Calligraphy City

The LA Weekly takes a disapproving look at what it suggests is L.A. City Hall's lavish spending on recognition scrolls.

I'm not strong on one side or another. Part of me shakes my head at yet another example of Los Angeles City Hall's ineffeciency and misguided priorities. One million dollars a year on this? But they can't seem to control billboards, and deep staffing cuts loom? argh. But then, this may too service get chopped.

On April 12, Villaraigosa will deliver his 2009-10 budget. According to interim City Administrative Officer Ray Ciranna, “It’s ugly.” Deep in the details, the mayor hopes to cut four Creative Services spots, eight of which are occupied. Mayoral spokesman Matt Szabo says, “We are hopeful that the council would understand that this service is a luxury and not a necessity.”

But all cuts are controversial downtown, since it means reassigning city employees to jobs they don’t like, or ending a contract somebody expected to continue. One who might be affected is calligrapher Ed Fong, who has worked in Creative Services since 1983, having learned the craft from his father. As a backup, he got a biology degree from UCLA but “was fortunate enough to find a career that is my hobby, which is great,” he says.

With my subpar handwriting, I do appreciate the art and skill of calligrahy. Now, I do think it's great that organizations and individuals, who are doing important public service work receive a little recognition, along with a piece of individualized handcrafted artwork that they will appreciate and display. And hopefully, these are not going to wealthy and influential power brokers, who could care less about receiving such a gift...

But on March 27, Council Chambers was aflutter, as usual, with a crowd awaiting their Friday proclamations.

The first went to Nichelle Nichols — Lieutenant Uhura on the Starship Enterprise. A bit later, (Council president and controller-elect Wendy) Greuel perkily introduced the Southern California Mediation Association, which the council honored by proclaiming “Mediation Day” in Los Angeles.

The group represents mediators who earn more than $400 an hour providing dispute-resolution services. Greuel gave a hand-worked scroll to them for doing what they are paid, extremely well, to do.

I don't know what to think.