Posts by Andy Wilson

Santa Monica City Council Approves Plan To Take Over Portion Of Airport « CBS Los Angeles

Meeting Update Tuesday March 25, 2014 – Despite the headline, I believe the actual motion was “to study” a variety of these possible approaches.

The City Counsel, Marsha Moutrie, cautioned the maker of the motion, Kevin McKeown, to adjust the motion in this regard. (We can only surmise that were it not so adjusted, it might lead to a Part 16 action based on a “decision” by the City Council.)

There were 101 registered speakers of which, by the time the evening wore on, there was fall off with perhaps 80-85 actually speaking at two minutes apiece.

The Santa Monica City Council and Airport Commission are continuing their aggressive effort to force the closure of the Santa Monica Airport (SMO).

While none of this is new, their efforts have been vastly accelerated over the last few months as they look toward the expiration of the 1984 Settlement Agreement between the city and the FAA as their best opportunity to force this issue. Some think that when this agreement expires, the city can close the airport. That’s been a subject of recent litigation between the city and the FAA. So far, the city lost every court case, but they haven’t lost the war. Now the City is focused on a “starvation” strategy – strangle the airport to the point that it can no longer function as an airport.

As you may know, Santa Monica Airport (SMO) is under siege by a very small segment of the local population that has succeeded, over time, in getting sway over the City Council.

We need to change that. SMO is a frequent stop for many of you. It is a vital part of our National Airspace System. If SMO goes, so will other airports  ~ SMO is not a single airport; it is, effectively, a signal airport.