Galanter right in calling for a deadline

Editorial Focus: Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter is doing the right thing by insisting on a firm deadline to hasten marketing and expansion of the Palmdale Regional Airport.

On Friday, Oct. 1, a well-covered press conference was held in Los Angeles. The announcement "committed" Los Angeles and L.A. World Airports to market and expand Palmdale Regional Airport as a partial solution to the air transportation needs of Southern California.

"The short-term plan is to expand Palmdale over 10 years to handle 4 (million) to 7 million passengers annually," Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan said. "If you have high-speed rail, that expansion could be even more dynamic."

"This agreement is really going to make a difference in how we move forward as a region," said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford, speaking at the press conference. "It's going to change the perception of Palmdale and the Antelope Valley.

"We think the economic development potential is fantastic."

But, all too often, lofty pronouncements fail to turn into action.

As far back as 1991, Councilwoman Galanter has been working diligently to promote the Palmdale Regional Airport as a readily available means to ease future congestion - on the ground and in the air - at LAX.

Galanter and her constituents are woefully afraid of LAX expansion plans.

A plucky woman who was nearly killed by a knife-wielding intruder in 1987 just as she was to begin her first term as a councilwoman, Galanter last Wednesday took steps to assure that the Palmdale Airport announcement on Oct. 1 wasn't just another photo op for politicians.

On Oct. 6, Galanter proposed a six-month deadline for airport officials to produce a concrete plan for the marketing and development of Palmdale Regional Airport.

Her motion, seconded by Council President John Ferraro, will be voted on by the full council on Wednesday, Oct. 13.

Galanter - whose district is adjacent to LAX - asked Los Angeles World Airports to present a time-line and budget for developing new facilities at Palmdale, as well as plans for an environmental review.

"We need to see a real investment plan for Palmdale Airport that actually puts teeth into last week's announcement," Galanter said.

The number of passengers using Southern California airports annually is expected to double to 158 million by the year 2020.

Los Angeles World Airports operates LAX, Ontario International Airport, Palmdale Regional Airport, plus Van Nuys Airport, which does not have commercial flights, but is constantly under fire from nearby residents who object to noisy helicopters and other aircraft taking off.

Most of the television station copters are based in Van Nuys and often take off early in the morning when many of the residents are trying to sleep.

So Galanter is absolutely right on in demanding that action be taken on the marketing and development Palmdale Airport which has been delayed for 31 years by a prolonged stretch of inaction.