802 Notes
Broadway - Live Theatre Under Attack February 9, 2009
Broadway Pension Threatened by NY Legislature!
 

In an effort to close a projected $13 billion dollar budget gap the New York State governor has proposed re-instituting sales taxes on live musical and theatrical performances. The legislature is seriously considering this now. If passed this will undermine collective bargaining on Broadway and other live music venues across the city.

 

It is really important that we be heard on this matter. Send a message loud and clear that there are better ways to get things done than stifling culture and attacking unions. Millionaires pay a smaller percent in state and local taxes than we do. Send an e-mail to your representatives in the New York State Assembly and Senate then follow it up with a phone call during the week.

 If you do not vote in New York simply start your message at "I perform" and direct it to the Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger, lkrueger@senate.state.ny.us, and Senate Majority Leader Malcom Smith masmith@senate.state.ny.us and to the Assembly Ways and Means Chair Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell  Jr. FarrelH@assembly.state.ny.us and to the Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Speaker@assembly.state.ny.us , links for office addresses are at the bottom of the suggested text below.

When you send a message to your representatives, please send a cc to these legislative leaders and do 802 the courtesy of sending a copy to pmolloy@local802afm.org.
 
If you live in New York below is suggested text to send to your State Senator or Assemblyman. After you send a message to Albany, please take a moment to pass this on to your friends and colleagues.
 
 Here is the suggested text:
  

Dear Senator (or Assmblymember) (insert the name),

          I am a registered voter and a professional musician and member of Local 802 AFM. I am writing to you with regard to Governor Paterson's proposal to re-implement the sales tax on live musical and theatrical entertainment. This action will cause great suffering to my colleagues performing on Broadway. This tax could have a devastating effect on all the Broadway unions, whose contributions to this industry make Broadway one of New York's most important sources of economic growth over the last few decades. The long-term economic impact would be far worse than any perceived short-term gain could achieve.
 

To understand the harm this tax will cause the Broadway community, some background is in order. After a ten-day strike in the theatre industry in 1960, New York City rescinded its sales tax on Broadway Theatre tickets as part of the settlement agreement. A subsequent arbitration award in 1963 provided that this former tax revenue would be utilized as the major funding source to provide pension and health benefits for more than 4,000 theatre employees - from musicians, actors and stagehands, to ushers, box office staff, hair make-up and wardrobe and more. This has been stable funding for benefits for the last 45 years.

Elimination of the tax resolved very difficult labor and benefit issues and helped make possible the long-term revival of the Theatre industry in New York City. Since the 1960's there have been six major theatres built or refurbished in the Broadway Theatre District. A decaying industry with empty theaters in the increasingly seedy and sometimes dangerous center of Manhattan has been resuscitated. It is now a healthy industry attracting millions from around the globe to New York each year. The live theatre and entertainment industry in New York City is now one of the most important economic engines of our City and State.

The likely and most ominous consequence of this tax would occur at the negotiating table, as owners would attempt to stabilize their businesses by demanding cuts in benefits to offset the cost of the theater tax. This would immediately threaten the benefits of thousands of theatre employees, many of whom would lose access to health benefits. The burden of the health care cost for many of these members and their families, due to the precarious nature of working in the entertainment industry, would very likely fall on the State.

The unions and the members they represent would have no choice but to fight to re-instate these critically important benefits. As labor agreements expire over the next three years, there would very likely be major disruptions in the industry. Even a brief disruption would cost the city and state significant tax receipts from missed payrolls and sales taxes in the travel, hotel and restaurant industries. If Broadway goes dark, it will not be because the parties at the bargaining table desire it. It will be because the legislature destabilized the industry.

I urge you and your colleagues in the legislature to reject this ticket tax proposal. A reasonable solution to the budget gap is a progressive tax system. The wealthy have not paid their fair share since 1990. The great majority of my colleagues in Local 802 AFM live on middle class incomes and end up paying a far larger portion of our income in sales, real estate and income taxes than the wealthy. Any serious effort to close budget gaps has to start with all New Yorkers paying their fair share of taxes.

Thank you for your time and attention.

 

Sincerely Yours,

 
How to identify and locate contact information for New York State Legislature members.
 
NY State Senate e-mail list click here.  You can copy and paste the email address, or click on the name for the senate member's page then click contact information and leave a message on the contact form.
 
NY State Assembly e-mail list click here.You can click the email address and your default email program will activate, or click on the name for the senate member's page then click contact information and leave a message on the contact form. 
 
If you are unsure you can Look Up Your Representative. 

To look up your senator by zip code click here. Enter your zip code in the member search box then get the e-mail address or use the contact form.
 
To look up your assembly member by zip code click here.  Enter your zip code in the member search box then get the e-mail address or use the contact form.
 
The senate leadership cc list Hon. Malcomb A Smith masmith@senate.state.ny.us and Hon. Liz Krueger, Finance Committee Chair, lkrueger@senate.state.ny.us
 
The Assembly leadership cc list  Hon Sheldon Silver, Speaker@assembly.state.ny.us and Hon Herman D Farrell Jr. FarrelH@assembly.state.ny.us  or cut and paste from here:  lkrueger@senate.state.ny.us; masmith@senate.state.ny.us; FarrelH@assembly.state.ny.us; Speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
 
Should you have questions or comments about 802 THEATRE NOTES please don't hesitate to call Joel LeFevre at 212 245-4802 x197 or send an e-mail to 802notes@local802afm.org
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President  Obama has included a $50 million dollar increase to funding for the  National Endowment for the Arts as part of the stimulus bill.
 
Conservative Senate Republicans who are hostile to cultural spending  cut this out of the Senate version of stimulus bill passed on Friday.  These vital funds are still in the House version passed earlier in the week.


From Americans for the Arts.
 
Plan of Action

1.  Arts advocates need to quickly contact Senators who voted for the Coburn Amendment and express your extreme disappoint-ment with their vote.  We need these Senators to know that their vote would detrimentally impact nonprofit arts organizations and the jobs they support in their state.  We have crafted a customized message for you to send to your Senators based on their vote on the Coburn Amendment.  The correct letter, customized to each of your Senators will appear when you enter your zip code. If your Senator voted for this funding prohibition, you can send them a message expressing your disappointment and ask them to work to delete this language in the final conference bill with the House.  If your Senator voted against the Coburn Amendment, you can thank them for their support of the arts.


2. We need as many news articles as possible this coming week to publish stories about the economic impact of the nonprofit arts industry and how the recession is negatively affecting arts groups across the country.  Please click here to customize an opinion editorial to your local media.  We have provided you with easy-to-use talking points.


3. Next week, Americans for the Arts will be sending you another action alert that targets the White House and the soon-to-be-named Senators and House
members who will serve as conferees to the final economic recovery bill.  Please be prepared to take action on this alert as well.
 

Yes Add My Voice!

While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.