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I was pleased to see strong community turnout and participation at last week's Vision Committee meeting pertaining to Metro's Sepulvelda Transit Corridor (STC) mass transit proposals.
For those seeking a copy of my November 2023 letter to Metro regarding SONC's voted-upon position regarding the STC, featuring our support for fully-underground heavy rail proposal Alternative 6 and our strong opposition to Alternative 4 which would require destroying several homes, apartments, and businesses to construct the mid-route tunnel exit, please click here.
In celebrating the new year, SONC at its January meeting will review several items which all pertain, in some form, to transparency.
The City Controller recently completed an audit of the LAPD Air Support Division, looking into the costs and operations of police helicopters, finding that in its nearly $50-million annual operating cost, helicopters spend just 39% of flight time dedicated to "high priority crime."
The Government Affairs Committee reviewed this audit and opted to forgo the more complex analysis of public safety strategy, and instead honed in on an issue we have spent a number of years addressing—air traffic that negatively impacts our community.
Our motion at the January 8 board meeting will propose several methods of addressing this issue of harmful air traffic relative to LAPD helicopters not engaged in priority incidents which sometimes see these aircraft at altitudes of less than 1,000 feet above Sherman Oaks residences. This is not healthy nor safe and must be addressed.
SONC will also take up the issue of General Public Comment at City Hall after noticing that City Council has opted to move General Public Comment from the beginning of meetings to a time significantly later on the agenda.
Several years ago, the SONC Executive Committee rearranged our own board agenda to move General Public Comment from its prior position after ordinary business to an earlier time in our meetings and our current motion will similarly propose City Council take a like action.
Finally, as we have previously done with Van Nuys Airport, SONC will consider a motion relative to an environmental assessment at Burbank Airport and a desire to extend the public comment period so the community has sufficient time to review proposed actions.
Please see the below calendar for a list of upcoming SONC meetings and events. Always refer to the SONC website's calendar for up-to-date details, including a meeting location or virtual meeting information.
Thank you for your continued interest in the Sherman Oaks community. Stay safe and be kind to one another.
With Pride and Determination—
Lindsay
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