The West Hollywood City Council last night adopted a resolution proposed by Councilmember Lauren Meister that asks the Los Angeles International Airport be renamed in honor of former President Barack Obama.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson and the Los Angeles World Airports board of commissioners. LAX is owned and managed by the City of Los Angeles.
Meister said the proposal was a suggestion, not a demand. And she said that renaming the airport would be a good symbolic gesture in advance of the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles.
To date there are 11 airports named after presidents:
–John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – New York City
–John F. Kennedy Memorial Airport (ASX) – Ashland, Wisc.
–George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – Houston
–Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) – Washington, DC
–Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) – Grand Rapids, Mich.
–Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) – Springfield, Ill.
–Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) – Little Rock, Ark.
–Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) – Wichita, Kan.
— Jimmy Carter Regional Airport (ACJ) – Americus, Ga.
— Roosevelt Memorial Airport – Warm Springs, Ga.
–Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) – Dickinson, N.D.
A Los Angeles elementary or charter school renamed itself in honor or Barack Obama in 2009, or so. It had nothing to do with his non-affiliation to the area, but in recognition of his ascent to the presidency. I disagree w/the name change, but only because it doesn’t interest me. The fact that WeHo is a “progressive or liberal” city has no bearing on the fact that Mr Obama governed as a neoliberal. Admire the man, but making my case against the proposal. Ms Meister seems to enjoy making proclamations when she doesn’t understand what is behind the move/movement/statement. Ie:… Read more »
LAX is our international terminal and identifiable world wide. It is not named after any political affiliated individual. Let’s keep it that way! If you want to rename Hollywood, Obamawood that’s fine. Leave our landmark alone.
I suggest a left turn light at Crescent Heights and SMB. I suggest longer cutout for left turn lane on SMB and Fairfax. I suggest we look at city contracts and examine how much we over pay. I suggest we find a sidewalk power washing company based in LA county, not the OC. I suggest city council focus on real issues that effect real people. I suggest we cut out the waste and create a heritage fund to help aging WeHo residents in the event they lose their housing for one reason or another. I suggest the city compel MedMan… Read more »
Excellent suggestions Michael. You have very good ideas. You would make a good Council Member. I would love to see you express your ideas directly to the City Council at a meeting. Sometimes you have to look them in the eyes and tell them the truth, otherwise they don’t get it. If you don’t want to do it, I will do it for you.
For those complainers, do you know anything about West Hollywood’s history? This is a PROGRESSIVE city, and was founded, partially on those principles. One of the things that make me very proud to live here. LGBT rights, rights for people suffering with HIV, women’s rights, animal rights (e.g., a declawing ban and ban of fur sales), etc.. National politics are OUR business, and the local government can, has, and will represent the majority of the people who live here, who are progressive, and liberal. Don’t like it? Sorry, too bad. It is part of our culture, government, and it IS… Read more »
Randy, I agree with you, but non-City issues should be secondary or tertiary issues for the City. There are many local issues that require attention before County, State and National issues are addressed. I have lived in West Hollywood for almost 20 years, I have seen our City issues neglected while national issues are addressed.
This did not take much of the Council’s time, and there’s absolutely no reason why they can’t make political statements or requests like this. While also working on other things. I’m really tired of the “they should be doing this instead” argument. This cost the city virtually nothing, and virtually no resources, and just a little bit of time at a meeting. Also, have you honestly lived here for almost 20 years? I’ve seen previous articles about you that report that you lived in Las Vegas for many years. Could you clear this up, for your potential voters? What timeframes… Read more »
I guess no answer to this question, either. :/
Absolutely “No”! Stop pushing your agenda on other SoCal residents. Stay in your own city limits.
Great idea and bravo to the Councilmember for suggesting! Obama was an Angeleno at one point during his youth and his legacy means a great deal to West Hollywood and Los Angeles residents. The haters on here are likely Russian bots and Trump supporters that show up in the “threes” to host their pathetic pro-Trump rallies at San Vicente and Santa Monica randomly when Putin sends them push notifications via Instagram to do his bidding. Sad! Next up, maybe the City of West Hollywood should be thinking about naming an important civic structure after Obama or other civil rights heroes.… Read more »
Some names should remain the same. Everyone in the world knows what LAX is, why change it? It would be like changing the name of Christmas to “pretty pine tree day”. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
I agree with you about naming local structures after local people who have made a positive impact in West Hollywood, but get public input about them first
NO. AND. NO. AND. NO. And West Hollywood City Council needs to understand their place in the state, not the world and get its priorities in line. THIS GRANDSTANDING NEEDS TO STOP. GET TO WORK!
Obama only used Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hancock Park, etc., as his personal ATM machine. He gives no F8xks about Los Angeles.
And he was so anti-gay marriage before his 2nd term, remember that insult? So was Hillary for that matter, let’s not suggest her name as well please.
NO
No. Just …… no.
Everyone calm down. This is just a gesture of goodwill and just a suggestion of one city to another. I am sure it didn’t take longer than 30 minutes to write and pass. This occurs all the time between cities. It would be more appropriate if Honolulu considered this suggestion. Besides LAX already named the international terminal after Tom Bradley, so it would make more sense to name the rest of the airport after Mayor Bradley.
agreed.
Yes, there are a million other issues this council should be spending their time on rather than something on which they have zero jurisdiction.
If you want to name something after Obama, pick something within your own city limits. The library, a park, etc.
And maybe the Trump city dump!
That is the stupidest thing i ever heard. LAX it’s perfectly fine.
Stupidest thing you’ve EVER heard? Ever follow our president’s tweets?