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# Council should pass the ban
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/council-should-pass-the-ban-editor/
- Published: 2008-02-19T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T18:35:57.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import

*By The Board of Directors Friends of Sunset Park*

It’s been nearly six months since a top FAA official reluctantly appeared before the City Council to confirm his belief that business trumps safety when it comes to the larger, faster, jet aircraft currently using Santa Monica Airport — the Class C and D types.

Three months later, the council unanimously approved (on first reading) a ban on such aircraft. The remarks by individual council members reassured a concerned public that the city’s patience with the FAA was at an end, and it was ready to face a potentially long and expensive battle to protect its residents. But the proposed ban has yet to be approved on a second reading, which is necessary for the ban to take effect.

The council opened a second front in this battle that has most notably included a conference last month in Washington, D.C. with leaders of the House Transportation Committee. City officials were backed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Jane Harman, and opposed by the FAA. It was our desire and belief that the federal effort to achieve a ban would be separate from the city’s action, and that both efforts would proceed regardless of the status of the other. Although apparently supportive, Rep. James Oberstar, head of the House Transportation Committee, apparently wanted the city to delay enacting the ban while he considered some alternatives. Meantime, the council apparently continues to weigh the matter in closed sessions.

We are gratified by Mr. Oberstar’s interest and very appreciative of the efforts of Mr. Waxman and Ms. Harman. But the council already had resolved to move ahead with its ban. While we realize the city cannot reveal all its possible moves in this unfortunate chess match with the FAA, we see no reason for more delay. If more is expected, the reasons should be made public.

After years of asking the FAA to be reasonable, the promises we heard from the council … finally gave us hope. Since then, Santa Monica Airport has had another runway overrun that would’ve been a disaster had the aircraft been of the type covered by the ban. We believe it’s time for the council to fulfill its promise and enact the ban on a second reading.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 19, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/021908.pdf?ref=smdp.com)