Keep Santa Monica Airport Open After it Reverts to City Control in 2028, Says City Hall Rally to City Council

Hundreds of residents packed Santa Monica City Hall on the evening of May 12, 2026 (with the main public comment session spilling into May 13 coverage), delivering what organizers described as one of the largest and most passionate shows of support yet for keeping Santa Monica Airport (SMO) operational beyond its planned December 31, 2028, closure.

An overflow crowd of approximately 200 airport supporters, many wearing white "Keep Santa Monica Airport Open" caps and gear, filled the council chambers and lined up outside.

They were joined by 834 written letters submitted to the City Council in the days leading up to the meeting, urging leaders to reconsider the shutdown and pursue a hybrid approach that preserves aviation uses alongside expanded park space.

Supporters, including members of Spirit of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Airport Association, highlighted the airport's critical role in emergency preparedness.

Speakers repeatedly pointed to its use as a staging ground for aerial firefighting during the 2025 Palisades Fire and its support for law enforcement operations during the 2020 civil unrest. One resident shared a personal story of a donor heart flown into SMO two years earlier, which arrived faster than possible via ground transport or LAX and helped save a child's life.

Economic contributions also took center stage. Advocates noted that the 192-acre general aviation field is home to roughly 100 companies employing about 1,000 workers. They described it as a hub for innovation, including emerging electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft technology already operating in limited form at the airport. Proponents argued that preserving aviation could eventually ease pressure on regional roadways through short-range electric air mobility.

Additional arguments included warnings that closure could lift longstanding FAA height restrictions protecting nearby neighborhoods from high-rise development. Speakers also referenced scientific polling by FM3 Research showing that 67% of Santa Monica voters favor keeping part of the airport open while adding more community benefits, versus 25% who support full closure for a new park.

Opponents from neighborhoods in East Venice and Mar Vista pushed back strongly during the meeting. Dozens of residents voiced frustration over "relentless, repetitive" low-altitude pilot training flights using propeller planes, which they said operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. They described impacts on daily life, including inability to work from home, effects on children, and concerns about leaded fuel pollution. City Manager Oliver Chi acknowledged the city has limited control over FAA-approved training patterns and noted ongoing efforts to engage with the FAA on the issue.

The rally and testimony highlighted deep community divisions. The airport, which began operations in the World War I era as Clover Field and served as a major innovation hub (including the development of the Douglas DC-3), is subject to a 2017 FAA consent decree that allows the city to close it at the end of 2028. The City Council has reaffirmed this timeline and is advancing post-closure planning for a "Great Park" on the site, following a 2014 voter-approved measure favoring parks and open space.

Debates also extend to housing.

Groups like Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights (SMRR) are pushing for studies on including up to 3,000 units of affordable housing on portions of the land, while park advocates oppose changes to the voter-approved vision. The city's planning process has included dozens of public meetings and thousands of survey responses, with a draft framework dividing the site into interconnected districts.

Financial questions added another layer. Supporters challenged the feasibility of a full park conversion, citing city estimates of approximately $2 billion in costs against current reserves and ongoing budget deficits. They warned that without sufficient funding, the land could face pressure for denser private development.

The May 12 meeting occurred amid no formal airport agenda item, yet the strong turnout underscored growing momentum for advocates. Groups like Spirit of Santa Monica pledged to continue building coalitions and pressing council members.

As the 2028 deadline approaches, the battle reflects broader tensions over balancing history, safety, economy, environment, and future land use in one of Southern California's most contested sites.