Presidential candidate John Edwards likes to talk about the “Two Americas” – and here in Orange County we have a great example of this in Santa Ana. My city has some of the poorest people in the county – but we also have an upper crust that loves spending tax money on their pet projects.
For example, the Bowers Museum has been funded, in part, by the City of Santa Ana, for years. In return they have allowed the city residents to enter their facility for free, one day per month. Now they have increased their admission during the week to $17 per person. That effectively shuts out most of the city’s population. And we still get only one free day in return for subsidizing the place.
Go to the Bowers now and you will see one side of Santa Ana. Go south and you will see the other side.
Here is what the Times had to say about the price increase: “But for general admission, the Bowers’ $19 tops the going rate of major big-city museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago (both $12), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ($12.50) and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and Atlanta’s High Museum of Art (both $15).”
Sure, our upper crust is involved in numerous non-profit ventures. They come down from their mansions and whiz around our city in their hybrid cars and point to their artist’s village and beat there chest. They brush their crumbs off and share them with the poor. Then they beat a hasty retreat as the sun goes down and return to their estates.
In the meantime, the city has to make do with one library. The streets in the inner city are a mess. We don’t have enough parks. But our money goes to a museum that is run by a guy who says, “it does get down to economics,” he said. “If you are going to do world-class exhibitions, somehow you have to pay for them.”
Exactly how do these exhibitions matter to the people of Santa Ana? It’s time to end the city subsidy of the Bowers and let the glitterati fend for themselves.
Art, Did you notice your favorite councilmember Bustamonte is on the Bowers Board? I always think it’s interesting how quickly the sons and daughters of maids and gardeners and migrant workers forget their poorer cousins in their rush to climb the social ladder and try to erase a family history. Very sad indeed.
Isn’t it ironic that while our School District is selling off schools and our streets look as bad as any 3rd World Country, we still continue giving MILLIONS of dollers to Bowers Museum each year so Peter Keller can get rich as it’s director and wine and dine with the rich and famous on the backs of poor brown children. And I’m sure Santa Ana residents are so very interested in the Asian art that is taking over because rich Asians are now giving big bucks too. Bowers used to have lots of O.C. historical items (wagons, mission period items, etc) but sadly they sold much of it to fund their trips around the world.
Great point Art! Ted Moreno tried for years to get the council to end this museum boondogle but could not get it done. You might also like to look into the VERY expensive art that has been purchased each year by the city under the guise of “helping the plein aire art show” at Bowers. Each year the city has spent well over a thousand dollars per painting and then placed them in and around the offices of the Department heads (I think at one time former Planning Dept. head Cindy Nelson had 5 hanging in her office) who make $175,000 and get to look at taxpayer purchased art. Do a public records request and ask for the list of all paintings owned by the city. Maybe it’s time to sell a handful of them and fill the potholes on my street!
Great points! I’m sure the paintings are worth more money now so lets have an auction and use the proceeds to fix my section of 15th street near Willard!
Contact former city employee Jim Giliam or Bob Hoffman to get the dirty details. They know where all the bodies are buried!
How sad that we pay all this money for all this great art, yet this is how the Bowers Museum thanks Santa Ana resdients…
They only give us ONE FREE DAY, while the rest of the time they charge us an arm and a leg! Grrr…
But still, thanks for the inspiration, Art. : )
A year or two ago I remember the city subsidizing the Museum with a $10 million donation . Is this a yearly subsidy ? The city also leases the Cal State Fullerton Arts Building in the Artist Village for $1 a year and spent over $10 million on rehabilitating the building . The University leases to art galleries , events and Grad students at a profit .
I guess Art does not like a world-class museum in his own backyard that he can enjoy for FREE!! Last time I checked, Disneyland was not letting all Anaheim residents enter for free.
Art is clearly oblivious to the fact that most major art galleries in this nation have been subsidized in part by the municipalities where they are located.
Bowers brings in much-needed tax revenue for the city and also boosts the much-damaged reputation of our city. Money simply cannot buy the credibility Bowers brings to our city.
Clearly Art would rather have outsiders view our city as a haven for illegal immigrant street gang members rather than a pleasant place for a family to visit a world-class museum.
Art is not smart enough to realize that other cities in this county would ABSOLUTELY DROOL at the though of Bowers relocating to their city. Free land. Tax subsidies. Cash. Bowers could literally name their price & any other city would give it to them.
Congratulations Art!! Your transition to a COMPLETE left-wing wacko is now finished!!
Another Pedraza LIE is the “one day a month” line.
It is two days a month Art!!!
It is sad when you must resort to manipulating the facts in an attempt to strengthen your flimsy stance.
Santa Ana residences can visit Bowers on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at no charge.
So that is twice a month, What a deal.
I hope they hurry up and finish the revamp of the kids museum now that the adult one is complete.
The kids museum (a part of Bowers) close for the month of October 06 to remodel and has yet to reopen.
Post # 9 Hmm.. I said all that . I believe you are responding to me and not to Art Pedroza. Subsidizing museums is a Right Wing – Left Wing polical issue? Besides I understand advocating control of spending public money to be a conservative Republican issue . How does pointing out a expenditure translate to being a left wing wacho? It is apparant you do not think before you open your mouth . You ignored Art Pedrozas points . Again – the admission is not free . Admission is $17 . If the museum contributes to the tax base then why is it subsidized ( it can’t support itself ) . All families can’t afford the admission ticket . These largely Hispanic families are serviced by the small businesses that make up the majority of the tax base for the city . Small businesses contribute 75% of the city’s tax base . The city is 80% Hispanic . Central Santa Ana is 95 % Hispanic . These families spend the money in the city used to subsidize things such as public services and the museum yet can not afford the admission ticket and very little is offered to them as an attraction by the museum . public works neglects their neighborhoods too . How ironic .
Art, don’t you believe that brown people should be exposed to world class art? Has your man really been colonized by the man that you can’t see what an asset Bowers is?
I do think the ticket price is steep, but I’m glad to have such a renowned institution in my City. Indeed, it’s located in one of the nicest blocks around.
Art,
U need to update your SAUSD post site on the front page of the Juice. Late comers would like to see it all
Mr. Lomeli:
Please also consider that all public transit is subsized even though few non-working poor or working-class use it.
The fact is the price is steep. But, I think the residents of this great city — whether Latino, white or other — should feel a sense of pride that we have such a cultural monument here. It’s one of the many things Santa Ana has that distinguishes us from the rest of the bland, unimaginative tract home development cities that surround us.
I’ve gone to the Bowers on the free admission day and it’s a great cultural mecca. You should try and visit it sometime.
Post # 13 the whole point here is that the Brown people as you put it ( The largest make up of Hispanics actually are white ) don’t have but should have access to world class art at Bowers . A significant amount of world class art is of Hispanic origin . Very little of this art gets exposed at Bowers . A variety of world class art would be nice . The most successful , if I am not mistaken , exibit at Bowers was the Virgin of Guadalupe exibit a few years back . The point of this thread is the exclusivity question not that Hispanics should not or would not patronize Bowers . Some would prefer them not to or it appears that way based on the pricing and choice of exhibits . The Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art is private not city subsidized and thriving . Maybe the City of Santa Ana should subsidize a Santa Ana Museum of Latin American Art or facilitate a private investor to develope one so the Brown people can get exposed to some world class art not being offered.
Poster 9,
Disneyland is not subsidized by taxpayers, the Bowers is. Your analogy is useless and irrelevant.
Bottom line – the City of Santa Ana should not be wasting money on the Bowers when so many basic social needs are being overlooked in our city.
Bottom line is that the city leaders at the behest of a small band of elitests such as Don Cribb have used the arts and museums as a tool in their gentrification plans for the city. They have thrown millions upon millions of tax dollars into this “black hole” at a time when we can barely afford it.
I have no problem with Bowers or the arts, I do have a problem with the taxpayers subsidizing them.
These tax dollars would be much better spent in other areas. However, if we did that where would these elitests and snobs hob knob? South county I guess.
Art & Sean sound like two long-lost brothers that have been reunited.
Our world-class art museum is now “gentrification”, huh Sean?
Definition of gentrification: “the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses.”
Considering Bowers has been around for 70+years & the artists buildings in downtown were abandoned for decades……where is the displacement?
Get your left-wing wacko terminology correct……
Art gets the ribbon once again for most outrageous, funniest lie of the week!!
Art says: “Disneyland is not subsidized by taxpayers, the Bowers is. Your analogy is useless and irrelevant.”
Really Art?
Eisner helped Disney achieve a place as one of its biggest beneficiaries in the annals of corporate welfare.
Scrooge McDuck would be proud. Few have panhandled for taxpayer dollars as successfully as Disney during Eisner’s reign. It has received at least $4.5 billion in subsidies, low-interest loans, land grants and “joint venture” investments from governments in Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Hong Kong. It even managed to get a handout from the French government
Post #20 A subsidy is a gift of public money . A gift is something given with no expectation of anything in return . The example you use – Disneyland – A partnership discription is more appropiate of their dealings with different entities . Concessions are made with expectations of economic prosperity for the partnership . The example can be extended to the museum and the Arts if the same expections are real . I believe you understand this based on the facts you posted . We all can interpret whatever is convinient in a message . This is my interpretation of Art Pedrozas comment you question . A public gift should be structured to benefit all the stakeholders contributing to the gift . The Sol apartment complex across from the artist village on Broadway was re-developed to luxury condos . The prior tenants were displaced based on economics . This is an example of what Sean meant by gentrification . The re-development was planned to complement the Artist Village as some envision it . Other communities intergrate affordable housing in their Artist Village concept succesfuly . Agendas are at play , there is nothing wacko ( crazy ) about people with a differnt oppinion than yours .
Art L:
Given that 85% of Mexicanos are mestizo, I’m wondering how you determined that “the largest make up of Hispanics are actually white”?
I’m assuming you must be Italian.
In any event, you make some valid points about the Bowers.
Post # 22 . Mestizo means a mixture of Mexican Native and European blood . The progeny can manifest in a variaty of skin tones and be further watered one way or the other depending on reproduction choices . The U.S.A Federal government has struggled with the description of Latino, Hispanic and Spanish . At one point this group was classified as white by the Federal Government . I am An American Citizen born in Mexico ( A Mestizo ) . Residing in the U.S.A. for 40 years . Thank you for finding some of my points valid .
The fact that the US government has struggled with labeling Mexicans is really of no consequence. The fact is, the US government changed the census because they realized Mexicans didn’t know how to complete the forms precisely because they did not identify as white and more often than not choose Native American.
Still, you can be in the minority and still cling to the tired notion that Mexicans are white.
In any event, if want to go after corporate welfare, start with every Fortune 500 company. The Bowers offers a valuable asset to this community (something we have preciously little) unlike many other institutions.
Please aim your swords at another windmill.
Post # 24 . Your bias and contempt is so evident . Thank you for being candid . You are misinformed as to the reasons the Federal government has struggled with this race I.D issue . Google it and imform yourself . It has nothing to do with a minority notion it is a Federal Government notion based on their research . If you were to inform yourself you would of learned that the reason at one point the group was identified as white was because they choose that discription . Apparently you object to be included with them . The struggle the Feds have had with this issue is more for political and entittlement reasons not race I.D. No one here is questioning Bowers being an asset to this community – it is . The question is exclusitivity , you know this . A collective resident agreement wether Bowers is an asset depends on Bowers efforts to be inclussive by offering subjects of interest considering the diversity of the community . I know this statement will upset you – learn to live with your neighbors .
Mexican, Hispanic, Latino, etc. is not a Race.
Mr. Lomeli:
Your ignorance is amazing. I don’t learn history through google searches. I actually take the time to inform myself through books and academic journals.
LULAC was the group that pushed to have Mexicans self-identify themselves as white. Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of Mexicans didn’t consider themselves white.
Why don’t you try going down Fourth Street and asking any Mexican national (which I am) or any Mexican-American if they are white. They will invaribly tell you “no” because they are not.
You’ve taken a government imposed definition of race and ignored the social construction which many of us identify.
Perhaps you are Spanish or look white. I do not nor do most Mexican I know.
#27
You’re one ignorant individual. Exerting keystrokes on your post is a waste of energy.
Dr. Lomeli, as always thank you for your thoughtful posts. The best of us have embraced the power of technology/Google. Unfortunately #27 is stuck in the 19th Century.
Post # 27 , Post # 26 is correct – Mexican , Latino , Hispanic and for that matter American , Chineese, Frech ect.. are not a discriction of race they describe a nationality . Most countries have many cultures even differing slightly in the usage of the dominant language ( East coast vs. West coast ). An American or a Mexican for example can be some one born in the US or Mexico from parents that are red heads with freckles . Also An American or a Mexican can be a red head with freckles that immigrated and became a citizen . Being white has nothing to do with identifying with a social construction as you put it . There are many blond blue eyed Mexican citizens that consider themselves socially and culturally Mexicans . There are communities in Mexico of German , French Afro-Amaerican and Chineese decent that have assinilated to varying degrees that consider themselves Mexican . As I understand the race classifications are (1) Asian (2) Mongoloid (3) Anglo Saxon (4 ) Negroid . Migration historians say Asians migrating across the Alaskan land bridge thoasands of years ago and colonized the Americas ( North , Central and South ) and are termed Native Americans . You are confused about Nationality , culture and Race . That is why you are having difficulty with your identity. At best you are ignorant at worst you are the counter part to Mr. Millard in Costa Mesa .