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Community Corner

Councilman Bonin Explains Why Santa Monica Airport Should Be Closed For Good

The Mar Vista resident names the reasons why he believes the airport should be shut down.

By Liz Spear (Editor)

Councilman Mike Bonin, who on his Facebook page Monday said it's time to shut down the Santa Monica Airport, has posted the following on his Facebook page within the past 24 hours.

"For those who oppose closure of Santa Monica airport and contend that neighbors should stop complaining because they knew there was an airport there when they moved in, here's a few things to keep in mind:

"By federal standards, there should be a 1000 foot runway safety buffer at the end of the runways. The FAA has waived that requirement, putting homes within 300 feet of either end of the runway.

"The airport did not accommodate jets until the 1980s. There have been more than 80 accidents in the past 30 years. Into a home in 1989. Into a home in 2004. Into a home in 2011. On to a residential street near home in 2012. Into a golf course across the street from homes in 2010.

"Health studies have shown elevated levels of black carbon, ultrafine particles, and carcinogenic pollutants around the airport. http://www.healthimpactproject.org/resources/document/Santa-Monica-Airport.pdf

"Flight patterns have dramatically changed, and airport operations have dramatically increased in the past couple decades.

"Enough is enough.

"(This has been my position for a decade, and one I worked on as Chief of Staff to Councilman Bill Rosendahl.)"

Bonin lives in Mar Vista, which is adjacent the airport. The district he represents includes Mar Vista, Venice, Pacific Palisades, West Los Angeles, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, Del Rey, Westchester and Brentwood.

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