Riordan Asia Trip

Re “Riordan Touts Asian Trip as Boon to L.A.,” Sept. 14:

For the 32 years before Mayor Richard Riordan took office, Los Angeles had two mayors who spent millions of tax dollars for trade junkets around the globe. In fact, it was a well known joke that Los Angeles was the only city with a foreign policy.

Mayor Riordan is leading his first trade junket to Asia from Sept. 29 to Oct. 12. The mayor is to be commended for using his own funds to pay for the trade junket. Unfortunately, this junket will still cost the taxpayers at least a quarter of a million dollars. One has to question whether this significant expenditure of tax dollars is prudent given the city’s questionable economic circumstances. Moreover, does this type of junket really increase trade and tourism?

I suggest that the mayor have his campaign committee pay for this junket or have the special interests who will benefit (e.g. travel industry, hotels) pay for the costs of the junket.

FRED HUEBSCHER

Hermosa Beach