Van Nuys Airport Expansion

* Re “Opponents Challenge Van Nuys Aiport Plan,” March 8.

Roberto Manzano and Stephanie Stassel never addressed the strong emotions, if not anger, that permeated the March 7 meeting for the Van Nuys Airport expansion plan.

All but a couple of people spoke of the destruction of the quality of their lives under even present airport conditions. We spoke of our inability to sit outdoors and have a conversation, our inability to leave our windows open and even to keep our homes from vibrating. And yes, concern for our property values. But noise abatement was our primary concern.

Our pleas for fair and responsive controls on helicopters and jets roaring over our homes 16 hours a day have been met with a master plan that foreshadows a disastrous burgeoning of airplane noise over Van Nuys, Granada Hills, Studio City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Tarzana and the Cahuenga Pass. We were presented with a plan that increases helicopters and jets by more than 53% and will draw to its expanded facility many thousands of itinerant aircraft. Limp and nebulous designs for noise abatement were their solutions.

As to the airport’s argument of expansion’s positive impact on economic health (jobs) in the Valley, only one side of the issue was being addressed. The other side of the issue is how airport expansion will further impact on the already unacceptable quality of our lives and the decline of our property values.

Our need for noise abatement does not alter present-day economics of the Valley but expansion would affect the lives of tens of thousands of Valley homeowners.

S.J. (JAN) SHAPIRO

Encino