Rebuilding the Coliseum for the L.A. Raiders

Your editorial “Unlimited Tribute? No Way” (Jan. 5) sorely misses the point.

The Times ignores that the Coliseum Commission reneged on its promises to improve the Coliseum that the Raiders relied upon when they moved to Los Angeles in the first place. The commission then insulted the public’s intelligence and pocketbooks by incurring substantial attorneys fees in suing the Raiders for threatening to leave Los Angeles.

After the commission breached its contract with the Raiders and the public, the private marketplace took over and the Raiders were made substantial offers by Sacramento and Oakland. At this late date, the commission is forced, under new management, to compete in the open market.

Fortunately, the commission’s new management knows economic realities; unfortunately, it may be too little too late. The Coliseum Commission committed a huge disservice to Los Angeles. Should the Raiders leave, the Coliseum will stand again as a white elephant with only one tenant. The Coliseum will continue to deteriorate, empty, while crime proliferates in its midst. The economic loss to the community would be immeasurable, but substantial. Indeed, the self-serving politicians on the Board of Supervisors and the Coliseum Commission owe Los Angeles an explanation.

Yes, the bidding for the Raiders may be expensive. But it is expensive only because the Coliseum Commission failed to fulfill its promises to the Raiders and its duties to the people of Los Angeles.

LANCE ORLOFF

Woodland Hills