“Our
December issue is a “Best of St. John’s” themed one, in which we asked people
questions like “Best thing about living here” and the bulk of responses spoke
of “downtown culture,” “local business,” and “booming arts scene.” Tourists
leave saying the same things. And yet, the new St. John’s budget took its aim
at these very things”. From the Overcast, Newfoundland’s Alternative Newspaper
15 December 2015
Recently
Bob Hallett took to social media and talked to the local press to speak out
against the St. John’s City Council’s decisions to cut funding to the arts and
raise taxes for commercial and residents in downtown St. John’s. Bob also wrote
a letter to the Newfoundland and Labrador Independent.ca online.
Alan
Doyle supported Bob Hallett’s comments on Twitter.
There
were a number of articles written about the arts budget cuts and the increases
in taxes to commercial and residents in downtown St. John’s.
As
a tourist who has visited St. John’s on more than a couple of occasions over the
past few years, spending thousands of dollars there, I have decided to
respond here and explain why I visit Newfoundland and St. Johns. Edward L.
Richie was right in that I don’t go there for the Harbour Fence or modern
architecture.
From
Bob Hallett from his official account on Twitter
Bob Hallett
@BobHallett I am dismayed that @CityofStJohns have impose a brutal tax increase
on small independent business, and at the same time gutted arts funding. 15
December 2015.
Bob Hallett
@BobHallett The @CityofStJohns tourist literature’s full of musicians, artists
& downtown businesses – yet we are being taxed and defunded to death. 15
December 2015
From
Alan Doyle and Edward L. Riche from Alan Doyle’s official account on Twitter
Edward L. Riche
@EdwardLRiche The City Council Cuts & Spikes a Serious Blow to Local
Culture. 15 December 2015 (article from the Overcast attached)
Alan Doyle
@alanthomasdoyle to Edward L. Riche @EdwardLRiche
It is amazing to me. The Arts, independent downtown businesses, and walking
trails are in every St. John’s tourist ad…15 December 2015
Edward L. Richie
@EdwardLRiche to Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle They ain’t coming for the Harbour
Fence or innovative new architecture. City Govt. can no longer crow about
culture. 15 December 2015
Alan Doyle
@alanthomasdoyle to Edward L. Riche @EdwardLRiche It feels 100 % taken for
granted. 15 December 2015
Edward L. Richie
@EdwardLRiche to Alan Doyle @alanthomasdoyle Yep. 15 December 2015
Alan Doyle
@alanthomasdoyle The Arts. First in line when there’s funds to be raised. Last
inline when there’s funds to distribute 16 December, 2015.
The
Newfoundland and Labrador online newspaper The Independent.ca published
an article “More protests planned as City
responded to budget backlash” by Justin Brake on 23 December, 2015 about
the arts cuts stated…
“…They (the arts community) argue that in a city and province where
arts and culture industries are so intimately tied to the people and place’s
identity, and with government investments in the arts producing such a strong
return economically, socially and culturally, the municipality’s per capita
arts funding should be at least on par with other Canadian cities…”
In The Overcast, Newfoundland’s Alternative Newspaper
published an article “You Don’t Slash a
Nationally Renowned Arts Industry That Is Making Money to Compensate for One
That Isn’t” by Chad Pelly on 21 December 2015 states…
“…And The
Arts do make money, investing in them is not about handouts, it’s about
investing a little money that’ll go a long way. Statistics Canada says that in
2010, cultural industries in Newfoundland and Labrador generated 424 million
dollars, while other “entertainment industries” like sports only contributed
$49 million to total provincial GDP. Why aren’t stats like these part of the
conversation around The Arts?
Of the
city’s $302 Million Dollar Budget, the arts will receive $100,000. That’s
0.03%. Our city places that much value in a sector we are known for nationally?
Like many citizens, the majority of our councillors just don’t get it: Arts
grants are business grants, because the arts are a business – retailers sell
art and books and music, and, artists aren’t hobbyists: we make money off what
we make, from our publishers and producers, or ticket and album sales.
The Arts
are also of benefit to other industries in a synergistic manner: Musicians help
restaurants and bars fill seats, or conventions and cruise ship arrivals sail
more smoothly…”
My
response…
As
a tourist I have been to St. John’s and Newfoundland for the culture, history,
arts and in particular the music. Over the past couple of years I have spent
several weeks in St. John’s and Newfoundland spending thousands of dollars. I
have not really wanted to go anywhere else in Canada. I have been to St. John’s
in Spring and Winter. I am concerned about what the St. John’s City Council has
proposed for the downtown area.
It
was the Newfoundland culture, history, arts and music that brought Newfoundland
to my attention, sold me on going there and has continued to keep me
interested. As a tourist I love walking downtown to Bannerman Park, through
the jelly bean houses, doing historical walks, shopping, having a meal and
drink and listening to live music on George Street and to go to music concerts.
George Street (even in Winter and with snow) is a real treat for tourists and
locals alike.
The
St. John’s City Council’s decision to raise taxes for local residents and
commercial business like shops and restaurants will bankrupt people and drive
business owners and operation out of downtown St. John’s. I did notice on my
last trip many of the businesses that operated downtown on previous trips have
closed or moved away and there were many vacant commercial fronts along the
major roads.
Other
businesses such as restaurants and pubs were very quiet even though it was Winter
when I went. Times are definitely tough in the off season for those businesses
downtown. During Winter I found it is easier to get on the bus and go to
shopping malls where there is heating, cleared paths and parking lots have been
cleared. I am sure a lot of Newfoundlanders find this too.
After
a quick survey of the St.John’s City Councillor's experience I found the council
is rather full of middle aged men with commercial interests and experience and
noticeably absent are those with other interests and women and younger
people. I am wondering how many of those councillors may have an undeclared
conflict of interest when a council with this much business experience is
having trouble balancing it’s budget. It is well known that necessary to a
healthy society, is a healthy and supported arts scene, not just financial
prosperity.
I
don’t believe the St. John’s City Council has not done its research into how
important the arts community is to Newfoundland and the run off effect it has
for the community. Tourists like me come to Newfoundland for a number of
reasons including the arts and music. As a consequence we spend
thousands of dollars there. We don’t come for flash shopping malls like we have
at home and we are certainly not interested in commercial buildings. There is
no question about that.
