Support soars for local control of Ontario Airport

6/20/2012

"The Set ONTario Free movement has exceeded our greatest expectations and
continues to gain momentum," said Ontario Councilmember Alan D. Wapner. "This
vital issue has united Southern California as never before. The resounding message
is that ONT will be better managed and operated, and make a greater contribution to
the regional economy when it is under local control."

The 110 major endorsements received to date are posted at SetONTarioFree.com.
There you can also view the resolutions, letters and a sampling of staff reports
associated with the endorsements.

An editorial published last week in the Pasadena Star-News, Whittier Daily News and
San Gabriel Valley Tribune said "...there is the undeniable fact that the airport
authority ought to relinquish control over the Ontario airport immediately so that the
Inland Empire hub can control its own destiny."
 
Earlier, the Los Angeles Times, in an editorial endorsement for local control of ONT,
said "...we can't see a compelling reason for L.A. to keep running an airport so far
away."

Typical of the governmental support rolling in, Monterey Park - one of 20 cities in Los
Angeles County supporting local control of ONT - said it supported the transfer of
ONT to local control "in furtherance of airport regionalization and the region's
economy."
 
A resolution adopted unanimously by the Monterey Park City Council called on Los
Angeles and Ontario to "commit the necessary resources and effort to affect the
transfer of ONT to local control at the earliest possible date."

The San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership - representing a broad membership of
businesses, local government, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations
- passed a similar resolution. It noted that after transfer to local control, ONT can
operate on the same basis as airports in Burbank, Orange County, Long Beach and
Palm Springs - as low-cost secondary airports under local control.

Public officials supporting Ontario include Congress Members Joe Baca, Ken
Calvert, Gary Miller and Jerry Lewis; State Senators Bob Dutton, Bob Huff and Gloria
Negrete McLeod; Assembly Members Wilmer Amina Carter, Tim Donnelly, Curt
Hagman, Kevin Jeffries, Steve Knight, Brian Nestande and Norma Torres; Los
Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, and Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.

On March 20, the Los Angeles City Council Trade, Commerce and Tourism
Committee approved two motions that prompted a formal review of Ontario's offer to
Los Angeles to retake control of ONT. The report and recommendation by City
Administrative Officer Miguel Santana will be issued this summer.

"Our comprehensive financial offer for local control of ONT will establish an airport
authority commmitted to restoring region's most important economic engine," said
Ontario Council Member Jim W. Bowman. "We are confident an in-depth, impartial
review of Ontario's offer by the Los Angeles CAO will validate the benefits to the
entire region, including Los Angeles, of effecting the transfer without delay."

For more information on Ontario's efforts to regain control of ONT, visit
SetONTarioFree.com, Facebook/SetONTarioFree, YouTube.com/SetONTarioFree or
Twitter.com/FreeONTario.