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Artists are important allies for advancing goals for community development, economic development, social services, youth programs, public safety, education and civic engagement. It is important to continue support for this vital sector, especially as artists and arts organizations are experiencing serious economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Artists and arts organizations are second responders, often called upon to lead the healing process following social unrest or tragedy. This had been the vital and historic role artists and arts organizations have played in society, dating back to the WPA Programs of the Roosevelt Administration recovering from the Great Depression. We live in a time and place that is no different, if anything, unprecedented in the trauma that our nation has endured to date. The arts are principle facilitators of diversity and inclusion, and leaders in the conversation as we turn away from violent protests toward meaningful dialog and development of an enhanced conversation on social justice and civility in our society. The arts, although devastated by the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic, particularly with loss of revenue and employment, has been and will be again leading Americans to look past the crisis of today and into the future of our mutual tomorrow. Creativity is endemic to our community, particularly among our children, and the arts heal. I am not asking you only to maintain the funding of the Investment in the Arts Program, I am asking you to increase the funding, to support your own community by supporting the arts, to fortify your own economy by supporting the arts, to demonstrate your vision and leadership by asking the arts to be a partner as Santa Ana goes forward. The investment in quite modest by any comparison to other funding and budget items; the dividends and benefits are well worth it. I am also a member of California Arts Advocates, and we have successfully advocated for increased supports of the arts at the state level. I hope that we can count on you to join us in this important effort by maintaining funding for the Investing in the Artist Grant program, preferably at its original $95,000 level, and by providing additional funding for arts programs that help the arts sector intersect with the City's other departments and benefit the Santa Ana General Plan. If you have any questions, I would be happy to speak with you. Sincerely, Tomas J. Benitez Chairman, Latino Arts Network of California