Bid for Aid to Theater Center Hits Resistance

A request by the financially troubled Los Angeles Theatre Centre for an additional $350,000 to cover operating costs failed to win the endorsement of a City Council committee Monday, raising doubts about whether the appropriation will survive a vote of the full council.

The request ran into resistance Monday from Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, who said the $19 million the theater has gotten in Community Redevelopment Agency funds in recent years is far more than any other artistic venture has received. However, Councilwoman Gloria Molina said she favored the appropriation in part because because the theater serves a range of ethnic communities.

Yaroslavsky voted against the expenditure and Molina voted for it. The 1-1 vote means the request goes to the council without a recommendation and must win the votes of 10 of council’s 15 members, rather than the eight votes required after committee endorsement.