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TO: All Hawthorne Voters:
We need to set the record straight about what Measure A is really about.
Measure A's intent is to close our Hawthorne Airport so an out-of-town
developer can build what we've been told is another shopping center, though
it's unclear exactly what his development would include. This developer
and campaign manager are running a ruthless campaign, trying to convice
Hawthorne voters that our airport is worth more dead than alive and that
is has no value to Hawthorne as an airport. Well, we respectfully
disagree, and here's why.
Value of Hawthorne Airport
- Transportation. The purpose of an airport is for air transportation,
as the 405 freeway is for ground transportation. Transportation is vital
to our society and economy. People commute to and from work using Hawthorne
Airport. Businesses locate in cities that have airports both for the
convenience of transporting business executives in private jets as well as
a quicker way of transporting products that via truck. Airports are part of a
national network of air highways, and belong to all the people of the
United States. The National Air Transportation Association listed
Hawthorne Airport as one of the
100 most needed
airports in the U.S.
- Hawthorne Airport is an asset to the city of Hawthorne. The airport is
the best marketing tool our city has to attract corporations to locate in
our city. Our airport can provide transportation services for business
executives. Time is money, and important business executives are
increasingly turning to private air transportation to avoid delays and
security concerns associated with commercial air travel. Scottsdale,
Arizona built a very successful
business
park surrounding their airport
with businesses that are located there because of the airport.
Hawthorne has been missing out on the true value of its airport due to
lack of vision in our city's leadership. In fact, our city leaders have
discouraged improvement of Hawthorne Airport by threatening it with
closure and restricting the airport manager's ability to apply for
airport improvement grant money.
- Hawthorne Airport serves:
- As the home base for our Hawthorne Police helicopter
- Provides career training for future commercial airline pilots
and mechanics
- Home base for both corporate and charter aircraft businesses that
generate revenue for our city.
- Provides for air transportation of medical patients and organs
- Can be used for disaster relief in the event of an earthquake
or regional crisis
- Hawthorne Airport is a diamond in the rough with a tremendous
amount of potential to generate revenue. What Hawthorne Airport can do
to benefit our city:
- Attract businesses to locate in Hawthorne. Businesses provide
revenue and jobs.
- Provide services for travelling business executives and other
visitors such as limousines, restaurants, etc.
- A single ultra-quiet Gulfstream business jet based at an airport
provides $2.5 million per year to the local economy for maintenance
services and fuel.
- Santa Monica, with the same size airport as Hawthorne, grosses $3.9
million per year compared to Hawthorne Airport's $600,000.
Hawthorne Airport is underutilized.
- Hawthorne needs to get the right people into leadership who have
the vision to utilize this public asset for Hawthorne's beneit.
- Control of the airspace over Hawthorne
- Hawthorne Airport currently controls the airspace over Hawthorne,
and LAX flight patterns must stay outside of Hawthorne's airspace.
If this developer is successful at closing our airport, this
protection goes away, and the FAA has the option of creating a
Southern approach route for LAX traffic that would mirror the
existing Northern approach route. Closing Hawthorne Airport could
negatively impact other South Bay cities such as Manhattan Beach,
Redondo, Lawndale, Gardena, etc. if LAX expands its flight
patterns.
- Hawthorne Airport is part of our city's history and identity. Hawthorne
is known nationwide as having a municipal airport. A shopping center will
not give our city any prestige.
- Local airport related businesses and jobs. These businesses and
employees have made Hawthorne their home. A "yes" vote on Measure A would
put them out of business and tell them they are not important to our city.
Uncertainties about Measure A and closing the Hawthorne Airport
- Airspace. The FAA is the final authority in designating air highways
and airport approach patterns. The FAA has been silent about potential
air traffic changes and consequences if Hawthorne Airport is closed. Why
did the developer need to go to the East Coast to find "experts" that will
support their claim that closing Hawthorne Airport will have no negative
impacts on surrounding cities?
Have the developers's experts been given the full story, or only the
developer's version. Don't believe that air traffic patterns won't change
until the FAA goes on record saying it won't happen.
- Developer is trying to sell Measure A to the voters by promising $$ for
schools, police and new jobs. That's the same tactics the card club used
when it tried to come into Hawthorne years ago. If the developer's project
is so good for Hawthorne, why aren't they advertising what it will be
composed of? Last thing we heard was very ill-defined and uncertain. First it was an NFL stadium. Now it's a "shopping center". What do they really want
the airport land for?
- Promises of Revenue. What is the basis for thier figures? The number
keeps changing. The developer's friend in the Tax Assessor's office tried to
make the project sound even better by rounding the estimated revenue up to
$4 million. We're not that stupid! Ask the developer what guarantee the
residents of Hawthorne have that their project will actually produce what
they are promising?
- Federal Obligation to operate Hawthorne Airport until 2011. Hawthorne
used a federal grant to make improvements to our airport in 1991. This
money came with a 20-year obligation to continue operating the airport
until 2011. How does the developer plan to relieve Hawthorne of this
obligation? Is trying to get the voters to vote "Yes" on Measure A
part of their political tactics to get around this contract? Will
trying to close Hawthorne Airport result in lawsuits over cancelling
this contract with the federal government? Will this thriving airport
become neglected and blighted while the laywers battle it's future out
in court?
The developer Paladin Partners is spending hundreds of thousands of
dollars trying to sell Measure A to Hawthorne voters. Why are they trying
to mislead the voters with false claims?
Bottom Line
- The developer is trying to sell an uncertain and ill-defined project
to Hawthorne voters. As educated voters we cannot and should not vote
yes unless you understand the project and consequences of what you're
voting for.
- Measure A ballot language is vague and one sided. Who wrote this
and approved it to go on the ballot
- Hawthorne residents should be skeptical about the building of another
shopping center after our Hawthorne Mall has been vacant for 6 years.
Do you really believe there's enough money in the community's pockets
to support so much retail? Will Paladin's project prevent the Hawthorne
Mall revitalization from thriving?
- Hawthorne voters need to thoroughly investigate the facts, realitites,
and impacts of Measure A. Hawthorne voters need to understand that
closing an airport is a major decision, one which extends beyond the
boundaries of Hawthorne into our neighboring South Bay cities. Measure A
is really about closing Hawthorne Airport, not about money and jobs for
Hawthorne residents. Don't be fooled by the developer's promises and slick
advertising. The decision our Hawthorne City Council has transferred
to the voters has the potential for major consequences and should not be
taken lightly.
- Hawthorne residents are the ones opposing Measure A. The people
selling it to us are all from out of town. Vote NO on Measure A.
Tell the developers we don't beleive their lies and we don't like their
campaign practices. This is the city of good neighbors, and their
project is not welcome here.
On November 6, Vote NO on Measure A!
Remember a NO vote Saves Our Airport!
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