Los Angeles Mayor Reverses Stand on Grants

(5-4-10) From The Chronicle of Philanthropy:

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has backed off a proposal to cut the city's arts grants by $415,000 and direct the money to cultural groups of his choosing, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Deputy Mayor Ben Ceja on April 30 asked the City Council committee examining the mayor's budget plan to restore the $415,000 allocation. Mr. Ceja said the administration's aim in redirecting the money at first was to support four groups that lost funds from other parts of the strapped city budget. But "we were overzealous" in earmarking the grant funds, he said.