Mayor-Elect Garcetti Faces Controversial LAX Runway Project
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — One major issue on mayor-elect Eric Garcetti's agenda is a controversial runway project at Los Angeles International Airport.
The Los Angeles City Council approved the $4.76 billion project on April 30, which is intended to upgrade the airport's layout to accommodate larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A380.
During his mayoral campaign, Garcetti told the council he's dead set against the plan, which pleased community activists like Denny Schneider.
Schneider said the expansion would be a disaster for the community of Westchester, which borders the airport.
"Those planes are going to be coming within feet of people's windows and I don't know about you, but when I see a plane that size, coming that close, I get concerned. Not even just for the fact that all the pollution is coming into their lungs, but just the safety of it," he said.
Business leaders, however, said the improvements will be a step in the right direction.
"We think that when mayor-elect Garcetti actually assumes office, he will be thinking about the economic vitality and what's best for all 4 million residents of the city of Los Angeles. I think he'll have to take another look at this particular project," said Gary Toebben, the president of the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce.
The city council votes on the plan again in June.
The issue could be made final before Garcetti takes office on July 1.
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