10/7/2024: Vote NO on the deceptive and costly Measure TC
Measure TC contains a hidden poison pill
Measure TC amends the Torrance City Charter by eliminating Article 15. Article 15 accurately accounts for the receipt and
expenditure of tens of millions of dollars every year to operate and maintain our airport. Article 15 also sets priorities
for the use of the Fund and requires that all needs for airport operations, maintenance and development must be met before any
of the funds may legally be transferred to other purposes.
The airport is currently in terrible shape:
- Over half of the airfield lighting has been inoperative for over 4 years
- A key safety system is still missing 3 years after it was funded
- Critical runway markings are faded with age and nearly invisible
- Ramp areas are crumbling, causing dangerous damage to propellers
Measure TC eliminates Article 15
Measure TC completely eliminates Article 15 and, with it, all requirements on how the airport is funded and all constraints
on how the money is spent. Following Councilman Kaji’s proposal to study converting the airport property to a “planned
development,” this is a very concerning move!
Measure TC puts the future of Torrance Airport at risk
Without the protections of Article 15:
- The $40M currently placed every year in the Airport Fund can go directly into the General Fund and there will be no
public visibility into how it is spent.
- Operation and maintenance of the airport will no longer be a priority for these funds. The airport, if it survives,
will have to compete with other city demands such as the 2,800% salary increase for City Council (included in Measure
TC) in addition to staff pay increases and other City Council pet projects.
- We can expect further deterioration of airport facilities and its decreasing viability.
- Torrance residents will eventually see the completion of Councilman Kaji’s dense residential development of the airport
land.
VOTE NO ON MEASURE TC
Please forward this to all of your friends who reside in Torrance and ask them to do the same