LA City Council Ships $1.6 Million for a Book Fair in Another Country; Zine Stands Tall

Well there you have it! The sponsoring Council Member Tom LeBong and City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department General Manager Olga Garay made it seem as if the Federal Government is shoving grant money down LA's throats, forcing them to spend it on a book fair in another country. Garay referred to the receipt of the grant as "Winning a jackpot!"

I'm saying another country because the country where the book fair will be hosted is irrelevant to my opposition.

Kudos to Dennis Zine for stepping up to speak against this crazy proposal and for voting against it.

The race baiting began when Council Member Tony Cardenas said he was outraged that anyone would even question the City's participation in the book fair.  Cardenas claimed that criticism of this is based on the fact that Mexico is involved.  Council Member Jose Huizar agreed.  Apparently the Council Members didn't listen to Doug McIntyre or myself say Tuesday morning we'd oppose this if the fair was in Iowa, Iceland or even Inglewood.  They don't get it and they're intellectually dishonest.

Garay also accused "the airwaves and the blogs" of giving out misinformation and "hate mongering." What hate mongering? I'm personally offended and expect Garay to personally apologize for that remark. Garay also remarked that the City sponsored a similar effort in Europe a few years ago and no one complained.  That's because we didn't catch you that time Olga.  We'll keep watching those agendas so you won't have to worry about us picking only on Mexico.

When the city is in trouble, when services are cuts and fees are hiked this type of action just sends the message that our Council's priorities are all screwed up.  It has nothing to do with Mexico.

The bottom line is the City nor the Federal government has no place being involved in the arts at home or abroad.  Think of how much local tax money the Department of Cultural Affairs sucks up that should go to police, fire, street repair, etc.