No Executive Left Behind

Dear Reader:

Today I post food for thought. Something to chew on. Maybe something to laugh at -- if it weren't so appalling.

We've got a presidential mandate to shove kids into rigid programs designed to goose test scores up a few points. Then they get an email account and jump onto web. Sure, they'll read plenty betwen URL addresses, IMs and tons of posts in chat rooms and Myspace pages.

But will they be able to write a business letter? A term paper? How about an apology?

Below is my recent communication from the head of a movie studio in my neighborhood.

I can't decide whether to thank him or correct his grammar and spelling and send the message back.

Maybe it's just a joke. You must see it to believe it. (Names have been changed to protect the embarrassed.)

MER


In a message dated 7/3/08 9:35:41 AM, jxxx_cxxx@thecxxxxsxxxxs.com writes:


Dear Ms. Rodriguez:
 
I apologies for any incontinence that you, your family and your neighbors incurred last week. I can give no explanation as to why when you called the main number the guards did not call you back or have me or one of my staff call you back for that as President of the Culver Studios  I take full responsibility and apologies to you for the inexcusable behavior .  The Guards will fully informed of what was going on and to notify me or the construction company supervisor  to any and all problems that occurred over the weekend which they did not do. I have put in place a policy do deal with this in the future should a situation like this happen again .The person that called your neighbor was Rxx Vxxxx who is  the head of Client Relations not Community Relations.
 
The situation that occurred last Friday and Saturday had to do with a 10” Fire Sprinkler Water Mail that broke. The replacement and repair of that line had to be done in a expedited manner at great cost to the studio for Fire and Life Safety reasons not for our connivance or that of our tenants this was a major inconvenience for our tenants who changed their schedule around so that this work could be done.  We believe this water main break to be a result of the inconstant water pressure from Metropolitan Water and Golden State Water company  that supply us water over the past few weeks. We have experience fluctuation  in the water pressure coming into the studio which has taxed our system.  The Work was partially completed on Sunday with the Fire Department making their inspection however work shall continue today with the jack hammering to complete the work and sometime next week with the reinstallation of the storm swear line in the rear ally behind stage 2 and then the repaving of the area sometime shortly after that. No work will be occurring this weekend .
 
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me. And Once again I am personally sorry for any incontinence that this may have caused you and your family and neighbors.
 
Jxxxx
 
Jxxxx  C. Cxxxx
President & Chief Executive Officer
The Cxxxx Studios
9336 Wxxxx Wxxxx Boulevard
Culver City, CA  90232
Ph:  (310) xxx-xxxxx
Fax:  (310) 202-3336
Email:  james_cella@theculverstudios.com
 
From: Madriguez@aol.com [mailto:Madriguez@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:40 AM
To: james_cella@theculverstudios.com
Subject: Culver Studios and our Neighborhood

 
Dear Mr. Cella:

I am a resident of Van Buren Place who was also disturbed by the loud jackhammering noise the early mornings of Friday, June 27th and Saturday,  June 28th.  Like several of my neighbors, I called the general studio number to complain.  A baffled guard said he would look into it and call me back.  The noise continued.  I received no call.  I then dialed the Culver City Police to protest this disturbance of the peace.

Today (7/2/08) one of my neighbors finally received a response from your studio's VP of Community Relations.  He apologized and explained the urgent repairs to a water main for a sprinkler system.  He said the work would continue next Monday through Friday.

Sorry, but this perfunctory explanation 4 days late is just bad business.  Waking up a residential neighborhood at 6:30AM on a Friday and then doing it again on a Saturday at 8AM with no warning and no mechanism for your own staff to inform callers is simply patronizing and arrogant.   Delegating the matter to Community Relations after the fact almost makes a mockery of the department.   What kind of relations with the community do you expect with this kind of service?

Productions based on your studio have strict rules to follow when shooting on location on our streets.  They start with notifying residents in a timely manner before the disruption begins.   You may not be required to follow these location rules on the studio lot but we residents are not required to tolerate unreasonable noise at your convenience. 

We expect Culver Studios to be a considerate neighbor in this community.   We have accomodated a lot of construction on your lot the past couple of years.  Last week's disturbance was beyond acceptable.   I hope you have instituted measures to prevent it again.

Thank you for your time. 

Maria Elena Rodriguez