Jeanette Richardson Parks, executive director of the Arts Council of Kern, speaks to a group of arts supporters at a rally and meeting Saturday morning, June 5, at The Empty Space Theatre. The group gathered to plan what they would say at the Kern County Board of Supervisors budget hearing Monday, June 7. Photo by Terry Telford

David Lollar holds his son while he speaks in support of local arts at a meeting held Saturday, June 5, at The Empty Space Theatre. Photo by Terry Telford

The small Empty Space Theatre was nearly filled to capacity as local arts supporters rallied Saturday, June 5, to plan their comments about arts funding cuts before the Board of Supervisors. Photo by Terry Telford

Editor’s Note: The budget passed by county supervisors Thursday, June 10, restored funding to all the programs mentioned in this story.

By Terry Telford

A chance for the public to have an audience with the board — even one as condensed as two minutes — bloated public participation to capacity at the Kern County Board of Supervisors public budget hearing Monday night.

Today, the board will continue its debate, hearing from county department heads, officials and the public in what could spill over into a two- or even three-day process as the supervisors hammer out a way to close a multi-million dollar budget gap.

At risk are arts programs, libraries, gang prevention, and other quality of life issues that receive county funding. At stake is $83,000 for the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, $62,000 for the Arts Council of Kern, and $27,000 for the Bakersfield Museum of Art, as well as $883,000 for libraries.

Acknowledging delight in seeing the number of people present Monday night, board chair Ray Watson began by posing a question which spelled out the board’s interest in hearing from the public.

“What are the priorities of our community? This is what we’re looking for, to hear from you, what it is you want to see from county government,” he said.

Hopeful to persuade, dozens of citizens lined up to voice opinions and support for various programs and departments facing deep cuts or elimination. Interested parties were asked to stand up or raise a hand when speakers presented the issue which had prompted their attendance at the meeting.

First in line to provide input from the public was Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall, who shared his support for the Arts Council of Kern. The Mayor posited that community value is measured by the cultural atmosphere of a city and that those looking to visit or relocate to Kern County will place a high priority on the cultural vitality of the area.

Other arts supporters included Tony Martinez of the Bakersfield Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit who spoke about the benefits of partnering with the Arts Council as a way to combat tagging; Jorge Guillen, a local artist who is a contributor to the on-going Downtown Electrical Box Program—an art project which recently won a Beautiful Bakersfield Award; and Jeanette Richardson Parks, Executive Director for the Arts Council of Kern, who was questioned by the panel of supervisors over specific funding needs.

Another area which garnered much interest and vocal support was the Kern County Library. Close to two dozen individuals in Ridgecrest gathered via live feed to be included in the evening meeting. Through the feed, and within the chamber, concern over closing all outlying area libraries was strongly opposed, as was making additional cuts to an already decreased budget for programs within Bakersfield.

Strong support was also shown by a large presence from 4-H youth programs, including a pool of fresh-faced future farmers in white shirts and green hats, and close to 100 citizens based in the Tehachapi and Stallion Springs areas who made the trip to oppose a potential cut to their local fire station. (Applause and a mass exodus ensued after Fire Chief Nick Dunn asserted that upon new budgetary findings, no closure to the fire station would take place.)

Patiently waiting until close to 10 p.m. for his turn to speak, Joe MacIlvaine, President of the Board of Directors for the Bakersfield Symphony, quipped, “It’s been a long night. It reminds me of Wagner,” before close to a dozen people stood to be counted as Symphony supporters.

Other represented interests included the Board of Trade, Assessor’s Office, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), East Niles Senior Center, Elder Life at Kern Medical Center, and the Parks and Recreation Veterans Buildings.

Perhaps the evening’s best illustration of the public’s concern over potential arts and culture funding cuts was presented by Guinevere Dethlefson who brought her daughter, Josephine, to the meeting to speak. The child pleaded, “Please help the libraries stay open, please help the museum stay open. And here is $5 I’m giving to you…” as she offered a bill fished from her own purse. The rest of her words were swallowed up in a loud ovation from the audience.

Difficult decisions await the five board supervisors as the budget hearings resume Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Board Chambers, first floor of the Kern County Administrative Center, 1115 Truxtun Ave.