 All right, we're just gonna jump into panel three right now. Thank you all for coming up so we have Almost everyone's from Brooklyn Okay, so constant I were gonna do a one-on-one, but he Graciously chose to join the panel. So I'm gonna be modifying my questions as we go along here Because I was doing this was an all Brooklyn panel up until that moment. So My apologies if you feel a little left out, but you shouldn't because because there's a lot of common ground here But our icebreaker question is Brooklyn Center. So we want to know honestly where you stand on things Please tell us Do the right thing moon struct or Saturday night fever Do the right thing Are brisk with or even district do the right thing Of course do the right thing It's everything that Brooklyn is about I am here to tell you that I'm gonna do the right thing Have to go with Saturday night fever It was filmed in the hardware store around the corner from where I work currently so That's where John Travolta worked and I got to stay with the hometown hero I have here the correct answer, which is actually vampire in Brooklyn Everyone knows the song no sleep till Brooklyn and I think we can actually sleep now because Brooklyn application is everywhere If I go and do one more bar with reclaimed wood and craft beer, I will lose my mind but that Brooklyn and And and and really what we have with with the outer boroughs I think Brooklyn has moved into into Queens one can make that argument that that What it is is this idea of something being artistic or artisanal and of high quality and craftsmanship right So my question is Has Brooklyn left us behind? Is it too late and using any of the clients? Please tell us anything How we at our level can grow in the shadow of something like the Barclay Center and other huge developments that are happening everywhere You have two minutes to respond You start down here All right, so I'm gonna answer the question that I have to do a program My name is costa constant as I'm proud to represent the 22nd district includes I called art story Someone else today called it act story of that. However. Do you want to put it? And I I agree with you that you think about Queens you would think about high quality art As I just alluded to with art story art story. I think that we've done a lot of the good things in the city council That's art education whether that The CII Using that that's CII the culture immigrant initiative It's making sure that we bring that great diversity that that strength that that's half the three of who we are And strengthening those individual tenants of that half the street and plugging them into the DC LA Now what is the SDLA? How does it? How does it get funding? How do we how can these groups get plugged in? I was proud to host a Multicultural festival in a story of heart for the first time I'm making an annual event Bringing in 12 13 different organizations to perform in a story of heart To celebrate those cultures and also they'll also plug them into what is going on in the art scene Again looking at funding organizations to bring the arts to night check Whether that's the lower Christian society performing with our residents in public housing But that's bringing to Casa and bringing arts into our senior centers providing additional programming there whether it's Working with our kids that talked up for Casa, but what can we do with parties tenants? Right? That's what you talked about before. What can we do better? It's looking for those. What is our neighborhood? What is the character of our neighborhood? Is it building? Or is it the people that make up that neighborhood? And if it is that second part Then we have to start focusing on how we build spaces for people and keep it affordable and not focus on low This is what the heights are and what we have been it's more about how do we keep the people who made our neighborhoods great? In those neighborhoods for the long term Always go out on the plug The doctor believe me everyone My name is Corey provost and I am a candidate for the city council district of 41 in Brooklyn Which is the neighborhood of Brownsville Ocean Hill? breakfast lighting St. Crown Heights and And just to get drunk right to the question has broken that this behind I don't think so. There's so much. I think still left in Brooklyn Think about what we can do from an art standpoint Utilize the city of our No, there's so much property so much space We have to rethink how we utilize some of this open space and not possibly with art bridge Earlier this year they unveiled a mural of Lansing Hughes houses And I think when we look at how we have again the space that is there already that is empty that it's somewhat Look we can invite local artists Come in and do different kinds of projects on that kind of space So I think when we look from the city council Love to be able to spot initiatives like that. We'll just again bringing rethinking how we're looking at art and Art utilizing the city Hi, so again. Yeah, my name is Jabari briskward. I'm running in the 35th district It's also known as the band cultural districts and has Brooklyn left us behind in parts of my district. Yeah Yeah, a lot of people have been priced out especially artists and a part that's been done by this technique That was perfected by developers of my district Which is using people like you and people like me I'm an artist too as the battery ram gentrification But they come with all this glitz and glamour about all the amazing artistic spaces They're going to build and then very quietly sneak all these luxury condos there. Yeah Okay, what you might not know is that it was redeveloped or redesigned or you know Rebuilt refurbished by Jonathan Rose companies and Jonathan Rose companies is a darling of the arts They do so much for culture and they're green and everyone loves them But after they got their permit to develop a theater for new audience 2013 two years later They go down the block and they purchase 15 Lafayette as we for $1 and they do it on the promise of affordable housing and thousands and thousands of square feet of Cultural of cultural space and tons of partnerships with Mark Morris and it sounds great for artists until you look at the rents Because the majority are way out of price their market rates So basically condos are unaffordable and of the parts that are affordable half are earmarked to a hundred and thirty percent of AMI If you don't know what that means it means it's affordable if you're making eighty thousand dollars a year Does any artist in this room make eighty thousand dollars a year? The any artist make eighty thousand dollars in the past two years Call me crazy, but I think that developers that wrap themselves up in the arts Wrap yourself up in the arts for good public relations. You should build homes that artists can afford to live in So yeah, I'm artist and like Edward. I did a little improv So I say yes and And I say yes to designating cultural zones within the sea and in districts like mine that are high and very dense in culture mandatory inclusionary housing for artists when we're building affordable housing. Thank you Good evening. I'm so happy to be back and so happy to have had your support The last election cycle. It's an honor to be back. It's been an honor to represent you Over the last four years one of the things that struck me as so many of the candidates were speaking compared to last year's election cycle Which is so inspiring is that for me? I was coming in as the first artist arts professional into the city council and Why that's important is because What I learned your issues do not get addressed if you are not there So the concept or the idea or the reality of so many artists people from the creative community Stepping up for the really first time in history of large numbers to run for public office is powerful I know that as a city council member when I walk into the room And they've already decided things or at the hearing and they see my presence. They know We got to start all over We don't mention the arts in it and that's so critical and that's so important when we came in One of the things that was so important was the work that you did push so many of the legislators around legislation as it pertains to theater so Ben Kalos Awesome I'm happy to co-sponsor the legislation to make sure that we have affordable spaces in city government all throughout to make Sure that you can utilize that space We've had tremendous pushback, but we're going to continue to push back But forums like this as I'm sitting here are also so critical because it's important that this doesn't happen every four years We have to continue to have this type of dialogue so that we can continue to meet and continue to hold elected officials Accountable all throughout four years because if you let people off the hook for four years They're not going to think about your issues in that way So thinking about it from an electoral perspective This is powerful more artists running and have we left many people behind yes We have but there's still so much that we can do Hi again, my name is khadr Ilyateem. I am Arab Palestinian American Democrat a preacher in the 43rd district in Brooklyn, New York I I'm sure many of you might be surprised to see a person wearing a collar and a church council But I believe that I'm running for a reason to represent my community and honor to be here tonight And the whole conversation was tonight about what we can do for you, but really it is also what you can do for us Because I believe the independent Actors can change and challenge our reality and open and expand our horizons But I am before I came here when this I received this invitation to be with you I met with few of the artists in our community to speak about the challenges and the things that they have dealing with on everyday basis and It is so sad to see in our beautiful district the fort of the district We don't have one space where artists can go to practice. They can perform and they can call home It is really a sad reality the only place they had to perform and practice what in the basement of our church And and we offer them that the space But I need to see in our community a place where these artists that independence artists have a place to call home And I need to work on this with all of them to make sure we have a center We have a place that they can practice my daughter who spoke years old this year that two shows Aladdin and the other show I'll tell you what she did. She was the witch of the east The school if I can be the witch and I said I would get back to you because you are a pastor So I need to fight for you because I'm fighting for my daughter who she or what she wants to be in life is be a singer So, thank you My name is John Poglione I'm also running in the 43rd district of Bay Ridge, Dica, Bensonhurst and Beth Beach in Brooklyn And I think to say that Brooklyn has left you behind would be a mistake And it's actually in our our neck of the woods and in other parts of the borough as we're hearing We need you more than ever to come into our neighborhoods and to put on those shows this past December at the Fort Hamilton army base as as our pastor said the space is such an issue in our neighborhood that they rent out the theater at the Fort Hamilton army base and Producer for the first time ever had his show perform that I took my daughter to the community theater presentation the most miserable Christmas tree and It was phenomenal, and it was right there. It was $15. It was Actors that were just starting out young Youthful full life and full of talent, and they were right there no more than 15 20 blocks from my house I was able to take my daughter and my niece on a Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock again for $15 So that's why when you look at The programs that involve with the business improvement districts that they're developing here in our district and throughout the city Maybe the city the small business services needs to look to incorporate community theater space when they when they approve When they approve those business improvement districts and and just to just to leave a final point I think to council member combo's point It is a critical that not only are you becoming involved and getting involved and staying involved and running candidate But that we get that that in economic impact study done and show truly what what you are doing and what you're all about And what you're contributing to our city. Thank you Questions raise your hands if You are willing to be a co-sponsor to Ben Calis's city spaces initiative to create a searchable database of unused or underutilized city-owned You will clearly invisibly list your stances on issues facing indie theater and the performing arts in your campaign website and literature You support the commission of a comprehensive impact study for independent theaters similar to one recently published by the University of Pittsburgh on culture and arts impact on New York City neighborhoods You support campaign finance reform and getting big money out of political campaigns at all levels Yeah Support adding any theater artists to the qualifications to get approval for affordable housing You support helping in the artists find ways to purchase affordable places to live Support expanding the theater sub district fund to include arts organizations with budgets below two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year Yeah, and you promise to see at least three in the theater production before the election Including Situation All right, so pulling into the station here Costa Queens was In 2015 Lonely Planet named it the number one destination for forests Not Manhattan. Sorry not Brooklyn But Brooklyn is often visited by folks who come strictly to see Brooklyn as well so We often are dealing with spaces and we have we have 99 seats or less But I often will be in shows where we're like, okay, if we have Less audience members we feel okay because at least we can take them, you know, because there's eight of us and there's six of them I I always say twos and audience ones are her soul But and I will perform it there to leave one person What can we do to I mean, I've mentioned the 61 million But what can we do to get them to come? Because there is indie theater that's here most of the productions are only around for three weeks Most of them we can't afford to spend 3500 or whatever dollars it costs to get a PR person to promote it. We are not on both and board V are not on buses You have to know about it. So what can we do to get? The tourists see what we're doing Also What what do you what would you do to? Create a cultural district that is centered around the smaller artists in your area Right now, I know that the story of the art center is putting on a performance of raisins coming up in May Very How do we get how do we amplify that well a big question I ask and they've come to see me another arts organization Who's to me is we need performance space Consistent performance. I mean affordable performance. Now. How do we do that? We're looking at rezoning as we build rezoning. It cannot be Towers of with a motor around them where it's that their development. This is our development These developments have to be integrated into our community and there has to be a real give-back from developers That enriches this neighborhood that all boats ride these developments or we all lose It can't just be well. We got this number before but how do we got this piece? It has to be all of it and has to be part of the neighborhood then secondly and Building those performance spaces has to be part of that conversation and ensuring that they're there They're there for the long term that residents who are actors and performers can be in those neighborhoods to help bring out those Those conversations Secondly, but art we have the Athens Square Park in the middle of our district We all have this where the story for an art center perform If you have the variety boys and girls club, which is looking to do a performance space Along the 21st Street line where there's so much development happening That whole western portion of our district. We also incorporate the Halis Cove Peninsula, which has been traditionally under served We need to think and network there for art We just start with the at what acid square park that there are early performances going on there But do more and sure that As we building out as we see, you know the two new developments coming down the pipe potentially West Coven and the Hellsgate, which are supposed to be a thousand units apiece that this performance base is there That we link those performance faces with an overall art district in Western Queen And then have them connected by the ferry and to the bike and because the other part of this is transportation It's making sure that we can get people to the performances Is that the seven train and the trains in the weekend do not run well I hear you But we have to also build out of transportation that work to get people to this get people to our performances That don't go dormant on Friday and Saturday and Sunday We have But I would love to see a historic Just like the official Real relations between the already people on the ground They're doing a lot of the community work. There are people that go dig in the out that plan to not production Efforts to make sure that there's some kind of But now it's a prime them together Real strong coalition going then we could see how we could find again to be kind of funding office to get a real strength a little push behind it So they can get the word out about what's going on in the community. I don't think we need I mean, I would love you space you Development within the district that can Go towards this, but I think we have space. You have things again. That's not to rethink what we already have There's so much we feel safe Already within this district So I'm Jibar again and So first question is how we get more towards to see independent theater And what I would love to see is a partnership with the Broadway play bills where we get a full spread that says here's the independent theater scene I think it should link to the LIT side I think you guys have a full calendar of what's going on in the independent theater scene throughout New York And that's a great partnership and I think rather than saying marketing fees It should be free and we'll know it's free because look at the end the economic impact statement of independent theater And how much it brings into New York City Second question, how do we get more indie centers? We've all had the term income inequality, but I'd like to talk to you about artistic inequality Brooklyn received 12 12 million dollars in cultural funding last year over nine million of that went to my district One district in Brooklyn. That's a lot and you know, we need to share We need to share and you know a lot of that because of the you know We have so many of the cultural The cultural institution groups there with BAM and Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn library But if the definition of cultural Institute group leads to artistic inequality Then we need to go to number nine on your platform, which means we need to be the fine What is a cultural institution group and include independent theater? And that means independent theaters like Jack which is in Clint Hills a fantastic little independent theater And I think it's one of the newest additions to the League of Independent Fears because since your platform And so you're both not in Brooklyn now. You're welcome. I Think like that can start to build once again. We're funding and thanks I want to say guilty as charged for bringing home the lion's share of cultural resources Quite a ferocious fighter But I wanted to add with that one of the things that just boils me boils my blood in this instance is The the concept of a cultural district right so we talk about these cultural districts We've got the downtown Brooklyn cultural district We have all these different cultural districts But what angers me about it is that these cultural districts are just names in other states cultural districts have legal Designations that come with resources that come with certain legal ramifications so for instance, I've introduced legislation to create actual legalized cultural district What that would mean is that in those spaces you would have the ability to have Artist housing specific because trying to pass legislation or to utilize preferences for artist housing is very difficult Almost near impossible. There are some projects that have been able to but I want it to be that way I want our schools and universities to take on that mandate as well that they have special Designations in terms of arts performances education and so on and so forth the other aspect about it That's so critical that also boils me you have not in the also in addition to the zoning But also you have all of these corporations like Target H&M Aeropost all all of these different big-box stores that come into our cultural district and they give no resources of any meaning To these not-for-profit organizations that are in the area Those cultural districts so one of the things that I really want to see that I'm passionate about is that we make sure that when you're in a cultural district You can't just advertise as a developer I'm a move into the downtown Brooklyn cultural district minutes away from so-and-so And you're not putting any money into the cultural community to make sure that the artists that live there can stay there The cultural institutions the not-for-profits that are operating there that are selling your luxury condominiums can actually live and thrive So that is one of the So thank you, you did a very good introduction now. I know what all the money is because I Have very sad reality in my district Allocated three dollars and forty three cents for every person in the Brooklyn my district received only thirty one cents per person That's why the independent actors and our suffering in my district That's why they are facing hardships and unfortunately the elected officials in my district have not reached out to help them and address this issue Even though they have been working on it day in and day out So I think we have a lot of work to do to help the artist community that the independent theater community It is about Allocating that appropriate funding so they can do what they need to do to bring to us the arts to challenge our realities to expand our Horizons to this issues that is difficult that we are shy to speak about so this is what I think will be very important But the other thing is We'll talking about the space and home that is must be a reality in our neighborhood We cannot talk even about affordable housing because there is no space for affordable housing people are Sometimes it's that against it. I work with the hot two or two I was able to secure funding to build affordable housing at the board directors of that organization both against it Even though we're approachable from the first time so we need to help our Community to be more accepting of The artists who live there to allow them to do the best work they do to continue to Bring us to a place of conversation and dialogue to grow in our relationship as neighbors And as community From the same area and we see the same problems that are facing the the independent theater and the artists in our part of Southwest Brooklyn Just on the tourism. There's no reason why NYC and company cannot put something together that they do for restaurant week for Two-for-one Broadway show week. They should have independent theater week Maybe maybe twice a year in the spring in the fall They should put put you guys listed in in the pamphlets that they put out that they give out at senior centers and at Airports and this this it's like common sense to promote But you get that impact study done and you can go in there I'll go with you if I'm elected I'll go with your membership and we'll sit down with the director of New York and company and say look This is how many people we're employing. This is how much tax revenues coming. You have to do something for this industry You have to create an independent theater week. You have to create a promotional aspect for These organizations to to go out there when we had a movie theater in our district change hands It was sold the Alpine theater We worked with the owner to guarantee that one of the movie theaters in the place would be used Dedicated for a community theater because we have the narrows community here We have a number of groups that always calling us Where can we do our show? We want to show we need space we need space and like I believe you said earlier Corey They built the theater the theater took over and the community theater space never came to be We have a school right now being built in the community board gave an extension for a seventh floor So that they can have a community theater in addition to the new school that they're building. So we need to Maximize the space as as the pastor said and we need to get more money into our district But we need New York City and company to recognize what you really mean to the New York economy and they need to stand by us Great, so we're gonna do our one-minute wrap-up and I'm gonna put a special spin on this one I'm gonna ask some of you are already in office and some of you are running for office so Whether you're in office or whether you are in the future getting elected How can we come to you and engage with you? How can anyone out here who has their own company just go to one of you? Individually without the leaders in the family to themselves that come with their issue And what do we need to do to create a dialogue with you on an ongoing way? I want to say I'm actually still into my fourth year read my own email Every single email Every letter you send me every email you send it read by me first Because I have to read all but I make sure that I read every note You want to start dialogue with me you can reach out to me on social media You can write me a letter you email me because I will read it first and we can have those conversations We can have a little dollar that cost said you know 12 to agree with me 12 from the 12 We both think they're ahead to chat But we can have we can constantly go back and forth with one another You know things looking forward and things that's going to leave you with is that there's a quirk in the zoning law That allows for a bulk bonus That doesn't need a variant doesn't need a euler all it has to be at the community facility space And they can build it without any permission and it was happening in my district. They're building lots of doctors offices We're seeing that on a consistent basis Now I have a couple of proposals on the environmental chair for me on environmental But we should expand that to the arts and incentivize that building and make sure that that's part of our zoning conversation So that's one minute. I'm feebly honored to have the sport last time. I hope to earn your support this time. Thank you Thank you for having me again, my name is Corey Cobo for City Council of the 41st Compromatic District And you can tweet me, you can Facebook me, you can LinkedIn me, you can I've been giving my heart out to the media And again how my contact information I love opens for the dialogue. I encourage the dialogue around this matter So I know I'll definitely be a friend to this organization and go to as a member of the community Let's go wrap up and I believe I've had one of the some of the track records of the candidates running in this Where is that part of the list of identification? I only work for the University from George Scott Springer and one of the first audits that we put out I began there also and just happy to be part of that team was one that analyzed art education and the lack thereof of Art destruction and central Brooklyn and the South Bronx schools and based off that report to City Council The council members were able to add an additional $25 million dollars to art education on the right of the public school system Thank you And lastly you know Also So again to barricade risk for 35th district and I know I said already I'm an artist What I haven't told you yet is I like I love political theater I've been working on it for 10 years and probably the first piece I ever made was a spoken word piece about Same-sex marriage and how awful it is to not be able to visit the person you love in a hospital And I did it all over NYU when I went there for undergrad and I even took it back to my high school I did there a couple with the feet about being in the closet as a high school student and Months later a high school student Facebook messaged me and told me that that speech and that performance Gave him the courage to come out of the closet And that's what I think is so important about theater is that We shine so goddamn bright that we ignite the people around us And the next four years we're going to fascist in the White House. Can you guys agree to shine brighter? When people are threatening to cut funding from the MEA, can you agree to shine brighter? Okay, so if you want to get in contact with me What you can do is you can come to our campaign launch party tomorrow. It is an art cafe and bar in brooklyn And So I'm on the bus in the train so you can always catch me there but Where you will be most impactful is to see all of these faces on the steps of city hall The ability to take over the steps the ability to interrupt the way we do business on a day to day basis Is the best way for you to make an impact and for the electives to hear you And I also want to say in terms of indie theater It's so important and I believe this like when we look at so many of the initiatives that have come forward like vision zero It's important that it comes from the top down when this administration from the top down recognizes The power and the impact of the art. We will see true change and it's our job to influence that I would say in the time that I've been in the city council I've been proud to expand the theaters of color initiative from eight organizations to over 30 I was able to increase in addition to that utility relief So for all cultural institutions theater groups that are on cultural space That are doing cultural programming. They will no longer have to pay to their utilities in addition to that I created the first ever anti gun violence initiative utilizing the arts and theater So there's so much more work to be done and that 10 million dollars. We got was measly We have to make sure that we get the full 40 and match it with another 40 for corporate as well as foundational I think uh at the end of the day comes down to two things funding and space And that's what I will work on When I am elected to office is to secure the funding to identify a place designate that space to be called home to the Uh independently in our community It is not easy, but it is doable and when we have to met the commitment and the passion we can go after it And we can make it happen. So I just want to thank you. We have four Democrats in our Um, uh, district running for office. I am the only Democrat who showed up tonight because I care about This I care about what you guys do and I I met with members of The art community in my district before I came here to meet with you to get a sense of what their struggles are What they need? So I hope you appreciate this and I have my partner here for the Republican side of Republican We showed up tonight. So you got the Republican and the best Democrats for you tonight. So so I hope I will give you a support. Thank you Just to uh for the contact john quagley own for city council 2017 on facebook We're on twitter instagram and linked in as well But again going back to to what I was saying earlier We are the Off whereas far off broadway as you can be on the southwest part of brooklyn And and there are many senior citizens living in our district There are many young families that have never really left brooklyn that haven't left our neighborhood that have never gone to broadway It's it's to an off-broadway theater to a theater like this So to bring it home to us That's why when I said earlier that you has brooklyn left you brooklyn needs you So we need you to come back to come back to our neck of the woods and and I I welcome my colleague's commitment as his mind to Being the voice to finding finally a permanent theater for so we don't have to use the top of a school Or the back of a movie theater or the basement of a church We can have a real theater where we can have Performances that are top quality that you guys produce And that we can have people get the full theater experience. Thank you very much and we hope you both All of our candidates from all See a candidate they really like Let's go to just applauded how many of you will before we break I want to pass the mic over to a very important person who is a becoming a true leader in in the theater territory Without whom this thing would never happen Mr. Guy Yadwai Candidates all the candidates from the earlier panels It's being a little walky at the Can you hear me now? I wouldn't predict but there's also the live stream. Hello to everyone on the internet. Hello to everyone on the video. Thank you um Thank you all for coming. I want you all to give a huge round of applause to all the volunteers to chris to katie to Crazy this is to do so we really appreciate everyone who put in the sweat to make this happen Thanks to everyone who helped us with press jonathan slapping any new gin Who helped us put get press in the house so that we can help spread the word on that Thanks to eras and the crane theater for bringing us So now I just want to briefly say one thing about what happens next and then we can all go on our merry way You can talk to these people and ask them more specific questions and find out more We heard a lot of really great ideas tonight and things that we want to see happen Now we need to make it happen. I didn't come out here to tell you that this is the end of the night I'm telling you this is the start So here's what you need to do to be part of this process. All right step one Everyone got when they came in a yellow sheet. That's the endorsement survey All right, so the league of independent theater we can actually endorse candidates for office They love the arts. That's why they're here But we want to know who you who impressed you who didn't impress you There are a couple candidates who literally they were so passionate to be here They just walked in off the street. So you might need to write in the name on those ballots But please fill those out give that to anyone with a lit pin And that's how we're going to help choose who's going to be there. All right Then we're going to announce who we've endorsed and that brings us to step two We're going to put out a voter guide and we're going to tell you who in which district is being endorsed And then we're going to try and organize to get you guys to help volunteer for them Because endorsing them is nice going out knocking doors But making phone calls I think we've all seen over the last few months that you actually have to be out there You actually have to be heard And then yes This step three As we've said a lot of times vote September November And once we've finished step three, we'll keep doing it all over again We're going to keep talking to these folks once they're elected We're going to keep working with them to get legislation, but that's how we're going to get it done So thank you all for being here