Filming Survey

[Forwarded Message]

From: Smith, Michael - MSMITH at TorranceCA dot gov
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:13:15 -0700

We received a hand delivered filming survey in our US mail box last week. The survey failed to include who originated the survey other than “Concerned Residents of Ladera Heights”.

I too am concerned about the significant and intrusive filming in Ladera Heights; but a blind survey will most likely produce skewed results. The survey doesn’t say how the survey will be used, by whom, or when. If the author is on this list serve, it might be helpful to your efforts to share with the community a little more information.

Michael Smith

[markhg]

We support filming within Ladera Heights that conforms to the rules and regulations of Los Angeles County.

[MargH4]

We do too.

We believe the benefits of filming in Ladera outweigh the inconveniences, especially during these difficult economic times:

1. The income to the homeowners (and perhaps to the neighbors whose driveways are used) can be a Godsend. It helps pay their property taxes and/or much-needed repairs. We have a lot of older residents in Ladera who may have been especially hard hit by the economic downturn and could use the "pennies from heaven" which an unexpected film job can bring.

2. The Ladera Heights Civic Association often receives a donation from each film project done in Ladera. These donations are critical for maintaining our community, and for supporting (or giving back to) the organizations and agencies that serve us (such as the Sheriff, youth groups, and others).

3. St. Mary's Ethiopian Church and neighboring Kindred Hospital, and other such venues, often get revenue by providing space for food services and parking when filming is in their immediate vicinity. This reduces the impact on our streets.

4. It keeps film companies operating in the Los Angeles area, paying local and state taxes, and keeping their local workers employed.

Finally, we don't have the option to ban filming. L.A. City and County have determined that production companies can film on all the streets, so long as pre-determined regulations are followed.

For all these reasons, we think it would benefit everyone to welcome filming in our neighborhood, and to communicate with the production companies and the CHP on duty, to make sure the filming experience is as good as possible.

Thank you.