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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOB 2 COMMON MAN FILM 01-07-80OLD BUSINESS . No. 2 1-7-80 AGENDA ITEM: REQUEST TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE FILM "COMMON MAN AND SURVIVAL" BACKGROUND: A report from the City Administrator and a Proposal from Jim Frazier were submitted to the Council for the December 17, 1979 meeting. The Council made arrangements to preview the film at 2:00 P.M. on January 7, 1980. RECOMMENDATION: Pleasure of the Council. DATE: TO: FROH: SUBJECT: NEW BUSINESS 12-17-79 DEC .MB .R ll, 1979 HONO~LE MAYOR ~D CITY CO~CIL D~ BL~KENSHIP, CITY ~MINIST~TOR REQUEST TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE FILM, "COMMON MAN AND SURVIVAL". Attached is a proposal to support certain programs related to the recent video-taped film of "Common Man and Survival" The film is scheduled to be shown to the ~ite House in early February of 1980 according to film producers. Although the makers of the film should be commended for their desire to help communicate the opinions and feelings of a number of Tustin area residents, I believe the City must be very careful about an actual or im- plied endorsement of programs or the film. The film and accompanying written materials highlights comments which have been selected and compiled by the film producers and with which we might agree or disagree. 1. Regarding the film itself, I suggest we let the film speak for itself and perhaps conu~Lend the producers for their efforts in attempting to improve communications between the President and the general public. 2. Regarding the Tustin symbol as a motif, the Wishing~Well and mosaic are not adopted symbols of Tustin and can be used with the consent of the mosaic's artist. 3. Regarding the Fourth of July celebration, 1980, Tustin could perhaps agree to cooperate with a nationally coordinated pro- gram having the theme "Wishing Well to All Mankind" and State to State projects symbolizing mutual good will. 4. Regarding the Monument to America in Stone contest, this would have to be further defined. 5. Regarding the Experiment in Communications, I have real re- servations about one community remaining representative if it was so wired to place residents in daily contact with the White House. The entire idea is extremely expensive and would require further refinement. The Chamber of Commerce is studying Mr. Frazier's proposal as well and will not act until their January meeting. Council may wish to defer ac- tion until then or act on my present recommendations. ~ Reposefully Submitted, D~n Blankenship ~ City Administrator ~DB/bb j PROPOSAL TO THE CITY OF TUSTIN CALIFORNIA CITE JIM FRAZIER 15660 Tustin Village Way, #53 Tustin, Ca. 92680 714 972-0719 714 754-3107 (This is a rough draft.) PROPOSAL TO THE CITY OF TUSTIN CALIFORNIA The film, "Common Man and Survival!' featuring citizens of Tustin responding to President Carter's plea to hear the voice of common people, will be presented to the White House during the first week of February, 1980. The idea that people in.one small American city would strive to answer that plea and present their feelings on common man and survival has found receptance in Washington, D.C. AMTRACK is providing cross-country transpor- tation from Santa Aha to Washington, D.C. for four people, the Holiday Inn is providing seven nights lodging and Avis Rent-A-Car is providing an automobile for one week without charge. The film's theme: that a platform is required for the expression of common people's feelings about survival has elicited the cooperation; we have not mislead people into thinking that the City of Tustin or it's people officially endorsed the theme or the film. However, because the film and the presentation, will place Tustin in a national spotlight, we feel that the City Council may want to use this opportunity for making a statement to other cities of this nation. To this end, we offer the following proposals for your consideration: TUSTIN SYb{BOL AS A MOTIF Because the Tustin "Wishing Well" and the mosaic "wishing well to all mankind" inspired our film, represents Tustin and symbolizes our adventure in communication, we would like to use both the "Wishing Well" and the mosaic as a motif for our literature. We would especially like to emphasize the mosaic and the personal story of Mrs. Mary Kelly; her original motivations for design of the mosaic, it's adoption by the city of Tustin and it's role in the 1976 Bi-Centen- nial celebration are all extensions of our motivations for making the film: the future...we wish well to all mankind. FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, 1980 While in Washington, D.C., we would like to suggest to the appropriate public officials that a national celebration of hopes for "New Horizons" (the future) be "kicked-off" from Tustin on July 4, 1980. This celebration would involve a "we wish well to all mankind" demonstration of national unity, purpose and faith in the future. Tustin was the only city in the nation to dedicate it's "New Horizon's" monument on July 4, 1976 and we would like all 1976 entries in that phase of the Bi-Centennial Celebration to be re-emphasized in Tustin on July 4, 1980. This would be a public ceremony. As the ceremony ends, a national exchange of "good will" momentoes and symbols would begin--state by state; this exchange would take place at some small town along state borders. For example: California would exchange with Nevada, Arizona and Oregon. Each state offers the "good will" symbol until the "wave of unity" spreads eastward across the entire United States and to the White House. Perhaps the state flower would be the exchange and a "garden of unity" could be planted at the point of exchange; the garden would interlock across the state border i.e. California flowers olanted on the Nevada side, Nevada flowers planted on the California side. A plaque would be installed in the garden with some joint declaration about what it means to be "united states" in the United States of America. The public ceremony which "kicks-off~% the celebration will focus on goals for the future of America and the presentation of concrete plans for attainment of those goals. The theme for America's 1980 Fourth of July Celebration would be: THE FUTURE. In our literature, Tustin is presented as a city representing the ~'ideal American community"...a city firmly rooted in the agricultural heritage of this nation...a city whose front door-step is the high technology aero-space and electronics industry of the future...a city well balanced between America's past and it's hopes for tomorrow." MONUMENT TO AMERICA IN STONE In the coming weeks, we will be staging a contest for the design of a stone monument representing America in the past, today and in the future. Winning entries will be presented to the White House, to Congress and entered in the congressional record. ]Te would like to .begin this contest in Tustin, but while in Washington we will encourage towns across the nation to also participate. "Put your feelings for today, your dreams for the future of America and the memories of our national past into designs for a stone monument--a monument to last 5,000 years." We would like all Tustin schools, groups and organizations to solicit entries from their students, members, etc. Radio stations and newspapers in Orange County and Los Angeles would extend the contest to other communities, but the contest would be focused in Tustin. Local groups or businesses would help judge the winners and we will take the to~ entries to Washington. EXPERIMENT IN THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY What will democracy represent in the year 2,500 A.D? Increased communication between common people and leaders is an idea for the future. We would like to initiate that idea in Tustin--today. The premise of this proposal is to link one American community directly with the White House over a five year period as a pilot study for the future of democracy. Tustin would again be a platform for ideals of the future. Patterned after the Qube system of question and answer thru the home television set (as designed by Warner Bros. Com- munications and now in operation in Columbus, Ohio) this system would place Tustinites in day to day communication with the White House. They would be allowed to offer their feelings and opinions on each issue facing the executive branch of our government. The "link-up" could begin immediately without installation of the Qube system through daily telegrams and open phone lines; it is designed to allow expression of feelings BEFORE--NOT AFTER--an issue affects the survival of common people. During the five year pilot study, scholars and scientists would study the impact of the program on feelings of pride and dignity within the people, on decisions made by the White House and. on the future of democracy in America. We realize that the possibility for winning total support on these proposals from government offices is quite slim, but during our week in Washington we would like to discuss these ideas publically during press conferences and privately with appropriate officials. All we would need from the City Council of Tustin is an acknowledgement or endorsement of the ideas and the willingness to cooperate if we find receptive ears in Washington, D.C. In the case of the 1980 FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, a stronger statement of support would be required, perhaps including the name of someone to head a committee in Tustin should people in Washington or in other states across the nation be interested. They would need someone to contact. We will be discussing budget, funding, etc. and will be looking for a national coordinator in Washington to work with a local coordinator in Tustin. WE look forward to your support on these proposals and though we do not intend to represent Tustin OFFICIALLY we would like to represent Tustin faithfully and look forward to your ideas and suggestions. Thank you. Sincere'Iy,~'- ' · -\ 1 Jatmes E.' Frazie~r CITE .... ·