Sat, May 20, 2006
Part Of Settlement With Neighbors Over Expansion
A proposed jobs program
to attract residents affected by operations at Los Angeles
International Airport cannot be supported by airport revenue funds,
the FAA told officials at the busy airport this week.
The Los Angeles Times reports airport officials were told that
since the airport receives funds from the FAA for improvement
projects, LAX must comply with a law that says the airport cannot
use its own revenues on anything other than activities related to
airport operations -- and not matters of "general economic
development, [or] marketing and promotional activities, that are
unrelated to the airport."
Airport administrators told the Times they believe the jobs
program is needed for airport development, because the program is
part of a settlement reached last December between
LAX and residents in surrounding neighborhoods. That
settlement also put an end to the airport's 10-year, $150 million
Master Plan for growth, in exchange for allowing the airport to
expand its south runway.
The settlement also calls for the airport to support traffic and
noise mitigation projects, streetscaping, and job training for
neighborhoods and residents around the airport -- and that's the
program now being questioned by the FAA.
Officials with LAX say they're not done arguing their case to
the agency.
"We are looking at appealing the findings," said Los Angeles
World Airports spokesperson Nancy Castles. "We're also looking at
perhaps pursuing alternative funding options if necessary or
redesigning the jobs program."
The FAA's move also struck City Councilman Tony Cardenas as odd.
He is the former chair of the council committee that oversees the
airport, and he also helped negotiate the benefits package in the
settlement.
The FAA's "interpretation is unclear and does not allow us to
give back to the families impacted by the airport," Cardenas
said.
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