By Martin Rubin Director of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution
Regarding the Nov. 29 article, “Jetting off to sustainability at SM Airport” (SMDP, page 1): Health risks to the surrounding communities from Santa Monica Airport operations are not adequately addressed in the draft presented to both the Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment and to the Santa Monica Airport Commission. It is essential that Santa Monica supports the communities’ demands for a health risk assessment, and that the collection of a complete set of data logging the ground operations of jets and turbo props be commenced ASAP so that proper modeling studies can be performed. It is also time for Santa Monica to meet with community leaders from both Santa Monica and Los Angeles to take advantage of their valuable knowledge. Otherwise, the City of Santa Monica’s efforts completely miss the mark and their program is an insult to those who suffer from harmful jet exhaust, unhealthful amounts of noise, and stress of these and safety concerns as the airport has inadequate safety runoff areas.
Maybe Santa Monica should not sustain the airport if it cannot bring it under control and make it sustainable to the communities that are so greatly impacted by the uncontrolled growth of jet operations. The facts speak for themselves. How Santa Monica addresses this will speak volumes to those who are interested.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 6, 2006. Read the original PDF.