It only took about five minutes for the presentation, helmed by Steven Peters, the principal representative of Jacobs Engineering, to go from informative to confusing and mildly frustrating for those in attendance.
There was an alleged misunderstanding for the community members about the format of the presentation. According to Peters, the meeting was scheduled for him to introduce the different aspects of the feasibility study for a brief time, and then have the public go to various labeled sections in the auditorium and talk to Jacobs officials one-on-one about those specific concerns.
The crowd was quick to chime in. An outcry from various community members— one person yelled to “give the people what they want,” and another added to “bring the experts out” — led to a last-minute change of format.
This Long Beach Airport meeting had now turned into a public Q&A presentation.
“I do believe that we would have been able to give more detailed answers if we had gone with the original format,” Peters told the Signal Tribune after the event, “but, evidently, a lot of people came tonight with emotions, so this was the way to hear them, and it was a good thing for us.”
The Jacobs Engineering team that is part of the feasibility study consists of: Peters, security assessment; John LaCosta, market analysis; Kathleen Brady, environmental assessment; Larry Bolinski, financial feasibility; Ron Siecke, airport scope and capability; and Charlie Parkin with assistant Mike Mais, legal assessment.
The role of the meeting was to gauge community comments and suggestions to further evaluate the six areas of scope. The feasibility study is also gathering data from prior studies to assess airline JetBlue’s request to commence international service. The idea of the study is to see if there are any fatal flaws, according to Peters.
All six areas of scope will have a major outcome, and once the data has been collected and the study has concluded in September, the Jacobs team will deliver the information to Long Beach Airport management and it will be up to the Long Beach City Council how things will proceed.
The feasibility study is in its preliminary stages, and not much has been established, according to Juan Lopez-Rios, manager of economic and property development at the City of Long Beach.
One community member suggested that the feasibility study was not properly representing the community’s needs.
“I think a lot of us here are happy with the airport the way it is. I know the city council has asked you to do this, but they never asked the citizens if they were happy. I think maybe after the feasibility study is done, you might want to factor in that the citizens don’t want this, and that should be part of your study.”
Others agreed: “The feeling is that the administration, and maybe some of the council members, think that we want an international terminal,” a community member said. “And when we have a meeting like tonight, and we all come with a different expectation, then that just reinforces are distress. What I’m suggesting is that all you folks be transparent and say what you want to do.”
With the looming possibility of an international airport, some people were concerned about increased traffic flow.
“If it becomes a nonstop tram of landing zones over my head of commercial aircrafts and general aviation, are you going to be evaluating how many aircrafts we can expect and the impact it will have on my home and my community?” one person asked.
Peters responded by saying that the forecast will include general aviation activity that might be attracted additionally with the basic traffic flow that currently exists. He added that the issue will be factored into the study.
Airport traffic noise was an obvious concern with many people. One individual asked how that increased traffic flow could impact the current noise ordinance. Peters simply responded by saying that the study is researching the likelihood of more flights potentially interfering with the noise ordinance.
One person suggested that the noise ordinance could possibly be amended to accommodate additional flights, but the majority of the crowd was visibly opposed to the idea.
Another concern was that of terrorist attacks. A woman in the crowd noted there may be a heightened risk of terrorist activity if the airport opts to go international.
“Security assessment will consider the issue of drug intervention, crime in general and certainly the possibility of terror attacks, whether it is international or domestic,” Peters responded. “It will definitely be evaluated in the assessment.”
The environment was a major concern, as well. The jet pollution fallout was a huge factor with one resident.
“You ought to send somebody down to rub their fingers on our window sills from all the dirt and crud that gets dropped on the 4th and 5th districts, and some of the other districts, from the fallout from the jet pollution,” he said. “I know the City has constantly said it doesn’t exist, but, believe me, it does.”
Running with the theme of environmental harm, one person thought about his children’s future and that of Long Beach. The man, recently having moved into the city, feels that the community needs to be more outspoken with its concerns.
“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out— all you need to do is wake up at 6:00 in the morning and see the six, seven or eight jets being filled up in the community,” the father of two said. “And then think to yourself, ‘Why does my chest feel so tight?’ That’s all you need to do. It’s a basic, simple concept. Just move into Long Beach. We need to activate the community and the youth and have them speak out.”
The next scheduled meeting with the Long Beach Airport and the Jacobs Engineering team’s input on the feasibility study will be on April 20 at the Long Beach Gas and Oil Auditorium, 2400 E. Spring St. The format of the meeting may change due to the audience turnout and reaction last Wednesday.
