Dear Editor:
On February 15, the San Fernando Sun reported on Senate Bill 1193 (SB 1193), a legislative proposal by State Senator Caroline Menjivar to eliminate leaded aviation fuel in California by 2030. Unfortunately results from a Los Angeles County study regarding leaded aviation fuel were not mentioned. The relevance of this data to SB 1193 and the politics around Whiteman Airport requires further discussion.
Lead Hysteria: Disproven by Science
In a November 7, 2023 motion, the LA County Board of Supervisors (BOS) directed the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH) to investigate lead exposure around Whiteman Airport.
On February 5, 2024, DPH reported their audit of blood lead level (BLL) data from over 11,000 children residing near Whiteman and compared these samples with data from ~460,000 children elsewhere in LA County. Debunking anti-Whiteman allegations, testing revealed virtually all of the Pacoima children showed no appreciable lead readings.
County health officials verified their conclusions with two recent regional air quality tests by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The SCAQMD studies found ambient lead levels were “within the typical range measured” and “over 10 times” cleaner than national standards require. Science once again refuted ‘lead pollution’ hysterics.
In plain terms: there is no lead pollution crisis in Pacoima.
Whiteman Airport detractors LA City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and allied nonprofit Pacoima Beautiful (PB) originally supported the supervisors’ blood lead level audit enthusiastically. However, once the study was published, both Rodriguez and Pacoima Beautiful, clearly uninterested in the facts, chose to ignore its findings.
At the SB 1193 event, Crystal Reyes, of the Pacoima Beautiful’s Shutdown Whiteman Airport ancillary, condemned the use of leaded fuel at Whiteman and decried it as “a direct attack” on locals. Interestingly, days before that same conference, Reyes posted a video of the sightseeing flight she enjoyed from El Monte Airport using leaded fuel.
Appallingly, Councilwoman Rodriguez, Pacoima Beautiful and Reyes appear to consider lead pollution as nothing more than a political talking point… merely a prop for scare tactics.
SB 1193 is well-intentioned but flawed and unrealistic; as leaded fuel already faces a national phaseout soon, the Menjivar bill is simply not worthwhile.
Magnified: Whiteman’s Political Stir
Beyond its coverage of SB 1193, the February article recapped Whiteman Airport’s odyssey and community fears that “deals are being struck behind closed doors” like the audio recorded ex-LA City Councilwoman Nury Martinez’ gerrymander plotting of 2021.
The Whiteman Airport Community Advisory Committee (CAC), pitched as an open-minded entity to enhance Whiteman, instead became a focus of political commotion during its June 2021 to February 2023 run. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, after condemning the airport, appointed roughly half the committee; Whiteman stakeholders were allowed only two seats of 20. Predictably, Rodriguez’ actions left the advisory committee unbalanced, biased and in turmoil.
In January 2022, Pacoima Beautiful executive director Veronica Padilla-Campos and Champions in Service president Bobby Arias – two members of the advisory group – dismissed neutrality to instead advocate closing Whiteman in an event organized by Pacoima Beautiful. Various community members expressed outrage at Padilla-Campos and Arias’ actions, but neither member apologized or resigned. Instead, both remained on the CAC.
These actions are unsurprising: Padilla-Campos’ Pacoima Beautiful commissioned a developmental survey of the airport land in 2019. Although a member of the SCAQMD, Padilla-Campos has never acknowledged its exculpatory findings about Whiteman. Bobby Arias, who credited Whiteman-based firefighting helicopters with saving his home twice, downplayed the airport’s importance and frequently attacked public speakers supporting the airport. Campaign finance records reveal Arias donated to Monica Rodriguez’ 2022 reelection bid while on the advisory committee.
As Nury Martinez once led Pacoima Beautiful, it is not difficult to imagine the group following in her underhanded footsteps. Angelenos have a right to suspect backroom plotting. Given past events, under the table dealings targeting Whiteman Airport for development and profiteering are a very real and likely possibility.
Matthew Stone
Simi Valley
Matthew Stone is a licensed pilot who has flown from Whiteman Airport extensively but has no professional or institutional affiliation with the airport.
Absolutely 100% correct. It is time for everyone interested in the truth to denounce disinformation when it surfaces from those who suggest they are our representatives.