Marina del Rey : Tourism Funding Rejected

Legislation to require Los Angeles County to spend about $138,000 a year to promote tourism in Marina del Rey failed to win support Wednesday from the state Senate’s Local Government Committee.

Under the bill, by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles), 10% of the hotel-motel tax generated from the marina’s six hotels would be spent for promotional purposes. But several committee members said the Marina del Rey Chamber of Commerce, which was pushing for the legislation, should seek the funds directly from the county. Moreover, they expressed reservations about the Legislature intervening in a local issue.

The committee declined to vote on the bill. Watson said she may seek to insert a similar proposal into another measure.