HAHN'S MESSY LEGACY LAX: FAA APPROVES MODERNIZATION THOUGH OPPOSED BY VILLARAIGOSA.

Byline: Beth Barrett Staff Writer

Federal aviation officials on Friday approved Mayor James Hahn's $11 billion plan to expand and modernize Los Angeles International Airport even as his successor, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, renewed his commitment to sharply scale back the massive project.

The Federal Aviation Administration's action on the LAX master plan sets the stage for reopening debate on the project, which got City Council approval last year as one of the cornerstones of Hahn's re-election campaign.

Villaraigosa, who opposed the plan and campaigned for a broader regional air traffic strategy, got a courtesy call from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta on Friday informing him of the FAA action.

The mayor-elect said he reiterated his opposition to Mineta to key elements in the master plan - specifically the most controversial and expensive, including a ground transportation center east of the airport, known as ``yellow light projects.'' He said he was told the approval means the city's proposed mitigations are sufficient to address the environmental issues but does not commit the city to doing the work.

``As it was explained to me, it's not critical. It doesn't as I said prohibit us from continuing to move toward ensuring the yellow light projects never become a reality,'' Villaraigosa told reporters at City Hall.

``My position is still clear: I don't support the yellow light projects. I believe we need to develop a regional approach to expanding airport capacity in this region and continue to work toward that goal.''

Villaraigosa, like most other elected officials, supports the proposed so-called ``green light'' projects, which include reconfiguring the south airstrip, a consolidated rental car center, and some transportation improvements.

It was widely believed around City Hall that the Hahn administration had pressured the FAA for the approval prior to Villaraigosa taking office July 1.

``Our timing was completely independent of anything going on in the city,'' said FAA spokesman Donn Walker. ``It was a pretty normal time frame.''

In a statement, Hahn said he was pleased with the FAA's decision and looked forward to ``working with labor, businesses, public safety officials and other stakeholders throughout the city'' in making LAX safer, more secure and convenient for passengers.

His spokeswoman, Shannon Murphy, said that while the mayor has always wanted to move the master plan forward, there was ``no additional effort'' to ensure it happened before he left office.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, who had urged Mineta to hold off on a decision, condemned the FAA action, said Edgar Saenz, her special assistant for airport affairs.

``She thinks the timing is strange, inappropriate and appears rushed when three days ago (voters) elected a new mayor who's been forcefully clear that Alternate D (the approved option) is dead,'' Saenz said. ``We feel it's unfortunate in the wake of this election.''

Saenz added that Waters also spoke with Mineta on Friday and was told the local FAA office already had ``pulled the trigger.''

That was consistent with statements by Villaraigosa, who said Mineta told him the decision was ``well on its way, and that they could not delay it, because it was already to be issued.''

Opponents to the master plan said they were optimistic that Villaraigosa would follow through with his campaign promises and not allow any momentum generated by the federal decision to sidetrack him.

``Obviously there was a lot of pressure put on the FAA by the outgoing administration. I don't think it was serendipity,'' said environmental attorney Jan Chatten-Brown, who represents the Alliance for Regional Solutions to Airport Congestion, a broad coalition of cities and community activists opposed to LAX expansion.

``Nothing compelled them to act in the time frame,'' she said.

However, she said the FAA's decision has ``no real legal significance'' in that it's an authorization, and not a mandate to move ahead.

``When a mayor (Villaraigosa) and council representatives are strongly opposed to it ... it's pretty clear it's not going to go forward as approved. We feel absolutely confident there will be a dramatic and very beneficial change in the plan at LAX, and a move toward obtaining a regional solution.''

Councilman-elect Bill Rosendahl, who will represent the district that contains LAX, said he was disappointed in the FAA's action, saying opponents would regroup to oppose beginning any `'yellow light projects.''

``It's not over,'' Rosendahl said.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who now represents the Westside area and brokered the two-tier project master plan, said she was ``thrilled'' by the FAA's decision.

``This allows breathing room.''

Beth Barrett, [phone]

beth.barrett(at)dailynews.com

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SOURCE: City of Los Angeles 

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