William Poundstone Seems to be One of the Few Who Actually Read the MOCA Press Release

While some art world commentators claim yesterday's MOCA press release didn't say anything new - the fact it was only three short sentences  impressed some of us -  including eternal skeptic William Poundstone over at ... Los Angeles County Museum on Fire.... that every word in it was carefully chosen.

“The Board is in agreement that the best future for MOCA would be as an independent institution. The Board understands that this will require a significant increase in MOCA’s endowment to ensure its strong financial standing. We are working quickly toward that goal, while at the same time exploring all strategic options, to honor the best interest of the institution and the artistic community we serve.”

And I agree.

For the MOCA’s trustees to meet last Friday - after a week of being attacked by the press for not doing anything - and then - four days latter -  release a statement saying they would ‘quickly’ and ’substantially’ raise the amount of money in the endowment demonstrates, to me at least,  they put a lot of thought into those words for one simple reason.

There is absolutley... zero.... wiggle room in those words.

So even though they said they would also consider other strategic options - it was clear that was only in addition to what they had just pledged.  And even then they said those options would have to:  " honor the best interest of the institution and the artistic community we serve.”