Measure Y exempts low-income seniors, very low-income households, tax-exempt religious and educational organizations, and affordable housing. Strict audits and transparent grant processes ensure funding is spent as promised. Funds are legally restricted to support the arts.

Without our local arts organizations, we risk returning to an empty downtown and pandemic-era crime rates. By supporting the arts, we’ll help maintain a vibrant downtown, commercial corridors, and neighborhoods, keep restaurants open, and bring people in to support our other local businesses.

Donald Trump is intent on destroying freedom of expression, and defunding and censoring the arts, and local communities like Berkeley are our last line of defense. We must protect our diverse, inclusive arts and cultural organizations before it’s too late.

These include youth educational opportunities, free public festivals and cultural performances, and discounts for residents and workers. Measure Y protects these community benefits and allows arts organizations to put on more public festivals, events, and performances. Measure Y also supports grants for diverse individual artists.

Berkeley’s arts legacy is under threat from a range of post-pandemic challenges. Over the past few years, multiple beloved Berkeley arts organizations have closed, and more could follow. We must support our arts organizations and preserve our city’s artistic and cultural legacy.

Berkeley’s creative economy supports 8,000 jobs, contributes $10 million in annual City revenue, and makes our downtown and neighborhoods more vibrant. Our arts organizations help increase property values, attract new businesses, and bring patrons to Berkeley to support our restaurants, hotels, and other businesses.