473 CD 4 a. MOTION (LABONGE - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Los Feliz Village Holiday Festival on December 5, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $2,925).
09-0472 CD 4 b. MOTION (LABONGE - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Oaks Halloween Walk on October 31, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,188).
09-0474 CD 4 c. MOTION (LABONGE - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Halloween Block Party on October 31, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,288).
09-0475 CD 9 d. MOTION (PERRY - GARCETTI) relative to declaring the Operation School Bell on Wheels on March 12, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $500).
09-0471 CD 5 e. MOTION (GARCETTI for WEISS - PERRY) relative to declaring the Temple Isaiah’s Purim Carnival on March 8, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,200).
08-0401-S1 CD 5 f. MOTION (GARCETTI for WEISS - PERRY) relative to declaring the Temple Beth-Am’s Purim Carnival on March 8, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,198).
ITEM NO. (37)
09-0315 CD 15 MOTION (HAHN - LABONGE) relative to amending previous Council action in connection with a Special Event declaration for the 42nd Annual Palos Verdes Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Community Run and Walk on May 2, 2009. Recommendation for Council action: AMEND the Council action of February 18, 2009 relative to the Special Event declaration for the 42nd Annual Palos Verdes Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Community Run and Walk on May 2, 2009 sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates (Council file No. 09-0315) to waive all fees, costs and requirements associated with this event, except insurance requirements. Approval of this request will mean that an estimated $4,226 in fees and salary costs will be absorbed by the City.
07-3526-S1 et al. MOTIONS relative to "Special Events" to be held in the various Council Districts. Recommendations for Council action: DECLARE the following community events as "Special Events"; APPROVE any temporary street closures as requested; and, INSTRUCT the involved City departments to perform such services as detailed the Council motions attached to the various listed Council files, including the waiver of fees, costs and requirements and other related issues, as specified:
07-3526-S1 CD 9 a. MOTION (PERRY - REYES) relative to declaring the Raw Inspiration Pershing Square Farmers’ Market from March 11, 2009 - March 3, 2010 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $42,000).
07-0873-S1 CD 9 b. MOTION (PERRY - REYES) relative to declaring the Children’s Day Festival on May 16, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,984).
09-0499 CD 13 c. MOTION (GARCETTI - ROSENDAHL) relative to declaring the Dyke Day Los Angeles on June 13, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,252).
08-0250-S1 CD 3 d. MOTION (ZINE - PERRY) relative to declaring the Louisville High School/2009 Avenue San Luis Clean-up on March 21, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,691).
08-0776-S1 CD 1 e. MOTION (REYES - PERRY) relative to declaring the Sidewalk Sale in Lincoln Heights on April 3-5, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $4,500).
08-2227-S1 CD 12 f. MOTION (SMITH - WESSON) relative to declaring the Korean Health Fair on May 2, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $893).
09-0505 CD 5 g. MOTION (WEISS - HAHN) relative to declaring the International Women’s Day 2009 March and Rally on March 7, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $3,500).
09-0506 CD 11 h. MOTION (ROSENDAHL - LABONGE) relative to declaring the Los Angeles Police Department’s Second Annual St. Patrick’s Day Hike and Beach Party on March 15, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,385).
07-0598-S3 CD 15 i. MOTION (HAHN - ROSENDAHL) relative to declaring the Mary Star of the Sea Church Fiesta on March 15, 2009 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $1,226).
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Wait, why the hell does the farmer's market cost $42,000?? That seems a little questionable...
Oh wait nevermind, I thought it was just for one week but now see it's the whole year!
you got it
These all seem to be not-for-profit, community-building events where the fees usually amount to a thousand dollars or two for a day. Where the injustice creeps in is when a glitzy, exclusive promotional event for commerce like the Grammys can avoid more than $124,163 in fees for a one-time event.
Events should be non-commercial and open to the public in order to have fees waived.
Thanks for sharing this, Zach. Interesting response from said city employee who was so strongly bothered by the term Dyke (for Dyke Day). The use of the term dyke is an appropriation of a term that is used by others as an offense. It's a way for the community to say, no that's our word and we'll speak it proudly. Just like many in the LGBT community embrace the word "queer". I love the word queer -- sure it used to be a term of offense but now it's a term of endearment among queers -- plus it's a much broader term than the more defined terms of LGB&T.
I feel like there may be a double standard here - does this now mean anyone can refer to lesbians as dykes? Or just lesbians? And if just lesbians, why is City Council approving a Dyke Day?
Does this mean other minority groups will be able to have the city refer to them by traditionally offensive terms?