Bevy of L.A. Officials, and Others, to Drum Up Business Down Under

Put a lot of shrimp on the barby, Paul.

Mayor Tom Bradley and the president of the Los Angeles City Council are jetting down under with a sizable entourage of Los Angeles hotel executives, tourism promoters and airport officials--one of whom also happens to be the chief lobbyist for Occidental Petroleum Corp.

The city Department of Airports, using public funds, is picking up the tab for eight city officials, while the privately financed Greater Los Angeles Visitors and Convention Bureau is paying for the dozen people from private industry.

The official mission of the 10-day trip to Australia and New Zealand is to scare up cargo business for Los Angeles International Airport, or tourist business--depending on whom you talk to.

“As I understand it, our people are mainly involved for cargo and trade,” said Lee Nichols, a spokesman for city Airport Department. “We really don’t need to encourage any more passengers to come through the airport. . . . The speeches we’ve written (for city officials) promote cargo.”

Nearly 45 million passengers passed through LAX last year, considerably more than the City Council-imposed limit of 40 million, Nichols noted. He acknowledged that LAX is the only place L.A.-bound Aussies on international flights can put down.

But Ty Stroh, general manager of the Visitors and Convention Bureau, said he sees the junket as an opportunity “to educate the people down there that Los Angeles is the place to visit. . . . The mayor is kind of our advertisement for us down there.”

Problem With Capacity

Stroh acknowledged that there may be a problem with capacity at LAX. “If the airport gets full, we’ll have to find another,” he said.

Bradley, Council President John Ferraro, actor Tony Curtis and others will work at the cargo and/or tourism promotion business during a whirlwind series of receptions, luncheons, bus tours, boat rides, television appearances and an Aussie barbecue on the beach.

Among those joining the mayor on the tour will be Maria Hummer, president of the Airport Commission. Hummer is also a lawyer who represents Occidential Petroleum in its controversial battle to win city approval to drill for oil along the city’s shoreline. Bradley approved the drilling in 1985, but has taken no stand on two competing initiatives on the issue now being proposed for the city ballot.

Asked if the Pacific Palisades issue might come up during the trip, Deputy Mayor Michael Gage said, “I’m sure they will discuss a variety of matters . . . but it will not have the slightest impact (on) that particular interest.”