Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts slashes staff and programs

The 47-year-old Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts has laid off the majority of its staff and will reduce its hours by 40 percent, according to the center’s executive director Martina Ayala — a blow for one of the Mission’s oldest cultural institutions.

Ayala blamed the dramatic cutbacks on a delay in the dispersal of city funds and an unexpected $200,000 financial setback after late November flooding required an extensive cleanup.  

“It wasn’t an easy decision. It wasn’t a light decision. It wasn’t even something that we expected,” said Ayala. “It was a hard decision that had to be made in order for us to continue to have a viable organization.”

Just before Christmas, Ayala laid off nine staffers, and another two had their hours cut. The only remaining staffers are in bookkeeping and maintenance. Ayala referred to her team as “the best,” and said the center tried to avoid the layoffs but did not have the funds to keep employees around.

Roberto Sanchez, the treasurer of the board and president of Casa Sanchez, said the cultural center — one of the oldest in the city — was “at the mercy of whatever payment schedule the city has. And it’s always been like that.” 

Two former employees, who asked to remain anonymous, said the center let them go on Dec. 17, just eight days before Christmas.

“It was hard for me and, morally, pretty bad. I couldn’t smile [during the holidays] knowing that I didn’t have a job anymore,” said one.

The other former worker added: “I felt like we were a Christmas tree that people get in the beginning of Christmas, then they throw them right out of their doors in the streets as early as the third of January.” 

Ayala said the center had expected to receive its $758,000 operational grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission at the end of November or in early December, but the funds did not arrive until mid-December. Delays in disbursement, she said, are too common with the city.

Even earlier delays, she said, meant the center had already taken out four bridge loans. Once the city’s funds arrived, those loans had to be repaid. Ayala did not specify how much of the grant had been used to cover the center’s debt.

What did arrive on time were heavy rains across the city in late November that caused thousands of dollars in losses to local businesses and other organizations. The cultural center was hit particularly hard.  

Black water flooded the building and made its way between walls, crevices and floors, Ayala said. Initial estimations had projected an $80,000 bill, but, as of today, Ayala said, the tab is nearing $200,000.

“We had to extract, disinfect, dry, test for asbestos, demolish, clean,” said Ayala. “Now it’s being tested for any bacteria. We also had to throw a lot of items out that were costly to us.”