
by SCAUWG.ORG Guest Reporting
The Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council (SVANC) hosted Supervisor Lindsey Horvath for a Q&A event with the public on 8/1 from 6-7 pm. Arriving 21 minutes late, Horvath tardily joined the crowd at 6:21 pm to respond to public inquiries, centered mostly on three local topics (one being Whiteman Airport).
Horvath was witnessed as notably evasive on Whiteman amid several attendees’ questions about the airport:
- Horvath stated she has ordered Public Works to not take FAA funding, attributing this move to the County’s noncommittal about Whiteman Airport’s future
- The Supervisor remained adamant that her funding freeze directive is ‘not a final judgment’ on the airport from the BOS or herself
- Reaction to that point among the airport-related attendees was observed to be extreme skepticism.
- The Supervisor remained adamant that her funding freeze directive is ‘not a final judgment’ on the airport from the BOS or herself
- Horvath acknowledged the recent LA County Department of Public Health, and also the South Coast AQMD studies that were conducted regarding lead near WHP which concluded that levels found were well below safe allowable standards.
- Horvath did not concede lead pollution hysteria is baseless; instead, she signaled an interest in more studies—Critics interviewed felt she seemingly wanted to “shop” for a particular study result.
- Although the Supervisor briefly spoke about the County Advisory Committee and its vote, she spoke more about pursuing further studies on ‘what the community wants’
- Horvath’s insistence about this was made despite the observed unanimous expression of support for the airport from public speakers at the event.
A common theme throughout the event was Angelenos’ frustration with festering issues such as homelessness, crime, and NGOs, which seemingly boast lavish sums of taxpayer dollars with alleged little accountability. A desire for governmental change was palpable while support for the airport remaining operational was also consistent and strong.
As local San Fernando Valley NGOs Pacoima Beautiful and ICONCDC have spent considerable time and taxpayer-funded resources proposing the shutdown of Whiteman Airport some observers alleged they have done so whilst turning a blind eye to homelessness, crime, and other issues, causing neighborhood anger at current conditions, and NGO activities, and the perceived direct ties to Whiteman politics.
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