MAILBAG - July 5, 2001

For the sake of debate: Richard McGrath mentions that Ron Hayden is

the “best library director that money can’t buy” (“Library supporters

speak out on playhouse issue,” June 21). That’s great news.

If Hayden were to put the money he makes back into the library, there

would be no need to discuss subsidies.

McGrath’s “real numbers” start out a little shaky (which would make

Hayden proud) when he states that “more than 1 million people visit the

library every year. Yes, several repeat users in that number.”

Several? In a million? From there on his real numbers get worse. The

playhouse’s financial reports are public record, as is any nonprofit

group. Anyone can see the revenues and expenditures of the playhouse.

All of the library representatives mention the restriction on the

library to schedule only quiet events during playhouse shows and dress

rehearsals. If that’s true, the agreement was not reflected June 22 when

I attended a performance of “The Odd Couple.” A literacy event was

scheduled across the hall from the theater, and at various times, groups

of children ran up and down the hall with balloons and ice cream,

screaming very happily and loudly. It’s wonderful that they had a good

time, but I would hardly call it a quiet venue.

We all know that the library is staffed and supported by wonderful,

caring people. So is the playhouse. But when a landlord like the library

begins dictating to the playhouse that it must conduct fund-raisers and

that it must raise its ticket prices and in essence force it to become a

for-profit organization in order to pay enormous rent -- that is when

politics invades the arts, and creativity and volunteerism become lost.

I feel bad for the different departments in the library that can’t

afford the budgetary expenditures they desire because of the city’s 5%

cutback. Any time a company cuts back its available funds (it) can be

frustrating. It is just unfortunate that the playhouse must be made a

scapegoat because it is a nonprofit group. The library portrays the

playhouse as a derelict squatter.

The playhouse has taken good care of the facility and paid all agreed

upon rents on time. The library has a wonderful theater, and it would be

a shame to see it deteriorate into an abused, prematurely aged, rental

hall. The playhouse existed before moving into the library, and I hope

that it will continue to exist outside of political control.RAY BUFFER

Huntington Beach

* RAY BUFFER is a former board member for the Huntington Beach

Playhouse.