Letter to the Editor: Arts Council Board Endorses LFP Proposition 1

To the Editor:

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council joins Friends of Third Place Commons, the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center and the Shoreline School Board in endorsing the City of Lake Forest Park’s Proposition 1, a property tax levy-lid lift for retention of basic public safety and other services that will appear on the August 17, 2010 ballot.

As the City’s Resolution for Proposition 1 states, without additional revenues, the City will be required to substantially reduce basic services including public safety, parks and community services. If Proposition 1 is not passed by the voters, funding for the Arts Council and other service providers will likely be eliminated in the City’s 2011 budget. The Arts Council has been a successful and vibrant community organization for over 20 years, but is in jeopardy of losing City, County and Foundation support in this economic climate.

While the Arts Council receives just a small percentage of its budget from the City, it is critical to providing quality of life services for Lake Forest Park residents. Free events such as summer Concerts in the Park on the Showmobile Stage and the Shoreline Arts Festival; excellent affordable programming with the Arts in Culture and Children’s Performance series; a comprehensive Artists-in-Residence program in the school district; and the Gallery at Lake Forest Park Towne Centre are just a few of the many cultural amenities the community has come to rely on that will be affected by the loss of City support. Public safety, parks, access to free and low-cost programs and events and other community services make Lake Forest Park a great place to live, work and play.

Bob Pfeiffer

President

Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council