Councilwoman Gonzalez exited the Council meeting early, leaving Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce to read talking points she said Gonzalez had left with her on the item.
"[This item] will ensure that we move over the right amount of funding to support this year's event. Last year's event saw nearly 10,000 people come to north Pine Ave. to celebrate this cultural event. It was done in partnership with each small business along the corridor to ensure that they each saw a record number of sales. This year's event had already garnered over 300,000 impressions and has over 30,000 people signed up to attend, so we want to make sure that this event is a success. I know for the downtown, my constituents, the event was a huge hit the last two years and so I fully support this and hope that our Council colleagues will too."
No Councilmembers inquired as to why the event required $70,000, who was getting paid and why the sum wasn't funded using Councilmembers' non-taxpayer "officeholder accounts" (funds from contributors, not taxpayers.)
Councilwoman Gonzalez chaired the Council Committee that proposed a 2015 change in LB law that (on a split Council vote) tripled the allowable sums the Mayor and Councilmembers can collect annually in their "officeholder accounts." A quick check by LBREPORT.com shows that as of June 30, 2018, Gonzalez had $7,631 and motion-seconder Uranga had $20,720 in their respective "officeholder accounts." Motion-maker Pearce had $16.19 in her officeholder account but held an Oct. 4 event soliciting officeholder account funds. Councilmembers Rex Richardson and Roberto Uranga also held officeholder contribution events in August and October respectively.
The Day of the Dead is a traditional Mexican celebration, remembering and preparing special foods to honor the dead (and some believe their spirits visit families on Oct. 31 and leave on Nov. 2.)
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