SMO Airport Charter Amendment Heading to Fall Ballot

At about 4 p.m. PDT today, Santa Monicans for Open and Honest Development Decisions will deliver more than 15,000 signatures to the Santa Monica city clerk for a charter amendment requiring voter approval for any plans to redevelop land occupied by the city’s airport. The group, which obtained about 6,000 more signatures than required by law, received $20,000 from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to help pay for gathering signatures.

The 227-acre airport property has been the subject of concerted efforts by the city of Santa Monica and its airport commission–no members of which are pilots or associated with aviation–to find ways to close the airport.

“Voters like me are tired of the insider political game that has gone on too long,” said Santa Monica resident and amendment proponent Flora Yin. “It’s a simple charter amendment, and people agreed with us and quickly added their names to our campaign. The only people against voters having a voice before the airport can be used for other purposes are a few politicians and pressure groups.”