THE CITY - I oppose outsourcing core city services, including street services and emergency medical services. I similarly oppose the sale of core city assets, including the convention center and city parking garages.
Regarding outsourcing convention center operations as proposed by the City Administrative Officer, I understand and appreciate the need to stem the city’s losses, which, as the CAO points out, are considerable in some years.
That said, I am highly skeptical of outsourcing management of the convention center absent a comprehensive strategy to maximize the value of the asset for the benefit of the people of Los Angeles.
I suggested last year, during the city’s negotiations on the proposed stadium deal, that the city consider alternatives including redevelopment of some or all of the existing facility to include hotel rooms directly on the convention center site.
The city has not explored alternative options including this suggestion, despite the fact that time and again the lack of available hotel rooms downtown is cited as an impediment to attracting more conventions.
Outsourcing convention center operations absent a comprehensive plan to maximize the value of the asset and promote tourism may save a few bucks in the short run, but won’t address any of the long-term challenges facing the convention center or boost local tourism and hospitality, including by growing the revenues generated from the Transient Occupancy Tax (the hotel-bed tax).
Once again, policymakers are being asked to take a shortsighted step versus exploring the range of potential alternatives to solve a long-term problem.
(Cary Brazeman, a contributor to CityWatch, is a neighborhood council board member, founder of LA Neighbors United, and a candidate for City Controller of Los Angeles. Contact him at [email protected].)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 64
Pub: Aug 10, 2012
