Once upon a time, long ago but as recently as 2006, the City and County of Los Angeles had a pretty wonderful air show at the Van Nuys Airport. It attracted people from all over the city and the region. It was cross generational and attendance was a tradition for many people and families.
Air shows are a way to see some exotic hardware and learn about the history of aviation. Los Angeles was and is a center of aviation innovation and history. Many of the pioneers of aerospace such as Douglas Aircraft, Lockheed, TRW as well as hundreds of smaller companies were located here. It is right and proper for the city to host an air show.
So what happened? Apparently the city sold out the air show because rich people and corporations wanted more space to store their jets. The city said it did it for the money but some people believe the real reason was that they wanted to kiss the ass of their masters and show proper deference. After all who cares about a festival beloved by the citizens of Los Angeles? Certainly not us, the politicians thought.
If the city had really wanted money, all it had to do was to lease the space to the rich for 11 months of the year and have the air show during the 12th month when the rich would have to fly their jets somewhere else, perhaps the Bahamas, or the South of France or Bali. Or the rich people's jets could even be part of the show. No problem. But that is not what the city chose to do.
I have heard that the government of the City and County of Los Angeles is corrupt and there is evidence for that. But another explanation is that they are just not very good at their job and are indifferent to the lives and well-being of the people who for one reason or another have to live here. Our public servants are not pretending to be shallow and incompetent. They are shallow and incompetent. They are true to their values.
A visualization of private jet area of Van Nuys Airport courtesy of MidJourney.
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