Airport arguments
Editor:
Let me see if I understand the arguments for closing the airport
1) I bought property near the airport and will get a huge increase in my property value if the airport is closed.
2) I bought property in line with the flight paths to the airport and will get a huge increase in my property value if the airport is closed.
3) I want to be rewarded because I made a bad decision years ago and can now see that I might greatly benefit from it if the airport closes.
4) I don’t care if the loss of tax revenues from closing the airport will reduce services. Generally the services reduced are to the less fortunate among us so why should I care?
5) I don’t know anyone who might loose their jobs if the airport closes and even if I did, so what, their tough luck for being so stupid as to work at an airport so close to a city.
6) I recognize that I might have to donate money to fight against any development on the airport grounds, but that is a very small price to pay for the huge increase in my property values without the airport.
7) I also recognize that I may have to fight some battles over noise and parking should the airport property be made into parkland, but again, that is a small price to pay for the huge increase in my property values without the airport.
8) I also recognize that I may have to fight some battles and donate some money to fight those who live near freeways and object to all that noise and pollution. They may want to use what we did here with the airport to make their case for closing those freeways.
Some background on me:
I worked at Douglas Aircraft that is where the airport is now located, building large planes which flew out of that airport. So that airport noise has always been part of what has been there, no surprise.
Jerry Schneir
Santa Monica
Our airport?
Editor:
Congratulations to Walt Nickelson – “News Flash,” – the most erudite and sensible piece I’ve read about the Airport issue so far, unlike a correspondent at the start of the week, who displayed the sort of blinkered arrogance held by many Santa Monican residents, i.e it is our airport – Let Them Eat Cake!
Well done Walt.
Murray Gallant
Santa Monica

Suzanne Robertson, Miche Lumiere, Jon Mann, Larry Arreola…come and steal my airplane. I dare any of you. You people started this war and I accept your declaration of war. Further, war does have serious consequences for your information. Oh yeah, the same can be said for theft of jobs, businesses or grand theft of mine or any aircraft at KSMO. You have been warned!!!
So tired of hearing people talk about airport neighbors like they are greedy and obsessed with financial gain (increase in property values). Property values in Sunset Park increase just fine with the airport open. The issue is not increase in property values, but health and safety issues regarding jets. KEEP THE AIRPORT. NO JETS
Gotta love how “fly neighborly” means send all the air traffic over Venice so people in Venice have all the noise from aircraft instead of people in Santa Monica. If that’s neighborly, can I bring my elephant over to take a neighborly poop in your front yard?
To those who fear the land will be commercially developed: The land was bought with bond money following a vote by Santa Monica voters, and as such it CANNOT be used commercially without a vote of the people. The only reason that there are commercial operations on that land today is because back in the 1920s – when the land was purchased – aviation WAS an acceptable use (per the existing Government Code at the time) for recreational/parkland. Today, it would be legally impossible for designated parkland to be commercially developed without the consent of the voters of Santa Monica who taxed themselves 90 years ago so that the land could be purchased and designated as parkland/recreational space. To everyone who is concerned about the cost of making this land into a viable park, look at the wonderful things that have been accomplished with grants and private donations – the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy parkland, the Tejon Conservancy Parkland, the Annenberg beach facility.. All of these received substantial grants and donations, and they all are accessible to the public and serve the public good.
When, where and how did they make that claim?
Miche you are wrong and I told Wilmont you were the one spreading that rumor. Go to their page. They outright deny it. And the July 2015 date is invalid. Get your facts straight before you post BS
Is there anyone who actually believes that the biggest undeveloped piece of property in Santa Monica would be turned into a Grand Park if the Airport were shut down? Given recent City developments, it is far more
Likely to be turned into a Starbucks Theme Park like the rest of the City.
Dear anti aviation, anti American terrorists Miche Lumiere and Jon Mann. You want to come after our jobs, our businesses and our airplanes. Okay, you want a war? YOU WILL HAVE ONE ON YOUR HANDS!!! Just remember one thing terrorists, war has consequences. By the way terrorists, were any of you forced to sign you lease, rental or mortgage contracts?
Both Schneir and Gallant are using specious arguments against residents who have every right to want to close SMO. The airport is a danger to people in and around SMO, not just those who live directly under the flight path. It doesn’t serve the people of Santa Monica. It serves mostly wealthy folks, movie stars and ex-governors who live outside Santa Monica. Bottom line; that property belongs to residents who live in Santa Monica! If the AOPA wasn’t worried that the FAA will lose their lawsuit to take over SMO, why are they pouring so much money in to flyer liars creating fear and dis-information! My campaign is devoted to giving residents a voice and closing SMO!
Amazing Jerry. The community has NEVER made such arguments. Blaming our community and residents for the problem of noise and pollution from Santa Monica Airport will not solve anything. Accusing our community who are being harmed by the noise and pollution as being greedy, when it is actually the greed of the jet industry and owners who put our residents at risk, will not solve anything. What the airport was like in 1919 or 1944 has little bearing on the polluting JET PORT that SMO has become today. Back in the day we had little understanding about the health and environmental issues that this facility now poses. Today we do. Now is the time to act support the well being of OUR entire community and not the few aviation lobbyists who REALLY profit from it.