New congressional committee formed on Santa Cruz County jet noise

Fed up with big planes rattling their neighborhoods, residents with Save Our Skies said they finally feel like their voices are being heard.

On Monday, Congress announced the formation of the new Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals.

“Our hope is that they will come up with a very sound proposal. It’s going to take time, the FAA moves very slowly but we are cautiously optimistic to say the least,” said Paul Meyer, the co-chair for Save Our Skies.

Meyer said Save Our Skies formed last March after residents from Capitola to the Santa Cruz Mountain and even in the south San Francisco Bay Area started noticing jets flying over their homes.

“Suddenly I’m out in the garden and it sounds like an airport,” said Meyer.

That’s why Rep. Sam Farr from the Central Coast and two Bay Area representatives are forming this new committee. It’s made up of 12 local and Bay Area elected officials. The plan is to look for solutions and act as a voice for impacted communities.

“The FAA needs to sit down at the table, which they are willing to do now, (and) have a discussion about what we can do, how we can improve it. I believe there is a solution that will be had from this meeting,” said Ed Bottorff, the Mayor of Capitola.

Bottorff is one of four Santa Cruz County officials on the new committee.

“It’s important that those four members are in harmony representing Santa Cruz County and that we can send a strong message to the FAA that this noise is unprecedented, it’s not acceptable, and that we are in unison to try to come to a remediation,” said Bottorff.

Save Our Skies said this is still just another step but they will continue fighting for quiet.

“These jets start flying in 12:30, 1:30, waking you up, shaking your house, people are upset,” said Meyer.

The new committee is expected to have its first meeting sometime this month.