Thank you to the City of Oakland for ongoing support of BANDALOOP. This year we re-opened BANDALOOP Studios, expanding our existing 3k sq ft facility into an 8k sq ft home for creativity, training, and gathering in and around dance. The new space allows us to expand our public programs, grow partnerships, increase our local impact, and further share our the physical, mental, and social benefits of dance in our city. We respectfully implore the City to increase funding to its arts and culture sector. Oakland still lags behind other major cities in per capita arts organizations by nearly 50%. Increasing Oakland's capacity to fund the arts is a critical component to improving the lives of the people who live, work, and play in Oakland. Special thanks for Roberto Bedoya and Raquel Iglesias for their tireless commitment to Oakland arts and artists. Fully staffing and funding their department would also go far to bolster Oakland arts and our creative economy. Thank you again for all that you are able to do for our cultural community at this time. Wishing for a more abundant future for all.

I will be standing by via Zoom to respond to any Committee questions concerning the application from Oakland Communities United for Equity & Justice during review of this agenda item.