By Ken Marsh Mar Vista
Compromise happens with an exchange of concessions. What is to concede in the case of the City of Santa Monica compromising with the FAA on continuing to tolerate noxious air and noise pollution and increased risk of catastrophic accidents from jet aircraft operations over the densely-populated surrounding communities of Santa Monica Airport?
How about this: Jet aircraft dangers will be okay on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but not on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and every other Sunday?
When it comes to stopping pollution, compromise is procrastination and only forestalls the consequences. There is no compromise to putting a halt to eventually all jet aircraft at (the airport).
Unless and if the FAA can insure manufacturing jets that don’t pollute, have no possibility of crashing into homes upon landing and take-off. Then the City of Santa Monica will welcome them with open skies, as will likely the rest of us.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 9, 2008. Read the original PDF.