From The 818

Burbank responds to FAA denial

A day after the Federal Aviation Administration denied an application to introduce flight curfews at Bob Hope Airport, Burbank city officials released a statement calling the action “a minor setback” for the years-long effort.

Here’s the city’s statement in full:

BURBANK, Calif. (November 3, 2009) — Yesterday, the Federal Aviation Administration rejected the application by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority for a mandatory curfew at Bob Hope Airport. The Airport Authority has been through a lengthy and expensive process to convert the voluntary curfew into a mandatory curfew for all non-emergency nighttime operations. The City of Burbank appreciates that the Airport Authority put in the time and resources to complete and submit a thorough application in the face of opposition from both the FAA and some Airport users.

A curfew is essential. It would provide a refuge of quiet during the night for thousands of Burbank and Los Angeles residents. The evidence in support of a curfew is overwhelming. Burbank has a 40-year-long history of battling nighttime noise including countless lawsuits over the issue. Meanwhile, hundreds of people continue to be awakened each night by aircraft landing at or taking off from the Airport.

The FAA’s decision to turn down the curfew is extremely disappointing, but not entirely surprising. The FAA does not look favorably on curfews. The City thinks that the FAA has misunderstood its direction from Congress, and the City told the FAA just that in our comments on the Authority’s application.

— Jason Wells

Krekorian picks up steam

Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles) is picking up steam in his campaign for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, earning two major endorsements over the last week that could be pivotal.

Krekorian is set to face off with Christine Essel, a former Paramount Pictures executive and member of the Los Angeles Airport Commission, in a runoff election Dec. 8.

The candidates are running to represent Los Angeles Council District 2, which stretches from Sherman Oaks to Tujunga.