City to Promote All Its Airports, Not Just LAX

City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, a persistent thorn in the side of Los Angeles International Airport expansionists, succeeded Wednesday in persuading her colleagues to alter Los Angeles’ new $12-million overseas marketing program to include not only LAX, but all of the city’s airports.

Galanter used an increasingly common legislative tool that allows the council to seize control of a decision made by city commissions, whose members are appointed by the mayor.

In this case, the council overruled the Airport Commission, and unanimously approved changing a contract with the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Board of Airport Commissioners last week approved a partnership agreement with the bureau to promote Los Angeles as a destination for tourists and cargo from Europe, Asia and South America.

But the underlying controversy in all of this is the proposed expansion of Los Angeles International Airport; it has less to do with luring visitors to the city. Galanter contends that a massive expansion of the airport could inflict more traffic and noise on her constituents around the airport.

Strongly endorsed by Mayor Richard Riordan, the airport expansion has come under attack by Galanter, who favors diverting airport traffic to Palmdale as well as exploring Ontario as an expanded facility.

With the opening of new terminals at Ontario International Airport later this month, Galanter believes the airport department should no longer focus solely on LAX.

“It seems to me particularly dimwitted not to be marketing Ontario as part of a worldwide effort,” Galanter said in an interview. “We basically have a situation where they have two airports fully designated as international airports and what they don’t seem to be talking about yet is trying to shift the demand . . . to other airports.”

Supporters of an LAX expansion, however, criticized Galanter’s efforts. “This is just another example of instant gratification rather than looking at the long-term benefits and assets [LAX] brings,” said a City Hall source who supports the expansion.

Riordan said through his spokeswoman that he was not worried about the changes in the marketing contract.

“This will make a solid contract even more valuable for the people of Los Angeles,” said Noelia Rodriguez, the mayor’s spokeswoman, adding that Riordan has long been a supporter of the expansion of Ontario, as well.

At this point, Los Angeles International’s expansion proposal calls for passenger capacity to double from 58 million, with the addition of new runways and gates at an estimated cost of $8 billion to $12 billion.

The agreement approved by the airport commissioners last week calls for the airport department to share the $12-million cost of the marketing agreement over three years with the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Together, they are expected to develop a strategy to boost tourism--a $23 billion-a-year local industry--and air cargo.

“This will give us good representation in a part of the world . . . with a large discretionary travel market,” said Michael Collins, the executive vice president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have a destination that a lot of passengers can find many reasons to visit.”

The bureau last winter opened an office in Japan to attract Asian tourists to the city.

Amending the contract, Collins said, will not have a significant impact on the bureau’s marketing approach.

“I think it’s the right thing,” Collins said. “LAX is the headquarters of the system . . . but we will look at the whole airport system.”