LAX expansion plan moves forward

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LA City councilman Herb Wesson repeatedly called the room to order as the city council debated a highly contentious $4.8 billion-dollar plan to modernize LAX.

The plan includes improvements for terminals and expanded roadways to include possible public transportation directly into the airport.

At the heart of the debate is the airport's plan to expand the north runway 286 feet closer to neighboring areas of Westchester and Playa Del Rey. LAX officials say this is needed to accommodate larger aircraft and improve safety conditions.

But residents aren't convinced LAX properly studied the impacts of noise, traffic and pollution that the expansion would create.

"Making this vote today as a 'yes' vote was bad public policy," said Inglewood resident Patt Sanders. "I can't believe the city council by making that vote, they went hand-in-hand with basically giving the community and the residents a finger."

Business and union leaders applauded the council's decision. Labor organizer Vidal Arce says modernization will add thousands of jobs.

"At the same token look at the other side, how many jobs will be filled, how many people will be put to work in this economy. That's what we need right now."

Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district is most affected by the runway expansion said the plan fails to address the need for regional improvements to LA's other airports to remove the burden from LAX.

"So what they have done is shake up everybody in the 11th district from the Palisades all the way to the El Segundo border, and have them angry and upset because we feel the Santa Monica airport's impact," Rosendahl said.

Opponents plan to continue fighting, but with the green light from the LA City Council, the next step is approval from the FAA and the County Board of Supervisors.