Homeowners: Rod Merl, Senior Administrative Analyst at Santa Monica
Airport reports: “The primary change that has gone into effect as of January
1, 2004 is the additional notification on the state’s required real estate
disclosure statement for potential buyers of property in an “airport
influence” area. AB 290 which was introduced in this state legislative
session and will carry over to the next session, proposes to amend this
requirement as of 2005 to suggest, unless a city or county adopts a contrary
boundary, that a two mile perimeter around an airport be the notice area
boundary.”
Noise from SM Airport traffic:
Jet traffic at the airport for the month of January was up 7% from January of
last year. There were “44” night arrivals between the hours of 11pm and
7am, of which, “21” registered on the noise monitors.
At the next SM Airport Commission meeting, Monday, March 22nd at
SM City Hall Council Chambers, the “Annual Noise Report” will be given
by Vincent Mestre, noise specialist for the airport. There are those of us who
feel that many noise impacts from aircraft operations at the airport are
completely overlooked by the noise measuring methods now being used.
One of many examples is the fact that the planes landing at the airport from
the East, often avoid flying over the one noise monitor, placed near the top
of a telephone pole, located on Sardis Ave., between Stoner and Granville.
This gives a false reading of the actual noise event. If you want to voice your
views, the March 22nd, 7:30pm meeting is the time to do it. Please attend,
and bring all your ideas and suggestions. I know I will!
Request to know: As noted in last month’s update, I asked a series of
questions regarding noise complaints to the airport and what good do they
do. That, and the reply and the follow-up to the reply are posted at the
bottom of the Noise/Fume E-Complaint page at http://www.jetairpollution.com.
GRVNC-Conservation Committee-Airport Affairs Sub Committee:
welcomes all to attend the next meeting, 7pm, Monday, March 8th at the
Vera Davis McClendon Center, 610 California Ave. The meeting after this
meeting will be 7pm, Monday April 12th at the same location.
Brainstorming ideas has been ongoing at these meetings. I recommend
attending.
My summary of the February 23rd SM Airport Commission meeting:
The Commission discussed, for the third straight meeting, possible changes
to their present meeting agenda format. Several residents spoke in favor of
changing the name of the “Noise Management” agenda item to the
“Environmental Report”. Airport staff claimed this, “… might mislead the
public to believe that staff conducts some sort of on-going air quality
environmental investigation…” and that it could, “…create unreasonable
expectations by the public…”. Vice chair Airport Commissioner Ofer
Grossman, who was chairing the meeting due to the chairs absence,
steadfastly argued in favor of the change, but the other Commissioners
apparently liked the agenda format just as it is now, and no action was taken.
After more than six years of public input regarding our concerns with toxic
emissions from jet aircraft operations at the airport, the city of Santa Monica
and airport staff has done virtually nothing to address this crucial
environmental issue. What they have done is make the City a haven for
corporate jet-setters with limo services available at the airport, and new
developments just a short drive away on Colorado Ave. for office space and
more. There is a dark cloud on the South East side of green Santa Monica,
and it is growing bigger and getting darker. Prediction: Pretty soon the
drizzle of complaints will become a downpour of protest. As one Santa
Monica resident puts it, “it’s Santa Monica’s dirty little secret.”
To join Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution:
Visit: jetairpollution.com (310) 479-2529