There are three compelling facts about this issue. Some will dispute them but I believe most will not.
- Lindbergh Field is not able to meet the air transportation demands of the future when you look beyond 2025. And it takes at least 15 years to design, pass the regulatory reviews, and construct a new airport.
- There is no other viable site for a new airport other than the Miramar area. Other sites, military and civilian, are either too distant or fail on technical, environmental or economic grounds.
- Military planning changes often and dramatically. The history of Miramar itself demonstrates that. The future of new military aircraft at Miramar, in terms of numbers and timing, is uncertain.
- What do we do? I believe that all the parties involved in this issue should come to the table and work to find a solution that meets the needs and demands of all the parties. This is what leadership and teamwork is all about. It’s not about pandering to one special interest group over another. It’s not about sacrificing one group’s needs over another. It’s a difficult problem that will require a tremendous amount of energy to solve. Let’s get started on it today. Let’s avoid today’s freeway traffic congestion that was the result of failing to plan for the future; let’s avoid that congestion with our air transportation system by beginning to plan today for the year 2025.
Voting Yes on Prop. A moves us closer to that goal.