Geffen’s Gift

How dare they! I refer to some of the people quoted in your story about David Geffen’s gift to MOCA (“Geffen Gift: What’s in a Name?” May 15). My outrage is aimed at the people who had negative reactions to renaming the Temporary Contemporary after Mr. Geffen following his extraordinary act of generosity.

As a former and future trustee of MOCA, I am familiar with the circumstances of the gift and know that it was initiated by a letter from MOCA Director Richard Koshalek to Geffen. It was written with no pressure; rather, it simply described the needs of the museum and inquired if there was something Geffen would be able to do. Koshalek heard from Geffen, who immediately said “count me in” and offered the generous gift. Koshalek and the museum took it from there. It was their decision, not the donor’s demand or even request for any honorific.

As a member of the same community as David Geffen and whom I count as a friend, I am aware of the phenomenally generous and usually anonymous amounts of monies he has contributed to address the needs of various eleemosynary organizations. I am quite sure that he would have made the same contribution without any acknowledgment had not the museum suggested it.

I am irate. I know negative and harsh comments in areas like this will have the affect of “turning off” many individuals who might otherwise follow David Geffen’s lead.

DANIEL MELNICK

Culver City

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David Geffen is being criticized for the attachment of his name to the Westwood Playhouse and MOCA in recognition of $5 million donations to those facilities.

Contributors should be recognized lest the public forget who is responsible for such benefits to our community. In that spirit, it would be appropriate for Geffen’s new studio, DreamWorks SKG, to be renamed Taxpayer Studios in recognition of the more than $100 million in “tax incentives” that are to be contributed by the taxpayers of the city and state to his new venture.

Fair is fair.

BEVERLY KRAMER

Los Angeles