Don’t cut arts funding

I urge city government officials you to not cut funding for the arts, the museum, and the Mare Island Preserve.

The budget is already ludicrously small for these entities. Here is why you should not cut funding for these programs that bring much needed beauty and culture to Vallejo:

• The museum: If it is not maintained, it puts this major historic building at risk. Perhaps I’m being cynical, but does some corporate vulture want to take it over or destroy it? This historic building is the setting for many cultural events in Vallejo and should be repaired and remain available to the community.

• Art walks, art and other programs for children, etc.:

These are part of what makes life in Vallejo pleasant and let people connect. They bring life and business to our otherwise sometimes desolate downtown. Arts for children are vital and are well-known to have a positive influence on their behavior and academic success.

• The Preserve: If there is no money in the budget, then give it back to the volunteers who managed to keep it growing and flourishing and safe for the last 12 years — with little or no help from the city. The recent depredations there were absolutely not ecological — destructive for wild life and human enjoyment alike. These changes, in addition to hiring the security to patrol the site, probably cost more than this year’s whole city arts budget. The savaged landscape looks like it was designed by someone who’s idea of a nature preserve is a golf course. The loss

of the many programs that the volunteers of the Mare Island Heritage Trust provided is an ongoing tragedy for the citizens of this town. There are currently more than 7,000 signatures from Vallejo citizens and voters on two petitions to restore the Preserve management to these volunteers.

Some alternative suggestions:

• Cut the fat out of the police budget instead: A $250 million-plus budget has room to squeeze out a tiny portion for the arts. Some particular soft targets for budget-cutting are:

• The new police station:

Don’t build it. It’s prohibitively expensive and that part of town is in the flood plain for the river. Conservative estimates of ocean rise predict flooding into the low parts of Vallejo in the next 20-25 years. Sinking $30-$60 million in this station would be the wrong decision. On the waterfront, right under a residential neighborhood is not an ideal place for speeding police cars, sirens, and a building that will essentially need to be remodeled into a fortress over time. My suggestion is to postpone a new station for a couple of years until we know how bad the recession from the mismanagement of COVID-19 is. The new Costco building may be done by then and the old Costco building may be available. It’s a long way from rising waters, has lots of space indoors and out, and is in a commercial area with quick access to highways 80 and 37.

• The illegally acquired cellsite simulator: Drop this project. The city is already being sued over privacy issues. How much will defending this lawsuit cost in addition to the original costs?

There are many more ways various city budgets could be trimmed to provide for the arts. The ones I mention above are simply the lowest-hanging fruit.

— Diane Hume/Vallejo