Resolution Passed Unanimously Saying Show Should Go On

The San Diego City Council unanimously passed a resolution Monday night calling on the Department of Defense to hold the Miramar Air Show this fall. While the show has not so far been officially cancelled, sequestration has forced the scrapping of dozens of air shows around the country.

The show is scheduled for October 4-6. City officials say $17 million in economic impact can be directly or indirectly attributed to the show.

U-T San Diego reports that the resolution was introduced by Councilwoman Lorie Zapf, who said that the city needed to be proactive in its efforts to be sure the show goes on as scheduled. During public comments, the council heard from Larry Blumberg, the executive director of the San Diego Military Affairs Council, who said that cancelling the show could mean the loss of funding for programs like childcare at the base for military personnel.

Council President Todd Gloria said he wanted to be sure that the council "weighed in decisively" to send a message to Washington that the city wants to maintain the air show.

The U-T San Diego news service reports that the Senate version of the 2014 Defense Authorization Act contains language requiring the Pentagon to consider resuming support of air shows cut due to sequestration.

FMI: www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil