By Matthew Stone
The San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol’s reporting on Whiteman Airport invites follow-up.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez has pounced on a contained runway incident to again fearmonger about Whiteman, calling for its closure. Likewise, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath has demanded federal authorities cease all operations at Whiteman.
Overwhelmingly, Angelenos mock both officials, ridiculing the logic for closure.
“Safety Advocates” Blocking Safety Improvements
Ironically, Whiteman opponents have sabotaged airport safety improvement efforts since at least 2011. Having blocked safety upgrades, these same airport detractors now demand action, hypocritically complaining improvements had not been implemented.
This long history of bad faith obstructionism from Whiteman opponents reveals “safety” is merely a talking point for them – neither a genuine concern nor an aspiration.
Supervisor Horvath has alleged “delay and inaction” by federal officials and questioned their commitment to safety – yet her own record paints quite the opposite picture:
First, since 2024, Horvath has prohibited the use of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding at Whiteman – interfering with and stopping many improvement projects.
Second, in May 2026, Horvath sought Public Works experts’ advice about enhancing safety at Whiteman and was advised about readily available FAA funding for improvements – but Horvath refused it: this is willful inaction.
The Barragán Redevelopment Plot: Chasing Dollars with No Sense
Previous reports discussed Angelenos’ fears of “deals [being] struck behind closed doors” as the actual motive of anti-Whiteman politics: these concerns are reasonable and well-placed.
Led by Roberto Barragán, his nonprofit ICONCDC lists for-profit redevelopment of Whiteman as a primary goal, citing a study it commissioned. While Barragán touts this study prepared by Ricardo Noguera as a blueprint for the future, its disregard for current realities, its speculative math and its deception about emergency services reveal it instead as a roadmap to ruin.
Increased economic activity represents a key part of his redevelopment pitch, with Barragán touting film and data tech industries as potential tenants. Although his report claims these industries are “already flourishing,” reality is very different: filmmaking in Los Angeles has declined and significant studio vacancies fester; meanwhile, many tech firms have shunned offices amid layoffs and remote work policies.
The Barragán plan to close Whiteman would eliminate ~$110 million in local economic activity and kill hundreds of current, established jobs – all to pursue Barragán’s personal, speculative ambitions.
Redevelopment costs – such as for land remediation and airport lease buyouts – could easily cost LA County hundreds of millions of dollars. Even under the most optimistic revenue estimates, LA County would wait decades to break even under the Barragán plan, much less see any profits. Considering current market conditions, the outlook looks even bleaker.
Closing Whiteman Undercuts Emergency Response
Barragán ignores the predictable consequences of airport closure upon regional emergency response and public safety capabilities: vital operations rely upon Whiteman and would be lost forever upon closure. Of course, none of these costs are addressed by his report.
Notably, in 2023, LA County Fire Assistant Chief Robert Gaylor testified that closing Whiteman would eliminate a critical facility – as showcased by its extensive use during the 2025 fires. Crucially, Gaylor also highlighted that airport closure would shut down the Whiteman control tower, eliminating LA County Fire helicopters’ ability to rapidly deploy from the co-located Barton Helipad and slowing emergency response times significantly.
Ignoring Assistant Fire Chief Gaylor, Barragán has continued to denigrate Whiteman, dismiss its importance and falsely claim Barton and Whiteman are wholly independent facilities – all to cloak the devastating effects of his redevelopment plan on emergency response. Barragán’s contention that firefighting helicopters would operate alongside his proposal is not credible. If Whiteman closes, Barton will be first hobbled – then eliminated.
Overall, the Barragán redevelopment plan is a high-risk, low-reward gamble which brazenly prioritizes profits over crucial public safety. Angelenos have little to gain and much to lose from this plan to sell out current infrastructure and undercut first responders.
Matthew Stone is a licensed pilot who has flown from Whiteman Airport extensively but has no professional or institutional affiliation with the airport.