Park Use Fees
Re “Riordan Seeks to Use Parks to Hike Revenues,” Jan. 30:
Your article quotes Los Angeles Recreation and Park Commission President Steven Soboroff as stating that “we are not a profit center.” While Soboroff’s statement is accurate regarding the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, it is misleading regarding the city’s municipal golf courses. The city’s golf courses provide over half of the department’s direct revenue each year and generate net profits in excess of $5 million each year.
Indeed, golf is the only profit center within the Recreation and Parks Department. While many activities require user fees, these fees generate only a small fraction of the city’s costs of providing the program. Municipal golf is a friend to the taxpayers of Los Angeles.
CRAIG KESSLER
Public Affairs Chairman
Southern Calif. Public Links Golf Assn.
Buena Park
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