> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # City candidates respond to fleet of fuming citizens - URL: https://www.smdp.com/city-candidates-respond-to-fleet-of-fuming-citizens/ - Published: 2004-09-15T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T05:04:45.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import *By GENEVA WHITMARSH Daily Press Staff Writer* KEN EDWARDS CENTER — A 69-percent increase in jet traffic at Santa Monica Airport over the last five years has led to a slew of safety and health concerns for neighboring communities, a group of City Council candidates said. Eleven candidates fielded questions Monday from a media panel as part of The Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (CRAAP) public forum. The question of the day was — How can airport noise and pollution be controlled? Nearly all of the candidates on hand agreed the federal government must crack down on noise and emission standards, while many called for an environmental study to back up residents’ concerns that the jets produce dangerous pollutants. Several candidates said they support creating an ad hoc committee to deal with the airport’s impact on surrounding communities and would be in favor of a town hall meeting on the issue. Mayor Richard Bloom, who is seeking reelection, called the current noise ordinance at the airport “among the strictest in the country” and said City Hall is currently working on placing buffer zones at the end of the runway. “We can’t allow the airport to be too hospitable to jet airplanes,” he relented. “A lot of the businesses on the Westside lend to that, and we’re working on it.” Incumbent and candidate Herb Katz said the current runway has been shortened and fines for noise violations have increased. “But let’s find out if we have health issues,” Katz said. “We don’t have the jurisdiction we should have. The FAA keeps stepping on us. We need to lobby the FAA, and we need to prove what our concerns are. We can’t just say ‘do it.’” Some candidates called for more drastic measures, like closing the airport. “My feelings are that we should just close (the airport) down and make it into a public park area,” said candidate Jonathan Mann, who works as a flight attendant. “It’s dangerous for the planes to land — they’re coming close to homes.” Another candidate suggested prohibiting large jets from taking off and landing in Santa Monica. “Maybe we shouldn’t close down the airports, but we could ban jets,” said Linda Armstrong. “I don’t think you need further studies. Jet fuel is really bad for people, especially children.” Later, she too suggested closing the airport altogether. “I don’t know how legal it is, but we could do it anyway,” she said. Candidate and current City Councilman Michael Feinstein called for working with LAX to reduce the number of flights directed to the Santa Monica Airport, while candidate Patricia Hoffman called for a change to the current administration in Washington. “The most important thing we can do is elect John Kerry, because if we have the same FAA this year as we had last year, we’re not going to get anything changed with government,” she said. Candidate Bobby Shriver suggested asking pilots to land their planes at other regional airports. “Jets don’t land at these airports — people land in them,” he said. “You can lobby those people who decide to land there. They could land in Burbank and Van Nuys. It’s true. I know many of them.” The audience of about 50 were often aggressively vocal. After Shriver’s comment that he knew many of the pilots landing at Santa Monica Airport, some people snickered and a heckler yelled out, “Yeah, like the governor.” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Shriver’s brother-in-law. When Bloom assured the crowd that City Hall would not put children in harm’s way, another person loudly exclaimed, “They already are.” Candidate Kathryn Morea wondered why the issues surrounding the airport aren’t discussed more frequently within the community. “The airport issue polarizes people around election time,” she said “I’m curious about what’s happening between the elections. Nothing. “Nothing gets done, and that’s a shame.” Candidates Matt Dinolfo, Ken Genser, Katz, Feinstein and Mann left the forum halfway through to attend a candidates’ panel across town hosted by the Action Apartment Association. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 15, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091504.pdf?ref=smdp.com)