Judge Has Not Yet Ruled On Injunction Against Ousting The Businesses

The Santa Monica City Council has decided to put its fight to oust two FBOs from Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) until after the holidays, which has airport opponents concerned.

A superior court judge was to have issued a ruling a week ago on a preliminary injunction that would stop the city from evicting Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers, the two FBOs offering services at the airport. But with no ruling yet, Nelson Hernandez, the senior advisor on airport issues to City Manager Rick Cole, said that the city and Atlantic Aviation had jointly decided to postpone further action on the matter until January 3.

The Santa Monica Lookout reports that the reason for the pause is negotiations for a "standstill" agreement that is being hammered out by the city and the FAA. Attorneys representing the FBOs told Superior Court Judge James Chalfant during the hearing December 1 that the FAA is working on such an agreement with the city that would allow the FBOs to continue to operate as normal until the FAA and the city resolve their differences over when the city could be allowed to close the airport. The city wants the airport closed by June 30, 2018 if they are legally able to do so, but the FAA contends that the city is obligated to operate the airport at least through 2023.

The pause has raised concerns with vocal anti-airport factions that the city is losing its resolve in the fight to close the airport as soon as possible, according to the report.

(Image from file)

FMI: http://casmat.org, http://www.santamonicaairport.info, www.smgov.net/departments/council