Membership Growth for Friends of Fox

I read Allan Rabinowitz’s Jan. 24 letter regarding the Fox Studios renovation hearing with great humor. His claim that Friends of Fox consists primarily of Fox employees and hirelings is a downright lie.

I started Friends of Fox in May of 1991 and have seen the group grow like wildfire. Friends of Fox now has more than 5,000 community households and businesses, which adds up to more than 10,000 people who have signed cards supporting the Fox Studios project. Our overwhelming support was evident at the Jan. 11 public hearing. The familiar opposition group, headed by Laura Lake, who is a declared candidate for City Council, appeared at the public hearing as well. If this is not a politically motivated group, I don’t know what is.

Rabinowitz claims that the four closest homeowner groups, which weigh in almost 8,000 residents, are against the Fox project. This isn’t true. The board of directors for these groups may oppose the project, but they certainly don’t represent all of the households in their associations. Hundreds of our supporters live within these areas. It is unfortunate that a few outspoken individuals speak on behalf of their entire homeowner associations.

Rabinowitz’s belief that the Fox Studios expansion would cause a loss to local residents and businesses is ridiculous! Local businesses thrive off the business Fox Studios generates and property owners have only benefited from the ambience of residing near a historic studio. A decline in local business and property values would be inevitable if Fox Studios leaves and 2,200 high-rise condominiums are built.

Public hearings are an excellent venue to hear the community’s input. Mr. Rabinowitz may be upset because the last public hearing allowed the city to actually see just how many Westside residents really support the Fox Studios renovation and expansion project.

JOHN KLEIN

Los Angeles

Klein is president of Friends of Fox.