In the South Bay city of Hawthorne, local elections can get downright nasty, but they seldom draw much interest beyond city boundaries. This time, however, the arguments extend through Southern California and reach even into federal offices in Washington.
An advisory measure on the Nov. 6 ballot asks voters to weigh in on the future of the city's historic but underused airport, located on 80 acres of prime property alongside the Century Freeway and about two miles east of Los Angeles International Airport.
Measure A, as it is known, has pitted aviation interests, who see the Hawthorne Municipal Airport as a vital cog in the region's--even the nation's--air transportation system, against Los Angeles developers. The builders are seeking to replace the airport with a "family friendly" open-air center of stores, restaurants and a hotel they promise will generate millions of tax dollars for public safety and schools.
Each side accuses the other of promoting outside interests and distorting the facts, including how the small airport fits into the post-Sept. 11 climate and whether closing it would lead to LAX-bound jumbo jets thundering over Hawthorne skies.
Hawthorne Airport is "our proudest and most precious asset. Don't let these out-of-town developers take it away," Councilwoman Ginny McGinnis Lambert recently implored voters in an emotional letter.
But Daniel Weinstein, one of two principals in Paladin Partners, the Los Angeles-based firm that wants to redevelop the airport land, countered: "Our opponents represent the old guard, and a few pilots who don't even live in Hawthorne, not the whole city of more than 80,000 people." He added, "They have made no positive arguments for keeping the airport."
Even the wording of the ballot measure has caused controversy, with airport supporters charging it is an unfair pitch for closing the nearly 60-year-old facility. Placed on the ballot by a 3-2 vote of the City Council, it reads, "Shall the city be directed to pursue the reuse of the property currently operated by the city as an airport to generate additional revenues, to improve education, police and other community services, to diversify the economic base, and to create jobs for the residents of the city?"
The battle over the ballot measure dominates debate in the campaign to fill two seats on the City Council. Four of the candidates support the development proposal. The other two candidates want to keep the airport open.
