L.A. County Expense Tab

The Times article (“County Officials’ Expense Tab Tops $117,000,” Metro, Feb. 1) struck me as particularly outrageous. Like most folks struggling to make ends meet, I can’t afford to even think about spending $7,000 for dinner or $795 for coffee service.

But I was personally offended at one item noted in the article: Supervisor Ed Edelman spent $411 for a “lunch to discuss Pan Pacific Park.” As one of those who has been actively participating in the discussions about the future of Pan Pacific, I was summoned to Supervisor Edelman’s office to explain why I have reservations about his plan to build a museum in that park. During our meeting, the only indulgence proffered to me was an extremely strong, stale cup of coffee served in a plastic foam cup.

I’d like to think that my justifiable reservations about the museum are at least worth a china cup and saucer. Who knows, it’s possible that a lavish lunch might have changed my mind.

DAVID HAMLIN, Los Angeles