We need city leaders with a vision. We need city leaders who won't repeat the mistakes of Santa Monica. The real estate industry encouraged the submission of anonymous complaints about Santa Monica's historic airport and their City Council decided to ask the FAA for permission to close the airport. Now, the citizens of Santa Monica belatedly realize they will be facing unlimited high-rise development and traffic gridlock in their city as a result.
Torrance is unique among the South Bay cities because it has an airport. Our City Council should be protecting it as an irreplaceable regional asset--not treating it as a nuisance. Our City Council members have an appalling record with respect to their treatment of this asset.
One of our City Council members is Jon Kaji, President of Kaji & Associates. His website states: "Kaji & Associates is a real estate firm engaged in brokerage as well as development. Our primary area of activities are in Southern California ." Another Council Member, who has been leading the campaign to destroy the airport, was termed out in June and we can guess where he may be headed.
It may be too late for the residents of Santa Monica, but not for the residents of Torrance (and customers of the airport) if we recognize, before it's too late, that the same strategy is being used against the Torrance Airport. We all need to act before the airport is destroyed and developers demand high-rise, dense development in our city. If they win and we lose the airport, it's gone forever!
Torrance flight schools have made many voluntary changes to reduce their effects on residents beneath the traffic patterns. Their reward: Landing fees and a vendetta to kick some of them off the airport. They contribute millions of dollars annually to our local economy and employ over 100 people. Their students also live in the area and contribute to our economy as well.
Recently a group of concerned local pilots has formed this Political Action Committee. The Committee is committed to finding those new visionary leaders in Torrance and supporting them for office. In 2026, another election will be for 3 City Council seats and for mayor. Protecting Torrance Airport will be on ongoing project to keep the enemies of Torrance Airport from chipping away our liberties and possibly closing it down.
You can help us break the hold of real estate interests on our city and elect City Council members who have the interests of all Torrance residents (and airport customers) at heart. You don't have to live in Torrance to donate. Please help us financially in our efforts to prevent destruction of this amazing and irreplaceable regional asset that we all cherish so much.