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# On the wings of despair
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/on-the-wings-of-despair/
- Published: 2004-08-21T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:54:16.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import

This past week, Q-line asked: “Does the increase of jet traffic in Santa Monica concern you? What can local politicians do to solve the problem?”

Here are your responses: (Editor’s note: Due to a heavy response, not all answers were printed). ✆ “No. The increase in jet traffic does not concern me. It seems to me that that airport has been there a long time, longer than the people that are complaining about it. Didn’t they know there was an airport there when they moved there? It seems to me that they also were complaining years ago about propeller-driven traffic in and out of the airport. They made their bed and can live with it. They shouldn’t have bought there. They shouldn’t have built up around there. What the city council should do is nothing.” ✆ “Yes, there are too many jets in Santa Monica and they certainly should be curtailed back, especially at night. Also, they ought to enforce the laws that say the planes have to take off and keep their flight pattern until they over the coast so that they don’t turn out to the north or the south over the neighborhood. This is important. It would be a better idea if they closed the whole airport. Just think about what all that land could be used for — housing for the poor, things like that. More parks.” ✆ “In regards to your article concerning residents against airport pollution, I think the acronym for that group is called CRAP. And I think your publication of that article equals their acronym. I think you should do some research to find out what the true issues are because what you are putting in your paper is crap.” ✆ “The increase in jets at Santa Monica Airport really concerns us. There is clear and imminent danger to our health from the fumes and the black soot, known as particulates. There is danger to our lives and property if we have a crash. Last night, two or three jets missed the runway because of the marine layer, which is a common occurrence in this area. They came screaming over our house before they were finally able to land. This morning, when we were taking our walk, we actually observed a jet that had missed the runway. Where were the air traffic controllers when they were needed? Jets should be banned at this airport, just like they were before the 1994 Santa Monica FAA agreement.” ✆ “Santa Monica’s politicians can help increase jet traffic by loading up the airport with the Santa Monicans For Renters Rights council people, rent control board and all of the others that have clogged up the college board and commissions for a one-way flight anywhere but Santa Monica. Twenty-five years of their influence on life here is enough. Say ‘good-bye.’” ✆ “Yes, the jet traffic does concern me as a native of Santa Monica and living by the airport. I think that they should charge a very high luxury tax for Lear jets taking off from Santa Monica Airport because that’s a luxury utilizing our airport that taxpayers paid for and they are multi-millionaires, and heaven knows, Santa Monica needs the money. The other idea I had was to put the entire city council on a jet and let them fly away.” ✆ “I used to live near the Santa Monica Airport. I think it’s wonderful, but I also think that some safety precautions need to be put in.” ✆ “I would like to commend the Santa Monica Daily Press for focusing on this crucial matter. I moved within earshot of Santa Monica Airport 20 years ago and every year it has gotten worse. In the last five years, it has become absolutely unbearable. We are dealing with a major environmental and health hazard right in our midst. I think it is very significant if you look at an aerial photograph and you see how ridiculous the airport looks surrounded by a mass of housing. It’s extremely annoying to have to put up with this noise. It’s just not going away and this is a major problem. We’re looking at cancer clusters in addition to the noise and the pollution and the overriding safety considerations. We hardly need to remember 9/11 to know what can happen when a fully loaded jet crashes into offices and homes. Something has to be done. It’s appalling that the city has taken this long to let this situation deteriorate to where with the increase in fractional jet ownership we are having to put up with this on an accelerating curb of jets. Two have taken off while I have been talking.

In 2015, the lease is up... only 11 years. We need to start working right now to close that airport down and put that land to good use. Maybe a park. The views there are incredible. We could all enjoy a park up there, looking at the ocean.” ✆ “This morning, I noticed five planes within two hours that had taken off, and I became aware of their noise, so to speak. Two of them were jets. They made noise and disappeared. Three were prop planes, one of which was really loud. If I had to compare any of the planes, it had nothing to do with the jets. It was the prop planes, by far, that were louder. The airport has been there a long time and has been there before most of us moved into the vicinity of the airport. So I don’t think people need to be doing anything politically with the airport other than just doing what they are doing now, which is monitoring things.” ✆ “I live in the neighborhood west of the Santa Monica Airport and I am absolutely concerned about the increase in air traffic coming out of the airport. Not only the noise, pollution and so on and so forth, the question is what can the city do about it. Well, I think one of the things they can do about it is start enforcing the laws that were passed several years ago and fine the jet carriers who are violating the rules. I do hear these planes taking off early in the morning and late at night and I think nobody is really... monitoring the takeoffs and landings.” ✆ “Yes, the increase in jet traffic concerns me. Yesterday, we were trying to have people over for dinner and eating outside. But after about 30 minutes, planes overhead were just so unbearable we had to come inside. It’s pointless to buy the white plastic furniture here because in two days it’s black, and then you realize ‘My God, we are all inhaling that everyday.’ That is what concerns me. Our local politicians don’t seem to care about it.” ✆ “After living in our home for 20 years, we have noticed an increase in planes and jets... Besides the noise... we also have a great amount of jet-fuel emission that leaves a soot on the house. We just have to wonder what effect that has on our bodies and our health, long term.” ✆ “In the last three years, I have seen air traffic double in activity during the day and night. I have been feeling the effect of that, both on air quality and a lot of increasing noise... this has been quite the impact on me and my neighbors. We would like to see more done about it from the city. It seems that the city is reluctant to do anything.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 21, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/082104.pdf?ref=smdp.com)