Newsletter: Opinion: Olympic red for L.A.?

Good morning. I'm Paul Thornton, The Times' letters editor, and it is Aug. 1, 2015. The unusual mugginess in Los Angeles probably doesn't inspire many of us to go outside and exercise; with that in mind, let's start with the Olympics.

Saying "1984" in most parts of the world evokes visions of a dystopian police state, but in Los Angeles it might also bring back memories of freeways that flowed, air that was breathable and Olympic competition that was mostly free of Communists. The 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles were successful and recent enough that the city might be tempted to bid for the chance to host again in 2024, now that Boston (the U.S. Olympic Committee’s first choice) has removed itself from the competition.

But what about all those recent hosts left with billions of dollars in debt after the games? Writing on The Times' op-ed page, "Field of Schemes" co-author Neil deMause warns nostalgic Angelenos to think again:

Backing out of Olympic bids has become fashionable of late: Oslo, Krakow, Stockholm and Munich all bailed on the 2022 Winter Games after being declared finalists; and New York and Philadelphia were among the U.S. cities to decline invitations to pursue the 2024 Summer Games on the grounds that it was, in the words of Philly mayor Michael Nutter, a "tremendous, costly endeavor."

"Costly" is an understatement. A recent Oxford University study of 17 Olympics from 1960 through 2012 found that every single one had busted its budget, on average nearly tripling initial estimated costs. That’s a big reason why, despite the flood of ticket money and corporate sponsorships washing around the games, cities are often left with seas of red ink.

Factoring in costs for infrastructure and security, Athens and London both lost billions on the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics. London organizers tried to argue that the city had made up for its losses with revenue from increased tourism. That claim fell flat when it turned out that visits from foreigners actually went down 5% during the Olympics compared with the previous August.

Some claim L.A. would fare better since it's already home to several recently constructed venues, including Carson's StubHub Center and its adjacent velodrome for cycling, rugby and field hockey, the Staples Center for basketball and gymnastics, and sites at USC and UCLA.

Still, the city would face significant costs for upgrading those facilities. Keep in mind that by 2024 Staples Center will have turned 25, an eon in arena years, and that readying the L.A. Coliseum for the opening and closing ceremonies would require a massive renovation.

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Readers are similarly wary of an Olympics replay. In a letter to the editor published Thursday, Les Brockmann of Granada Hills addressed L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti directly: "Dear Mr. Mayor: If you are reading this, here's the answer you should give the U.S. Olympic Committee on having the city cover any cost overruns for the 2024 Summer Games: No." (It should be noted that in the draft he submitted by e-mail, Brockmann originally wrote "No" this way: "Nononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononono!!!!!!!!") L.A. Times

A neoconservative doesn't mince words about Iran: John Bolton, who served as President George W. Bush's ambassador to the United Nations, says the choice on Iran is between going to war or dealing with a nuclear-armed state, deal or no deal. "This rock-and-hard-place outcome has long been foreseeable," Bolton writes. "Iran's dogged determination to become a nuclear-weapons state was fiercer and stronger than the West's frail response." L.A. Times

The preponderance of our letter writers disagree. Bennett Ramberg, a former State Department policy analyst, responds by writing that "the deal the Obama administration negotiated offers the best hope." Another reader says Bolton appears to be plotting a "radioactive World War III." In his column, The Times' Doyle McManus lists the options presented by critics of the deal that don’t require the U.S. to go to war with Iran.

Outraged over Cecil the lion? It may help you understand the rage over Planned Parenthood. Bioethicist Charles Camosy says all the unproductive bomb-throwing between liberals and conservatives over the Planned Parenthood videos and the hunting death of Cecil the lion is "a huge missed opportunity." Just as animal-rights activists want to protect non-humans because of their helplessness, Camosy says, so do anti-abortion activists feel an obligation to advocate for prenatal children who are "often subject to terrible violence." L.A. Times

Los Angeles isn't the only California city slogging through an unusual, uncomfortable summer. The Sacramento Bee's editorial board ticks off a list of anomalies: "Five brush fires raged in a single day this week along the American River Parkway. The Wragg fire at Lake Berryessa flared anew. Temperatures soared to triple digits and beyond in Sacramento, sizzling even for this ordinarily hot city, even as the southern end of the state braced for freak monsoons." The likely cause, says the Bee: global warming. Sacramento Bee

L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson Jr. gets a C+. His grade is the lowest among those evaluated so far in The Times editorial board's #GradeYourGov series. Controller Ron Galperin received a B-, and City Atty. Mike Feuer pulled down a B+. Up next week: Mayor Eric Garcetti. L.A. Times

Feel free to grade this newsletter. Send your thoughts -- preferably more than just a letter grade -- to paul.thornton@latimes.com.