Sacramento cultural center threatened with eviction. They filed a lawsuit in response
Nearly four months after being asked to relocate, the Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange of Sacramento has filed a discrimination and breach of contract lawsuit against the operating company that manages its rented space.
The lawsuit follows failed negotiations over the summer, and continues an ongoing back and forth between the center and midtown’s E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts, “CLARA.”
The center was founded in 2006 by Executive Director Saara Burga, with the intent of spreading South American culture through dancing, cooking and fundraisers. Over the years, the center has expanded its outreach to other cultures and moved into midtown’s CLARA Studios in 2015. At the time, Burga envisioned this space as a permanent home.
But last May, CLARA Studios informed the Brazilian Center that its lease would not be renewed. The 30-day notice came as a surprise to Burga, who has invested $80,000 of her family’s money in renovations over the last eight years.
Burga and the lawsuit allege the eviction stems from discrimination and retaliation by CLARA Studios and its executive director, Megan Wygant. Other allegations in the center’s lawsuit are breach of contract.
“This appears to be an unjust targeting of our organization to acquire our greatly improved space for free, and for embracing diversity and giving voice to immigrant groups,” Burga said.
Paul Nathan Phillips, the Sacramento attorney overseeing the lawsuit, said his client experienced multiple instances of “injustice,” including being excluded from classroom programs and an incident of harassment in the CLARA Studios parking lot.
Phillips said that the center was given an extension to remain in the space, but negotiations broke down in July, after a dispute over the center’s kitchen, which has seen many renovations over the years. Noted upgrades include working ovens, new freezers and restorations to the refrigerator.
The kitchen and other repairs to the property space are now central parts of the lawsuit, with Burga and Phillips alleging that compensation is deserved. The lawsuit is asking for damages, restitution and recovery of costs that come with filing.
“It seems to be fueled by some on the board to remove this minority-led group and chill community advocacy,” Phillips said. “And quite frankly, a disdainful money grab taking advantage of the hard work of this successful immigrant cultural arts nonprofit organization, including its total and very expensive renovation of the Brazilian Center’s studio space.”
CLARA Studios filed its own eviction lawsuit in early August against the center, alleging that it had refused to leave the studio after an extension on its 30-day notice.
In a written statement, Wygant said the plan for the space remains the same, with a goal to make it available to a variety of cultural groups on a rotational basis and “provide greater access to more members of the underserved arts community.”
She added that the board exercised its option to end the lease per terms of the agreement and not for cause.
“The board went above and beyond by extending the deadline to vacate beyond 30 days to allow the Brazilian Center more time to transition, and the board continued to meet with the Brazilian Center to ensure a smooth transition,” Wygant said in the statement. “Unfortunately, those talks were not successful. The board was left with no choice but to file a forcible detainer to remove the Brazilian Center from the space, which took place just before the lawsuit was filed.”
The Brazilian Center remains in the space, offering limited classes, which they plan to do so until the litigation settles.
