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To fund or not to fund, that is the question—for the Cupertino City Council, that is. As Shakespeare in the Park enters its ninth season, resident participation is at an all-time high, and the budget is at an all-time low. In recent years, the Shakespeare Festival in Memorial Park has seen an attendance of some 5,000 and has expanded to nine performances each summer, but this summer city budget cuts may limit how many of the English bard's plays people can expect to see.
"It was about 10 years ago when we thought we should bring the program to Cupertino from San Jose," said Frank Jelinch of the Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission.
"I think the program should be kept around," Jelinch said. "It is a great service from the city."
He said that the program receives about $25,000 from the city, but funding also comes from private contributors such as the Hewlett Foundation. He says the program wouldn't be the same if it were not at least partially sponsored by the city.
"This kind of program really shows that the city supports its citizens," he said. "It wouldn't be the same if it was only supported by private investors."
Nevertheless, the city's budget crunch this year is calling for some serious cutbacks to this and other programs.
"The budget is nearly 3.8 million down from our high point," said Councilman Richard Lowenthal.
Lowenthal said that the festival will likely go on this summer, but it may not receive the amount of funding that it has the last several years, and this may damage its long-term prospects. However, he said the city will do its best to give as much to the program as it can.
"They have been good partners in Cupertino, and we need to be good partners, too," he said.
The city contributes funding to a total of six festivals every year, along with the annual fireworks display. Since the fireworks cost roughly the same amount as all six festivals combined, the council is considering which events are most significant to the public.
"Right now it's all on the table," Lowenthal said. "I expect a lot of compromise."
He said that one possibility would be for the community to help raise money to support the programs it desires.
However, he said the primary source of funding for these events could come from sales tax. "Most of all, we need people to shop Cupertino," Lowenthal said. "That's the best way to support these festivals."
Toby Leavitt, executive director of the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, which sponsors Shakespeare in the Park in Cupertino, said she hopes that the city will be able to put on this summer's program. She said she has received numerous communications from Cupertino residents giving their support to Shakespeare in the Park.
"It's actually been an unexpected silver lining to this black cloud that we're in," she said.
Leavitt said she hopes that people will also come out to voice their support during the council's hearings on the budget decisions.
"It is hard to create tradition in the ever-changing world, and a community tradition is something to cherish and maintain," said Cupertino resident Christine Kennedy Pierce, who has come to council meetings to learn more about the cuts. "I don't want to lose the tradition of Shakespeare in the Park.
Residents who feel inclined to speak about the Shakespeare festival or other budget items can attend the city council budget hearings being held at 6:45 p.m. June 7, 14 and 21.
City council chambers are located at 10300 Torre Ave. in Cupertino.
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