3/28 Arts District Update from RI Citizens for the Arts

March 28, 2008

Arts Represented at Hearing Concerning Arts Districts – Follow Up	More Info
The House Finance Committee hearing on the Economic Growth and Fairness Act of 2008 (H7950 ) was held on Wednesday, March 26. As the bill is far-reaching, a number of advocates for and against the measure attended, with over 60 people signed up for testimony. The State House was filled throughout the day with competing rallies in the rotunda and teams of people concerned with various issues raised by this legislation.The arts were represented in testimony speaking specifically against the language within the bill that repeals the Artist Tax Districts throughout the State. Representatives from RI Citizens for the Arts, the City of Pawtucket and a member arts enterprise in the City of Newport all testified in the later hours of the hearing. We have dialogue from both the House and Senate sponsorship that the language will be removed from each of the bills. The intention of this legislation, as we understand it from the sponsors, is to begin a conversation regarding the tax environment and system in our state, and in doing so asking if all the various incentives, tax breaks, etc., are actually doing what they intend. Due to these difficult budgetary times, we positioned our testimony in appreciation of the intent of the legislation and considered it an opportunity to register our statements on how the districts cost the state very little in comparison to the gain. The arts districts’ original intention was to provide an economic revitalization tool to blighted areas. For this, we have numerous examples and data on their success towards this end. Though clear data is not available from the tax assessors office, through a quick survey conducted by the RI State Council on the Arts, we know that the state gets a significant value-added marketing component that is much, much more valuable than the loss in tax revenue from the 103 participants of the program statewide. Result of the Hearing: The Committee recommended the measure be held for further study. Thank you all for your advocacy and actions. Many of you responded to our action alert by writing letters to House Finance, speaking with your Reps and Senators, and also coming out for the hearing at the State House. These are much needed actions in representing our collective voice with the General Assembly. We will continue to keep you informed. And as always, do not hesitate to contact us: info@ri4arts.org.

Welcome to the PADS Blog

When nearly 40 people showed up at our February 2008 meeting at Machines With Magnets the Steering Committee recognized that there was a real need to keep the conversation going in between group meetings. We hope that this blog can serve this purpose. We have always tried to let our members guide our action – that’s how we came up with our organizational intent: “to improve the downtown experience by focusing on economic revitalization, public safety, beautification and celebrations of the diverse culture and life of Pawtucket” – and we have high hopes that a blog can help keep us on mission.

The PADS Steering Committee will continue to maintain a web site but this blog is the place where you, the PADS membership, can contribute your thoughts, observations, opinions, or even downtown events listings. We ask that the same spirit of respectful dialogue that applies in our meetings apply on this site. Happy blogging!