MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA ACTIVATES THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Mayor appoints Councilmember Rosendahl to serve as City of Los Angeles representative on the SCRAA Board
(Los Angeles, California - June 2, 2006) Demonstrating his commitment to the LAX Master Plan settlement agreement and upholding his promise to work to regionalize air traffic among Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and other Southern California airports, Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, joined by Congresswoman Jane Harman, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, today announced plans to re-activate the Southern California Regional Airport Authority (SCRAA).
The SCRAA, a Joint Powers Agreement between the County of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside County, Orange County and the City of Los Angeles, will work to regionalize air traffic among the LAWA airports and other airports in Southern California, formulate ideas to promote the regional dispersion of air traffic in Southern California and act as a key player in the joint-planning and joint-marketing efforts to help promote regional air traffic.
"By working together, we will accomplish our goal of regionalizing air traffic and making our airports better neighbors to our residents, all while remaining a vital economic engine for the entire community," said Mayor Villaraigosa.
"We face regional challenges at our airports and we need regional solutions to solve those challenges," said County Supervisor Don Knabe. "I am proud the City of Los Angeles recognizes the need to be part of this partnership and I look forward to working with the Mayor, the City and all of our regional partners on improving access to our airports," County Supervisor Knabe added.
In addition to announcing plans to activate SCRAA, Mayor Villaraigosa also announced his appointment of City of Los Angeles Councilmember Bill Rosendahl (CD-11) to serve as the City's representative on the SCRAA Board.
"I am happy to announce my friend Councilmember Rosendahl as my appointment to the SCRAA Board," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "Councilmember Rosendahl has shown his dedication to modernizing and regionalizing aviation in Southern California through his unyielding involvement with LAX and other airport issues. The Councilmember will bring this same dedication and commitment to the Board," Mayor Villaraigosa added.
"I thank Mayor Villaraigosa for his leadership and welcome the appointment as the City's representative to SCRAA," said Councilmember Rosendahl. "Today's announcement demonstrates that the City of Los Angeles will exert leadership in making regional aviation a reality. LAX alone cannot shoulder the burden. We cannot continue to squeeze 10 pounds into a five-pound bag," Councilmember Rosendahl added.
"What a difference a new mayor makes," said Congresswoman Jane Harman. "Bringing all the parties together will lead to enhanced security, better service, shorter lines, cleaner air and less traffic near all our airports," the Congresswoman said. "Antonio Villaraigosa and Bill Rosendahl both get that," she added.
SCRAA was established in 1984 and had a consistent run until becoming inactive in 2003.
