By MARTIN RUBIN
Longtime residents living around Santa Monica Airport remember when the air was cleaner, the nights were quiet, and nighttime aircraft arrivals were rare. Before the airport got its new runway surface, lights and a new jet center, residents’ main complaints were the occasional noisy propeller plane. The “No Jets” sign on the airport’s east embankment was plainly visible to arriving aircraft. People did not want the airport to allow jets into Santa Monica’s “recreational” airport, which is surrounded by homes.
That changed in 1984. As in the novel, ‘Big Brother’ (the Federal Aviation Administration) laid down the law. Santa Monica and the FAA entered into a contract — the “Santa Monica Airport Agreement,” commonly referred to as the “1984 Agreement” — establishing rules for the airport’s operation and emphasizing noise regulation.
What did airport neighbors gain? ■ In homes, clean ocean air is often replaced with toxic fumes from idling jets, along with potential cancers, heart disease, breathing disorders, etc. ■ No curfew on night arrivals. Aircraft, including jets, can arrive throughout the night. ■ Noise increased substantially. Jets account for most aircraft noise surrounding Santa Monica Airport. ■ Residents fear a catastrophic jet crash.
Section 29 of the “1984 Agreement, Commitment to Future Cooperation” reads: “The parties anticipate that from time to time in the future this Agreement may be supplemented and/or modified in order to accomplish its purposes. The parties agree to work cooperatively and consult with each other and other interested persons to resolve any differences between them which may arise in the future …”
There is nothing about aircraft emissions in the “1984 Agreement.” As owners of the airport, Santa Monica should want knowledge about the health impacts from aircraft emissions, and should ask the FAA to cooperate. Santa Monica should hold a town hall forum to establish what needs to be addressed in a new revised 2004 Agreement, which should certainly include air quality. Los Angeles homes sit just yards away from idling jets — clearly the impacts from the airport do not end at the city border.
With elections arriving, we hope to gain the commitment and support from new members in the political arena, as well as incumbents, and those already holding City Council seats and other political positions.
Our umbrella group, “Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution” with a Web site — jetairpollution.com — was started to help address these concerns, with information available online. We are planning a Santa Monica City Council candidate questionnaire and public forum.
Jet air pollution is a problem that can no longer be ignored. Those who are forced to breathe the idling jet fumes urgently need relief. Santa Monica has the opportunity to lead the way in addressing this outrageous environmental injustice. (Martin Rubin lives in West Los Angeles and is the founder of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 11, 2004. Read the original PDF.