Earned, not anointed
This has been a difficult decision for me as I have the utmost respect for the office of the President and the peaceful transfer of executive power embodied in the inauguration. However, President-elect Trump’s recent attacks on Rep. John Lewis were beyond the pale and served as a tipping point which made me re-evaluate my original intention to attend.
John Lewis is nothing short of a true American hero. He bravely put his life on the line, numerous times, all to bend the long arc of history toward a more justice-filled future for all Americans.
On inauguration day, our nation invests the President-elect with executive power. We do not anoint the President with respect. Respect must be earned. Donald Trump, in his attacks on Rep. Lewis, and minorities, and women, and the disabled, has yet done little to earn my respect.
For that reason, and in solidarity with those he has attacked, I have decided not to attend the inauguration. I sincerely hope that over the next four years President Trump will work hard to earn the respect of all Americans, not just those who voted for him. The American people deserve it, and the office of the President requires it.
Alan Lowenthal
U.S. Representative
California’s 47th District
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Flight plans
Although the [Long Beach] City Council funded a $350,000 feasibility study on the proposal to approve LGB for international flights, the parameters set with Jacobs Engineering did not require financial data that would either support or debunk the proposal as being good or bad for business in Long Beach, and there was no requirement for a deliverable that identified potential current or future risk. The feasibility study would have us believe that there is no downside to this proposal. A document that does not acknowledge risk— that only reports the favorable or innocuous effects— is one-sided and incomplete.
The proposal mainly addresses JetBlue and their intentions to make Long Beach a destination for flights to/from Mexico and South America. JetBlue would be the main beneficiary should this proposal be approved, with Gulfstream also enjoying the benefit that private jets from overseas could land directly at Long Beach rather than having to clear customs at LAX.
However, once approved, there is nothing to stop other airlines from bringing in international flights.
With international flights increasing at the rate of 10 percent a year at LAX, one could surmise that eventually other airlines will seek to bring international flights to Long Beach. By stating the assumption in the opening pages of the study that it was to be a “given” that the noise ordinance will remain in place, any scenario where the noise ordinance may be challenged was effectively dismissed.
This exclusion needs a reality check. As the demand for growth in international travel increases, there is no way to stop other airlines from challenging the noise ordinance in court.
At the December city council meeting, a presentation was made by the director of airports in which he provided numbers that he had personally extrapolated that would lead us to believe there is financial advantage to Long Beach and its business community. The city council needs to evaluate these numbers and understand the assumptions and parameters that make up the calculations. It seems strange to assume that significant financial income is anticipated when the director of airports assures us that flights will not increase.
With JetBlue and Gulfstream being the sole beneficiaries, the question that begs to be asked is, “Which of our city council members has accepted campaign contributions from JetBlue?” Council members(s) that accepted campaign contributions should recuse themselves from voting on this proposal.
Corliss Lee
Long Beach
