01 & 14 (153)Public Comment
From: Michael Schmaltz <
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2021 8:24 AM
To: Harry Sidhu (Mayor); Jose Moreno; Stephen Faessel; Jordan Brandman; Jennifer Diaz;
Avelino Valencia; Trevor O'Neil
Cc: Public Comment
Subject: The Cultural Arts building
Good morning Mayor Sidhu and City Council Members.
I'm sending this email to urge you to support and approve Housing Authority Agenda Item 1 and City Council
Agenda item 14 that will be before you on Tuesday, April 27.
The Cultural Arts building is a valuable community asset and should be preserved and protected. Yes it doesn't
appear on any lists or historic resources, but it is none the less a valuable and loved facility. 10 years ago no one
considered mid century homes "historic". Now they are widely considered among the most precious and
revered resources in a city's housing stock. So to with the Cultural Arts building. As is pointed out in the staff
report this building has served multiple uses and has served the community of Anaheim for over half a century.
It is now home to the Anaheim Ballet, an organization that has provided a much needed service to youth of our
community for over 20 years.
Let me acknowledge that we do need senior housing, no one is denying that fact. However, we also need space
for non-profit service providers and community groups to engage the community in general and the youth of
Anaheim in particular. The Cultural Arts building and the Anaheim Ballet do just that. Surely there must be a
way to accomplish both goals: provide affordable senior housing and preserve this valuable city asset while
continuing
to provide a home to the Anaheim Ballet so they can continue their much needed and widely support programs
engaging Anaheim's youth.
The 2 items on your agenda covering this issue would give staff and city leadership time to consider options and
allow the Anaheim Ballet to continue their programs. The community has already shown widespread support
for both the preservation of the Cultural Arts Building and for the Anaheim Ballet. With Covid-19 restrictions
being lifted and activities opening up again after a very long hiatus we need this program and programs like it
more than ever. And we need assets like the Cultural Arts building which provide homes for these services.
With a concerted effort and cooperation between city staff, elected officials, non-profit providers, and the
community there's no doubt a "best case scenario" can be achieved. Please support Housing Authority Agenda
Item 1 and City Council Agenda Item 14 and buy us the time to do just that.
Michael Schmaltz