Letters – New Film Commissioner

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In response to the article “New Film Commission Chief Lacks Hollywood Experience” (Feb. 14), I would contend that Karen Constine, the new director of the California Film Commission, has just the right experience to head the state office that is vested with attracting and retaining film production.

It is a question that has been pondered many times before appointing a government official: appoint someone with a background in government, or someone more versed in the private-sector industry with which they will be working? It is a rarity indeed to find a person who understands the intricacies of both worlds.

The CFC is charged with cutting red tape and solving production problems at any level in California whether the issue is with a city, state, or federal agency or with a private concern. On a day-to-day basis, the success of any good film commissioner will rest in their ability to address both the needs of the production company and the concerns of the community. In the longer term, the CFC director must address policy issues that affect our industry: runaway production, state and local economic development incentives, the promotion and marketing of the state.

A new film commissioner with a government background can learn what they need to know about film and television production much quicker than a production person can learn about the subtleties of politics and government. While a production person will readily be able to determine what needs to be done to accommodate a filming request, it could take years to develop the necessary political and governmental relationships needed to be an effective commissioner.

A person well versed in the inner workings of government, and the pitfalls of politics, is most likely to succeed as the director of the California Film Commission. I’ll place my bet on Karen Constine.

DONALD ZEPFEL

Producer

Member, California Film

Commission Board

Universal City

American Latinas

The majority of the women in your fine articles about Latinas (“L.A.’s Latinas: Breaking the Barrier,” Feb. 28) are American-born. How can they be thought of as part of a different culture? They are Americans and living perfect American lives. This is not a Latin country and they would not be expected to live their lives differently than what they are. Of course, more power to them.

CHARLES J. THOMAS

Los Angeles

Facts on LAX Master Plan

In his recent letter to the editor (Feb. 28), Plinio Jorge Garcia makes a good case for the development of Palmdale Airport and takes a hard swipe at plans to modernize LAX.

Mr. Garcia, I know, will be pleased to learn that there is a very active effort underway led by Mayor Riordan and Los Angeles World Airports to develop Palmdale Airport as part of a comprehensive regional solution to Southern California’s growing air transportation needs.

Unfortunately, Mr. Garcia is not alone in having a distorted view about future plans for LAX.

The most current alternative under study will not add a runway, nor will it “double the flights into and out of LAX.” Rather, it envisions only a 5 percent increase in flights over today’s levels, plus the facilities needed to handle anticipated passenger and cargo demands safely and efficiently. We have a responsibility to plan for these demands so that we will not compromise the future safety of both airport users and those who live nearby.

The LAX Master Plan does call for a comprehensive traffic improvement program in the area and it is the only plan in progress to do so. In this plan is a dedicated expressway from the 405, HOV lanes, an airport ring road, expanded FlyAway bus service and extension of the Green Line to LAX. All these measures will improve traffic flow in the area around LAX.

In reality, the Master Plan represents our best and most immediate opportunity to generate the financial and political resources needed to fix traffic problems that exist today both related and unrelated to airport use and deal with future traffic increases. Traffic in the airport area will be much worse, both from general increases in the population and inevitable increases in passengers and cargo at LAX, something we cannot control. What the Master Plan improvements will do is effectively manage the growth that inevitably will come.

JOHN AGOGLIA

President

Los Angeles Board of Airport

Commissioners

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