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Federal judge throws out Santa Monica's lawsuit over airport
The effort to close Santa Monica Airport suffered a major setback Thursday when a federal judge threw out the city’s lawsuit that sought to wrest control of the facility from the federal government. U.S. District Judge John F. Walters dismissed the claim that title to the oldest operating airport in Los Angeles County should be returned to the city because the action was brought too late under the statute of limitations. (www.latimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Santa Whineinca.
Santa Monica Airport brings in revenue. What does a park bring in?!
Does not matter. The neighbors would pearly prefer a park witoit revenue to an airport with revenue.
The problem is that the land would be redeveloped into a use that the neighbors may not peter to an airport (ie. Coil be even more disruptive than the occasional landing business jet. Worse, the developer(s) would likely be some insider-connected individuais who would personally benefit, at the expense of the public lost opportunity costs.
The problem is that the land would be redeveloped into a use that the neighbors may not peter to an airport (ie. Coil be even more disruptive than the occasional landing business jet. Worse, the developer(s) would likely be some insider-connected individuais who would personally benefit, at the expense of the public lost opportunity costs.
It is just a matter of time. The developers smell big money. Enough to buy a Judge eventually.
Good! Snobs need to understand the airport was there 1st and they knew it when they bought their houses!
The mayor of Allentown, PA has been trying to push for the sale of Queen City Airport (KXLL) which is operated by the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (of which, the mayor, as part of his position, is a member of board during his term in office). One, he claims the sale would use the proceeds to clear a debt that Lehigh Valley International (KABE) owes from losing a legal battle after an illegal land grab... His also has an unstated goal of seeing the land used for commercial development (one of the last, large, non-park, areas in the city) to produce more tax revenue...
But, he has a problem: when the WWII era airport (Convair Field where Consolidated Vultee TBY-2 Sea Wolf Torpedo planes were built) was gifted to the city by the FAA, it included the same clause that Santa Monica has: one that requires the airport to operate in perpetuity and would only permit closure if there was a like-for-like replacement... A replacement for Queen City will definitely cost more than the estimated $26 million sale would generate...
So far, the FAA is sticking by the clause... I'm glad to see Judge Walters denied their request... Hopefully this reinforces the case against sale in Allentown.
BTW: in reply to their claim of "insufficient compensation", the Fed should have replied "uh... well... we could have let the Japanese invade... do you not consider that compensation?" ;)
But, he has a problem: when the WWII era airport (Convair Field where Consolidated Vultee TBY-2 Sea Wolf Torpedo planes were built) was gifted to the city by the FAA, it included the same clause that Santa Monica has: one that requires the airport to operate in perpetuity and would only permit closure if there was a like-for-like replacement... A replacement for Queen City will definitely cost more than the estimated $26 million sale would generate...
So far, the FAA is sticking by the clause... I'm glad to see Judge Walters denied their request... Hopefully this reinforces the case against sale in Allentown.
BTW: in reply to their claim of "insufficient compensation", the Fed should have replied "uh... well... we could have let the Japanese invade... do you not consider that compensation?" ;)
What compensation? The airport was a gift - a gift with strings attached - but a gift.
If a city no longer wants the gift, or are no longer willing to abide by the terms of the agreement, they can always give the airport back to the feds, and say, 'Thanks!'
Then the FAA could determine whether the airport was still necessary. For those like Santa Monica with lots of traffic and functioning FBOs that handle the business of operations at the airport, there would be no doubt the airport would continue. In these cases, it would just be necessary to appoint an independent airport board to oversee the direction of the airport, which may include hiring an airport manager.
For those rare cases, where the FAA and local government agree that the airport is no longer necessary and not being used, then the airport could be put out for bid to other purchase and/or operate the airport as an airport. Only in those cases in which no one (public or private) was willing to maintain the airport, should other uses be entertained.
Any proceeds from the divestiture of the airport should go to the US Treasury. This way there is no financial incentive for either local gov't or FAA to want to get rid of the airport. The process of choosing a buyer should be open and transparent. Typically highest and best use could be easiest determined by highest bidder.
But this trying to steal airports, that are important national transportation infrastructure, has to stop.
If a city no longer wants the gift, or are no longer willing to abide by the terms of the agreement, they can always give the airport back to the feds, and say, 'Thanks!'
Then the FAA could determine whether the airport was still necessary. For those like Santa Monica with lots of traffic and functioning FBOs that handle the business of operations at the airport, there would be no doubt the airport would continue. In these cases, it would just be necessary to appoint an independent airport board to oversee the direction of the airport, which may include hiring an airport manager.
For those rare cases, where the FAA and local government agree that the airport is no longer necessary and not being used, then the airport could be put out for bid to other purchase and/or operate the airport as an airport. Only in those cases in which no one (public or private) was willing to maintain the airport, should other uses be entertained.
Any proceeds from the divestiture of the airport should go to the US Treasury. This way there is no financial incentive for either local gov't or FAA to want to get rid of the airport. The process of choosing a buyer should be open and transparent. Typically highest and best use could be easiest determined by highest bidder.
But this trying to steal airports, that are important national transportation infrastructure, has to stop.
If somebody makes it worthwhile to him and his friends, Obama, by executive decree, will over rule the requirement that the Airports be kept open!!!