HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/26/2023 Item Public Comment, M.Cox
From:Maggie Cox <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Budget Priorities Community Forum
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As a 40-year resident and someone interested in civic matters, I have participated in numerous City goal setting sessions
and commented on many items over the years. My topics of interest have run the gamut from open space preservation
to economic development, parking, senior services, parks and rec programming, and more.
I cannot attend this Thursday's Forum, but I appreciate being able to offer comments by email. I'm struck by how many
of my past interests are reflected in my focus this year for arts and culture as a budget planning priority.
Supporting arts and culture checks so many boxes. A commitment to arts and culture is a commitment to our
downtown, to our tourism industry, and to our overall community character. It shows regard for the seemingly
intangible connections that absolutely connect and nurture us. Arts and culture serve every demographic, and they tie
us together in meaningful ways -- even more so on the heels of lessons learned from Covid isolation. And of course,
they are good for business.
If I was at the meeting Thursday, my voting dots would heartily support SLO Rep, SLOMA (and the Arts District in
general), along with the La Loma Adobe. They are admittedly very different, but they have points in common: all are so
valuable to our community and are supported by passionate citizens who are working hard for organizations' economic
viability and requesting help, not handouts. The continued presence of these facilities will help secure SLO's vibrant
future. I hope we can support them.
In closing, I'll note I'm a first time grandmother who has a new perspective on just how much the past, the present and
the future weave the very fabric of a community. Supporting arts and culture provides a strong foundation for our
community's overall preservation and economic health. I can't wait to share SLO with my granddaughter.
Thank you.
Maggie Cox
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