OPEN LETTER TO SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCILMEMBERS - PROSPER or PARK
Seize the moment - Don’t Ignore Opportunity
Maintain Santa Monica Airport
Dear Councilmembers,
When Starbucks had to close stores (3) in Santa Monica, if it didn’t send a message to all, it should.
I strongly support keeping the Santa Monica Airport open while exploring ways to expand park space and community benefits.
You have an opportunity to market your hotel, local businesses, restaurants, and your convention center.
YOUR OCEAN VIEW AND THE PIER should be promoted and the airport can make it easy for folks with money to arrive at Santa Monica without the congestion of LAX and spend their money IN SANTA MONICA whilst enjoying the ocean view from their hotel suites, the beach opportunities you create, the dining, and their sightseeing.
Maybe you think that's a silly notion. But look at the Hotel Del Coronado. A few years ago, it was just a mismanaged historic venture for tourists. NOW, Hilton has turned the tables selling their beach options and the dining at every price level. WHY can they do that with a thousand dollars a night accommodation? THE OCEAN VIEW and innovative ideas. Certainly, not the hotel amenities themselves.
The Smart money says create sightseeing at the airport. Pilot groups will no doubt volunteer to help restore the rich heritage there (like the original Del Building) - Market the available great businesses, and via innovation (just look at what Hilton did with minimal expense and thousands of twinkle lights at the Del) design benefits from the Ocean Environment.
MARKET your opportunities! Sell the convenience of an executive airport concierge transportation service, and the accented historic references, to corporations that can use your convention space, or your hotel options, and that can reward their employees, or their clients, with a great experience.
Of course. you can destroy those options. You can ignore opportunities, do nothing for your community business, and do nothing to restore Santa Monica's profitable presence.
A park-only option creates enormous costs for the City at a time when Santa Monica is already facing serious budget challenges.
Most importantly, a strong majority of Santa Monica voters support keeping the airport while still having park space and businesses. I hope the City will take the time to pursue balanced solutions that preserve this important community resource while adding new public space and amenities.
Please listen to residents and avoid rushing toward closing the airport. This, particularly now with eVtol service pending, and commercial air service already in place.
Thank you for your service to our community.
Sincerely,
Ron Berinstein, Director
Southern California Aviation United Working Group (SCAUWG.ORG)