Advocates of Santa Monica Municipal Airport said this week they won’t give up their fight to prevent the city from redeveloping the field, despite a failed ballot initiative that would have put the airport’s fate in the hands of voters. The ballot question asked residents if the city should be required to seek approval from voters before changing land uses at the airport. On Election Day, voters rejected it by 58 percent.
The National Business Aviation Association and AOPA issued statements saying they’ll continue to oppose the city’s efforts to redevelop the airport’s 227 acres.”We are tremendously disappointed that the city council will be able to continue business as usual when it comes to attempts to close and redevelop the airport,” said Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of airports, in a statement Wednesday. “But that doesn’t mean SMO is closing or that we’re giving up on it.” Santa Monica Voters for Open and Honest Development Decisions pushed to get the question on the ballot in June after more than 15,500 signatures were submitted to city officials.
