From Maria Reyes of Cassell Community.

Racial discrimination is a deliberate choice to deposit toxic waste and install polluting industries in communities of color.  Cassell Community falls this category.  

For approximately 82 years, Cassell Community and others, have been subjected to:

1.  Lead stemming from the leaded fuel used by pilots flying in and out of our community.  
2. Noise pollution - this airport is open 24/7.
3.  Increased aircrafts - in 1963 the goal was to limit the possibility of large or jet aircrafts from using GA airports today there are over 300 aircrafts at this airport.
4. This airport would be self-supporting according to the five year plan (1965-1970)
5. The original acreage of this airport was 57 acres - today it’s 180 acres

Today, I believe there needs to be a full and complete review as to the needs for keeping this airport open.

1.  This airport is now in the middle of a large housing community.  There are approximately 52,000 residents living around this airport.
2. 17,000 of our minority children were exposed to elevated lead levels.  Has the county done a follow up with these families?
3. This airport continues to drain our economy.  Money is “loaned” from the General Fund to sustain this airport even thought they have multiple flight schools.
4. Noise causes neurological problems for our families.

I am seeking the follow remedies for Cassell Community.

1.  Our Redwood Trees should remain as is.  No topping.
2. Eliminate night flying between 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
3. Restriction of aircrafts weighing over 2,500 lbs.
4. Provide an Environmental Study for the quality of our air and land due to lead.  The National Environmental Policy Act requires environmental reviews along with pubic input.
5. Provide on-going health treatments for every family who tests positive for lead in their body.

Our communities should no longer be impacted by the negative issues created by this airport.  We deserve clean air, quiet skies and a lead free sky.

Flying is a luxury - Breathing clean air free air is a necessity.

Around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, a small aircraft attempted an emergency landing and crash-landed onto a soccer field in Heartwell Park, located near Carson Street and Woodruff Avenue in Long Beach.

The plane ended up on its belly with broken landing gear, though the fuselage was reported intact.

At the time of the crash, people were in the park using adjacent soccer and softball fields. One woman in her 40s was struck by the plane as it crashed/landed.

The pilot — described as an “elderly male” — was also hospitalized. Both he and the pedestrian were treated for moderate injuries and listed in stable condition.

Flight-tracking data show that the plane had taken off earlier from French Valley Airport (Murrieta) around 3:40 p.m., and was en route toward the Long Beach Airport when the emergency landing occurred.

The aircraft is reported to be a home-built (or experimental) two-seat type, registered to a pilot in Rancho Palos Verdes, and described as a “Long-EZ” model (or similar) of 1986 origin.