L.A. ARTS FESTIVAL

Councilwoman Gloria Molina of East Los Angeles fears that the Los Angeles Festival will be community-indifferent and even somewhat snobby (“Festival Wins Vote, Not Debate,” by Judith Michaelson, Aug. 29).

We could , of course, always dredge up some local talent (from among, say, the many ever-available Fringe Festival groups), or do some home-grown theater, perhaps, of the level of “No Stinking Badges”--an effort, ironically, that did not seem to overly grab the community it was written for.

But she’s probably right.

Why should the community have to extend itself to consider a production of a play by August Strindberg (a virtual Los Angeles unknown) even though, all right, it is a great one, mounted by a great director and in a foreign language not one of our own?

Let’s face it, we should have what we want. So pop another one, boys, and Gloria, baby, turn on the VCR.

JOSEPH EARNER

North Hollywood