Electrical complaints spark L.A. fair controversy: 1985.

The management of the 1985 Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair is at odds with the City of Los Angeles over its electrical inspection procedures, according to Art Schwartz, executive director of MAS Inc.

Schwartz said some 80 to 90 machinery manufacturers were hampered by costly and time consuming last-minute electrical hook-up charges, following inspections by L.A. Convention Center electricians. "Our exhibitors were abused by the government system," Schwartz said.

Schwartz added that show management was seeking the cooperation of exhibitors who were affected, in its attempt to iron out problems with the city. If the problems are not resolved, Schwartz said the 1987 fair might be relocated away from Los Angeles.

A spokesman for the convention center's electrical department denied Schwartz's charge that his crews abused their authority. He allowed that some of the inspectors acted "a little gung ho," but that they were enforcing the law as proscribed by the city's electrical codes.

The electrical inspector said as many as half of the machines and electrical distribution panels displayed at the fair did not bear stickers indicating safety inspections by Underwriters Laboratory or the Los Angeles electrical department as required by city ordinance. Inspectors were subsequently assigned to make less exhaustive, visual inspections, he said.

"We realize how important the woodworking show is to this area's commerce, but our first priority is making sure that none of the machines poses a danger of electrocution," the electrical inspector said. "If our crews had enforced the law fully, there would not have been a show."

Schwartz said, "They were using the city's safety rules to gouge exhibitors for more money."

Editor's note: Unable to come to terms, the biennial woodworking show was relocated to the Anaheim Convention Center in 1987. It was subsequently moved to Las Vegas in 2005.