The Santa Monica Challenge

Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 07:01 PM ET

Verified

Concerned pilots, mechanics, air controllers, and others listen to candidates for Santa Monica City Council state their positions on the present and future operations at Santa Monica Municipal Airport. AcmeStudios

Key Takeaways:

A forum for potential Santa Monica City Council members revealed that most candidates are strongly against the airport, basing their opposition on what the author described as factually incorrect claims about pollution and safety.
Many panelists demonstrated an unwillingness to consider factual research that contradicted their anti-airport agenda or to support a public poll/referendum on the airport's future.
The author concludes that some future council members are likely to continue efforts to close Santa Monica Airport, fighting the FAA regardless of factual data or broad public support.

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I attended a forum last weekend at the Museum of Flying adjacent to Santa Monica Airport in which the Friends of Santa Monica Airport (FOSMO) presented questions to potential Santa Monica City Council members. I was shocked at the lack of factual information with which some of the potential council members are basing their decisions and even more shocked at the unwillingness of some to listen to the facts.

About 125 people showed up to hear what the future may hold for the airport, should the city council members get their way once elected. To eliminate the potential for disruption of the meeting by anti-airport supporters, FOSMO limited the audience to pilots, mechanics, controllers and people involved with aviation related businesses. Of the 13 potential City Council members battling for four open seats, which will be filled as a result of on election scheduled on November 6, 11 showed up for the meeting.