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Finally! The San Antonio Express-News BBguns the Guadalupe Center

My friend, journalist Elda Silva interviewed me some weeks ago about the Guadalupe Center, and today the story ran on the front page of the San Antonio Express-News.

In private, she expressed much she couldn't say in the story, because she has to be "balanced." She's not the only journalist who's concerned about the Guadalupe, dismayed at what they've witnessed, but who can't "say anything."

But I can.

Look, there's no Guadalupe Bookfair in San Antonio anymore. The Cinefestival was a washout this year, and the Conjunto Festival was three days when it's been five days long in the past. How do you think I feel?

The Guadalupe Cultural Center Board must resign. A key member of the Westside Coalition, the coalition of non-profit art and cultural organizations representing San Antonio's oldest barrio, has told me off-the-record - that they have not "invited" the Guadalupe Center to participate. They are also dismayed and offended by R. Bret Ruiz, the Guadalupe's President.

But they are even more afraid of losing city funding, since all are up for review on May 19th of this year. In San Antonio, the struggle for city funding for raza programs continues, and a harsh spotlight on the Guadalupe, necessary as it is, means to the Westside Coalition even more scrutiny, questions, and possible loss of funding.

The Guadalupe Cultural Center is the largest latina/o cultural center in San Antonio, and one of the biggest players in the city's artscene, receiving approximately $450,000 for 2006.

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