In our view, inviting a customs/federal inspection facility at Long Beach Airport would dramatically increase the risk to the only thing -- the only thing -- that currently protects Long Beach from the multiple negative impacts above: LB's Airport ordinance.

Of course some will mindlessly view a customs facility as a cool way to hop a flight to Cancun. They are oblivious to what should be obvious: for the first time, multiple cargo and passenger carriers operating from Asia and Latin America will have an incentive to view Long Beach as a potential doormat, to pursue flight slots at LB Airport, creating a level of pressure that Long Beach hasn't faced previously. That could put at risk the Airport ordinance that is the only thing protecting the city from the multiple damaging impacts above

Of course local politicians will pledge fidelity to the Airport ordinance, but their actions speak louder than words if they enable actions that undermine the ordinance. We don't hold JetBlue responsible for any of this; the company is pursuing its self-interest. We hold those inside City Hall (we'll dig until we find out how high it goes) who are enabling what has taken place 100% responsible. Keeping a major envisioned public policy change secret from the public leading up citywide elections shows how cynical some inside LB City Hall really are.

In our view, their actions are recklessly risking Long Beach property tax revenue, which is the city's first or second largest General Fund revenue source (depending on the year.) Property taxes pay for police, fire, parks and library services that under federal law Airport revenue can't and doesn't. Putting this revenue stream at risk is insane. Fliers may enjoy the convenience, but residents receive mainly revenue crumbs: spin-off pennies from sales taxes and a bit more from hotel room tax (if fliers stay here which most don't.) Do you want to live in the next regional Newark?

Long Beach's airport, if rendered uncontrollable, can damage parts of East Long Beach, Bixby Knolls and beyond much as Long Beach's seaport damaged parts of West Long Beach and beyond. New airports are built away from cities. Long Beach Airport is in the middle of a city. Residents here already endure pollution from four encircling freeways, the largest seaport complex in the country plus cargo-carrying trucks and railroads. We believe no other community in America faces the magnitude of cumulative environmental injustices that an uncontrolled airport would add to Long Beach.

Long Beach has a history of costly self-inflicted wounds. Stopping this latest one will require principled taxpaying residents to show greater wisdom and civic responsibility than those whose who'd let corporate interests trump public interests.

Long Beach has, quite literally, everything to lose in what some at City Hall are inviting. Uncontrollable growth is the definition of malignancy. That hasn't happened at Long Beach Airport yet...although in our opinion the actions of some at City Hall appear to be recklessly inviting it.

Opinions expressed by LBREPORT.com, our contributors and/or our readers are not necessary those of our advertisers. We welcome our readers' comments/opinions 24/7 via Disqus, Facebook and moderate length letters and longer-form op-ed pieces submitted to us at mail@LBReport.com.