In the wake of the deadly Eaton and Palisades Fires, a Southern California congresswoman is pushing for the renewal of a tax credit for actors and musicians.
For many who lived in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, the fires didn’t just destroy their homes, but also their equipment and studios. The Performing Arts Tax Parity Act would help those in the entertainment industry deduct work expenses while they recover from the disasters.
Rep. Judy Chu, who co-authored the bill, told KNX News’ Pete Demetriou the tax credit is a crucial step towards helping these communities rebuild.
“In Altadena, it's a hub of working-class artists, and they've seen their studios and homes destroyed,” she said. “These performers need to rebuild their studios and replace lost equipment.”
The bill also applies to actors, whom Chu said have to front “so many dollars in expenses” before they can even audition for jobs.
“They have to do such things as pay an agent or manager, create reels, travel to auditions, get professional headshots, take acting classes, and they incur so many expenses that a typical employee in another industry does not have to worry about,” she said.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
11 major entertainment unions and associations, including Actors’ Equity Association, the League of American Orchestras, the Recording Industry Association of America, the American Federation of Musicians, and SAG-AFTRA, have signed on in support of the measure.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok