This problem not only affects the residents in North HB, but ALL the residents in HB and neighboring communities. The new Metroplex plan for Southern California has flaws, many flaws, and the way we need to address it is through a three pronged approach. This approach, I believe, will solve the issue and lead to a better quality of life for everyone.

First, almost all the cities that are affected by the FAA Metroplex Plan have Jet Noise Committees. Our very own HB JNC will be authorized and recognized at City Hall on October 1st. This is a great first step, and I support their efforts to work through this through cooperation with the FAA, but more is needed. Now we need members from ALL the affected community committees to join forces in order to work together so there is a larger Regional voice that addresses the FAA. Personally, I have already been in contact with members of the Newport Beach committee to find out what is gaining traction with them, and that leads me to this...Environmental Impact concerns.

I have written to the West Coast FAA, which handles the So. California Metroplex plan, about about Environmental Assessments and Impact Reports as it relates to health issues, learning issues and environmental concerns over the lower flying jets. As of this writing I have yet to receive a reply. I want to know how the lower paths are affecting the schools underneath. Did they monitor the unspent jet fuel that is falling on our kids at the schools? Did they monitor how the noise pollution affects student learning? Where are their reports? In the U.K. there was research at Heathrow Airport showing learning loss on the students who are in the flight path, and some purported a direct correlation of loud noise to learning loss. They have even built shelters on the playgrounds that the kids can hide in so fallout does not drop on them as the planes fly overhead. Is this what we want for our kids!? How will our kids be affected on the playgrounds, in the parks, in the classrooms? I hope the FAA can answer these questions.

Finally, what are our Congressional leaders doing to mitigate this? Are they pressing the issue? How did this get pushed through without more being done from our current leaders? Louder noise, means lower flights, and that means possible disbursement of jet fuels on the neighborhoods. Dating back July 20th, I asked my Facebook friends to sign the Change.org petition to Stop the Jet Noise, I have even re-posted that thread to get more signatures. This is one of our First Amendment rights and by exercising it we are telling the government that there is a problem. We are lucky though, we have on the HB JNC board one of the leading pilots in the area and the President of the Pilot's Union. His voice can help us out. Pilots have the last say on the flight path they take, so maybe the pilots can help us out. We do not need to waste our time or money on studies. We need the FAA to prove that what they did was proper and not harmful to the environment. They need to be held accountable for what they are doing or face possible suits for putting us in danger, not just from noise, but from the overall harmful effects of the unspent fuel while flying at lower altitudes.

I must add this one last point, if cooperation proves useless, if concerns fall on deaf ears, the final act would be a lawsuit against the FAA for not doing their due diligence in showing what the environmental impact would be over the Southern California area.  We must not hold back if we are to protect ourselves and our children.

This is what I propose and what I will continue to fight for if you elect me to City Council. Stop The Jet Noise Now!