Lights, camera, impasse of opinion

Re “L.A. needs Hollywood,” Opinion, Nov. 25

At last, a high-profile politician is willing to go on record with support for the entertainment industry.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa clearly cites the statistics in favor of tax incentives designed to keep production in town.

It is difficult to imagine the benefits directly accruing to the area from each dollar spent on a production.

In addition to the total number of dollars quoted, this is one area in which the trickle-down theory actually works: truckloads of lumber, 20 pizzas, 44 beef dips from Philippe’s, 100 Egg McMuffins, etc. -- these are actual examples of orders I personally had a hand in over the course of 30-plus years in the industry.

So, yes, I do have a personal stake in production staying in town, but so do you.

Besides, without this farm system for politicians, where would the next George Murphy, Ronald Reagan or Arnold Schwarzenegger come from?

KEN BELLANCA

West Covina

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Villaraigosa, in defending the closure of a freeway and surrounding streets for moviemaking, says, “Let’s send the message that we treasure our city’s creative community.”

I’d like to hear a different message. “We respect the time of everyone in the city who has to use the freeways to get somewhere, and we won’t sacrifice thousands of people’s convenience for the making of a movie, no matter what the transient economic benefits.”

Some things shouldn’t be for sale at any price.

BRIAN WEISS

Pasadena