Letter to the Editor: Did taxpayer money save A-Rod's life?

Los Angeles Times

February 2, 2011 Wednesday

Dear Editor,

You hit the mark: Santa Monica should accept immediately the Federal Aviation Administration's offer of an "engineered material arrestor system," the barrier of crushable concrete mentioned in your editorial. City Hall had turned it down for the dubious reason that the FAA money might require the city to continue to support an airport in Santa Monica.

The barrier system works. The one installed in 1996 at New York's JFK airport has successfully stopped three aircraft, including a Boeing 747. The one installed at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport stopped New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez's jet during an overrun. These barriers are a proven safety enhancement.

Reynold Dacon

Santa Monica