Airport supporters in Santa Monica can rejoice as a there is a small step in the right direction in the battle for the Santa Monica Airport (SMO), which is under threat of partial closure as soon as next summer. Santa Monica residents will be able to vote in November on whether land use changes at SMO will require a public vote, taking the power away from the Santa Monica City Council, which has proven to be strongly for changing the use of the highly valued property.
An organization called Santa Monicans for Open and Honest Development Decisions collected about 16,000 signatures this spring to get the measure on the November ballot. AOPA, NBAA, the Santa Monica Airport Association and local businesses supported the effort.
