L.A. to Ask Alliance of Cities to Join Fight Against FAA
Condemned by federal officials for transferring $31 million from the Los Angeles International Airport, city officials said Monday they will seek support from the National League of Cities.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week called the transfer illegal and demanded that the city return the money to the airport within 10 days or face losing federal transit funding. City officials, who have argued that the transfer is legal, said they planned to get the National League of Cities to join their fight against the FAA.
“We need something to back our formal appeal,” said James Seeley, the city’s chief lobbyist in Washington.
Although the city has yet to formally request the league’s support, a league spokesman said the group, which represents more than 1,400 cities, would probably side with Los Angeles in the feud.
“As an institution, we support efforts to protect local prerogative,” said league spokesman Randy Arndt. “Certainly, Los Angeles is a very good and supportive member of the national league and we would be responsive to any request they have.”
Mayor Richard Riordan has argued that the transfer is the result of an agreement between the airport and the city that the FAA has no right to judge.
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