By Brian R. Bland Santa Monica
Regarding the column by J. Bates regarding the Santa Monica Airport (July 22, page 5, “Banning jets is about politics, not public safety”), I’ve written a number of letters and one column on this topic. When I’m writing as a (proud) board member of Friends of Sunset Park, I say so. When I write on my own, as I was in the letter Bates refers to, it would be misleading to use the FOSP identifier.
Bates, ignoring the issues, is annoyed that FOSP’s hundreds of members, along with other hard-working groups in Santa Monica and L. A., have been successful in spotlighting the safety, pollution and noise issues at SMO. Perhaps Bates would prefer SMO had no nighttime curfew. But the courts have said the city has the right to ban air operations overnight to allow residents to get some rest.
The fast-jet overrun danger has been well-documented at airports similar to SMO, a key reason the City Council’s vote to ban those jets was unanimous (anyone who implies the council and FOSP are in cahoots must’ve been hit with a falling ficus tree).
The council, backed by strong arguments from its legal and SMO staffs, approved the ban, despite the FAA’s threat to bleed the city’s resources with an expensive legal battle.
In fact, the FAA now threatens retaliation by blocking federal funds for the Big Blue Bus. That is what’s rightfully called playing politics!
Allowing Class C and D jets at SMO violates the FAA’s own guidelines for such airports. The agency stonewalled the city for years before proposing end-of-runway catch systems inadequate for stopping the fastest jets. It is willing to play runway roulette with the public’s safety rather than bar planes involved in only a dozen takeoffs and landings per day. J. Bates’ annoyance with FOSP, or me, is nothing compared to the organized energy of thousands of Santa Monica and L.A. residents who deserve a safer airport.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 26, 2008. Read the original PDF.