Democratic Convention

* The Times’ recent coverage of the 2000 Democratic National Convention planning process compels me to respond and correct its inaccuracies.

The substance of the charge is that the L.A. Convention planners are “six to 10 months behind where the organizers of the 1996 Chicago convention were at this point in their planning” (Dec. 1). The article not only fails to identify any specific facts to back up its claim, it also fails to articulate any timeline, methodology or criteria for the six- to 10-month figure.

In all major planning areas we are absolutely on track. Local and federal officials have been working full-time on a comprehensive security plan since day one and we are ahead of schedule for completion. Our preliminary transportation plan, modeled after the successful 1984 Olympics, has been completed, and we are working closely with the Democratic National Convention Committee to finalize it. The labor community has embraced the convention efforts and we are close to finalizing union agreements. These represent only a few of our accomplishments to date.

Your Dec. 2 editorial states that the convention presents L.A. with a wonderful opportunity to “showcase our city’s vibrancy, diversity and its many attractions.” We agree. But to accomplish this, our community deserves nothing more than fair and balanced reporting.

LUCY McCOY

President

LA Convention 2000

* In response to the your newspaper’s recent drumbeat of criticism, I want assure readers that the 2000 Democratic National Convention is, in fact, moving ahead of the schedule.

As early as this spring, the Democratic Party began weekly planning meetings with our partners in Los Angeles addressing specifically the potentially challenging issues of transportation, security, media logistics and endless other details in and around the downtown Staples Center. This summer, we secured the 18,000 hotel rooms we will use in August and began naming official corporate partners.

I am proud to be the first Latina to head any national party convention. I am also proud to be a mother and very excited that my family is expecting a new addition this winter--a fact I made known before I was offered this position. Millions of working mothers in America do both very well, and the Democratic Party is proud to defend that right.

Our team enjoys excellent working relationships with the LA Convention 2000 Host Committee, the city of Los Angeles and our numerous other partners in the California community that have produced results.

LYDIA CAMARILLO

CEO, 2000 Democratic

National Convention Committee