By Martin Rubin Guest Commentary
WHY WOULD OVER TWO HUNDRED Santa Monica and Los Angeles residents spend a couple hours protesting on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Santa Monica Airport (SMO) administration building to say ENOUGH of the air pollution, ENOUGH of the noise pollution and ENOUGH already with the lack of safety runoff areas at this used-to-be recreational airport? The residential-concerns wheel is beginning to squeak louder.
There are some who ask why; a few say there are no pollution problems; one even accusing us of lying.
Here are some facts that may clarify why residents are taking time from their weekend to protest.
In 1984, a contract between the FAA and the City of Santa Monica was signed to respond to the concerns of local and national aviation interests and residents of neighborhoods affected by noise from the Airport. Anyone wishing to read the full text of this SANTA MONICA AIRPORT AGREEMENT can find it at www.jetairpollution.com. Since then, the nature of the airport has changed from a recreational airport to a mini LAX, yielding far greater noise impacts to the community as well as enormous air pollution. Add to this the concern that there are not sufficient runway safety areas for many of the larger aircraft using SMO. The growth of jet traffic from 1,000 to 18,000 annual operations is at the root of residential concerns. During this same period, piston aircraft operations have gone down 50 percent.You can do the math; jets up 1,800 percent, piston planes down 50 percent. There is also an increase in the percentage of the largest jets using SMO.
For many years, residents as near as 250 feet from the ends of the runway have complained about the odor of jet kerosene replacing ocean breezes throughout their neighborhoods, inside their homes, and into the lungs of their family members, including their pets. The jet kerosene odors can be smelled for distances of over a mile from the ends of the runway affecting thousands of people. In 1999, a LAUSD health-risk study showed a significant increased cancer risk from just 10,000 annual jet operations. Since 1999 jet operations have doubled. The residents around SMO are extremely concerned about the health risks from breathing these emissions.
Though jets account for only 15 percent of the total operations at SMO (in January of 1999 jets were only 4 percent of the total operations), they are responsible for 90 percent of the noise violations. Again, easy math; almost all of the noise violations are from jets. The science suggests that a combination of noise and air pollution acerbates health risks. The agreement signed in 1984 failed not only to mitigate noise impacts to the communities; it did not address or even mention air pollution at all.
Many large aircraft operating at SMO utilize the entire runway for take-offs and landings. The only separation between the runway and homes are highly-used roads. Considering this, it is unconscionable that the FAA does not weigh this into the equation when determining what they consider to be sufficient runway safety areas.
Speaking of highly used roads, business office complexes on Colorado Boulevard and elsewhere in Santa Monica began to pop up shortly after 1984. Traffic to and from Santa Monica due to job growth skyrocketed as well. Because it is convenient to have a business located close to an airport, the entire Westside has been negatively affected by the change in the nature of SMO.
Thankfully, we have the full support of L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl and California Assemblyman Ted Lieu as well as Congresswoman Jane Harman. With the opening of the new Airport Park, Santa Monica should make addressing these issues a top priority. Folks are tired of SM just passing the buck on to the FAA.
What happens at meetings and demonstrations is important but more important is the community action between events. If you care and would like to help, sign up to be on our contact list at www.jetairpollution.com.
I have received many e-mails and phone calls asking that the corporate executives, politicians, members of the entertainment industry, as well as professional athletes reflect for a moment on how they are impacting SMO neighborhoods. We ask for their understanding and sensitivity. After all, they have a moral obligation to help protect the health of the public and the environment. If we need to hold another demonstration, we want them to be there with us.
MARTIN RUBIN lives in Sunset Park and is the director of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.