Dear All:
Please take a moment to read this message, and then to send an email to Bill Rosenthal (cc Rocky Delgadillo) to save Beyond Baroque from closing its doors.
Thank you.
Regards,
Marie Lecrivain PS: Please forward this message to interested parties.
The more response, the greater the chance we have of staying open. Thanks!
Dear Everyone:
Here's the 411 on the situation.
After years of hard work on the part of Fred Dewey and othersadvocating for Beyond Baroque, City Councilman Bill Rosendahl agreedat the end of fall 2007 to extend Beyond Baroque's lease of thebuilding at 681 Venice Blvd. for another 25 years. We on the Board ofTrustees went off into the holidays relieved that the issue hadfinally been resolved and that Beyond Baroque's homestead was secure.I was stunned to learn last night that last week, CouncilmanRosendahl was informed by City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo's officethat the City Attorney wants to put the lease to 681 Venice Blvd. upfor an auction process for other non-profits to bid on. This despitethe facts that:1) It is generally up to the City Councilman of a given councildistrict to determine how city property assets are parsed out forpublic use;2) 681 Venice Blvd. has been Beyond Baroque's home for nearly 40years;3) Beyond Baroque's staff and supporters have put their time, money,and talents into not only keeping up and improving the building andits facilities, but also into beautifying its landscape.This new snag may be Mr. Delgadillo's way of playing politics withCouncilman Rosendahl, but he has ordered a hearing to decide thematter NEXT TUESDAY. That's right. Rocky gives us until Tuesday,February 19, to do something about this.We need to take action NOW.Please send an e-mail to City Councilman Bill Rosendahl(
Councilman.Rosendahl@lacity.org) to thank him for supporting the 25-year lease renewal for Beyond Baroque and to let him know that yousupport him in his battle to keep Beyond Baroque in its rightfulhome. IMPORTANT! Be sure to cc: the City Attorney(
Rocky.Delgadillo@lacity.org) on your e-mail. Large numbers of e-mails WILL get their attention. It does not have to be a long e-mail.You can personalize it by adding a few words about what BeyondBaroque means to you as a resident of Los Angeles.If you aren't from L.A., please tell them that Beyond Baroque is animportant reason for you to keep coming back to Venice and to LosAngeles. If you are from out of state or out of the countryaltogether, please talk about how you know of Beyond Baroque'soutstanding reputation and why it's important for Los Angeles toprotect and sustain its only literary arts center.Be polite and supportive so that both parties understand that keepingBeyond Baroque exactly where it is is a positive move that benefitseveryone.Do this tonight or tomorrow.
The hearing is on Tuesday.
I thank you for taking action.
Much love and in solidarity,
Amélie Frank
Member, Board of Trustees
Beyond Baroque
http://www.beyondbaroque.org/http://www.myspace.com/beyondbaroque
