One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Broke SoCal Cities May Turn to Citizens for Rose Parade Float Funding
Photo by Jolts via LAist Featured Photos Flickr Pool.
Facing massive budget deficits, some Southern California cities are unable to raise the money necessary to represent with a float in the 2012 Rose Parade.
Glendale City Council decided on Monday to start an account for residents to donate to the city's float, according to the AP. The LA Times, reporting that West Covina has already bowed out of the parade, focuses on Glendale -- the second-longest running entrant in the Parade (to Pasadena) -- and it's struggle:
Typically, the Glendale Rose Float Assn. is asked to raise $50,000 to pay back to the city, reducing the municipal subsidy to $80,000. This year, officials would also want the association to pay $30,000 for city staff time that would be spent overseeing the float project.
Designers are already working on ideas for a float and standing by to see if the city can committed to the $100,000 construction contract.Other cities struggling to fund Rose Parade floats include Alhambra and Burbank.
The cities could consider various crowdfunding websites and especially in the case of Glendale, which raised just $500 in two float fundraisers according to the Times, we'd recommend giving a Kickstarter-esque campaign a shot.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
