Panel Head Says He Was ‘Thrown Out’ of Post by Councilwoman

VAN NUYS —  The chairman of the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council complained Thursday that he was “thrown out” of his post by City Councilwoman Laura Chick, which aviation interests said was a move to increase the power of anti-airport homeowners.

George Jerome, unanimously elected chairman of the council by its members last September, said he is “utterly dismayed” by the action of the councilwoman, who appointed him to the panel after she was first elected to the City Council in 1993.

The panel’s chairmen in the past typically have served two or more years in the position. Jerome said he had expected to be reelected to a second term, beginning in October. But when he learned of Chick’s request, received in a letter last week, he said he abruptly canceled the advisory group’s monthly meeting, which was to have been held Tuesday.

“I am so shocked and so taken aback by what [Chick] has done that I simply don’t know how to respond to it at this point,” said a disappointed Jerome, who had worked to gain the group more power to resolve airport issues.

A pilot, Jerome lives in West Hills and has a computer-based business in Chatsworth. Only three other members of the 18-member council are pilots and only one of those has a business with direct ties to aviation at the airport.

Chick said she has not selected a replacement for Jerome but plans to name a homeowner, probably someone who lives near the airport.

Pilots and others say they fear such a change could tip the balance on the panel toward anti-aviation interests.

“We already have these extreme people on the homeowners’ side and we’re going to have another homeowner on there minus a pilot? It looks like the committee will be somewhat out of balance,” said Jon Rodgers, a legislative advocate for a pilots’ rights group.

A leading anti-noise advocate, however, said Chick’s action could bring better balance to the panel, which he said has been weighted in favor of aviation and business. Gerald Silver, president of Homeowners of Encino and Stop the Noise, said he had complained to Chick’s office about Jerome’s refusal to add some issues to council agendas, such as a proposed curfew on helicopters and increased restrictions on noisier aircraft.

“I’ve expressed unhappiness with the fact that important issues were not brought to the table,” Silver said. “There’s been some very stressful situations with George Jerome.”

Chick denied the action could change the balance of the committee. She said she is simply rotating membership on all advisory panels, which she attempts to do every two to three years with each of her 50 or so appointees.

“The reason I picked now is that Mr. Jerome is coming to the close of his term as chairman and it seems an appropriate time,” Chick said in an interview Thursday. The councilwoman said she sent a letter and left a telephone message on Jerome’s answering machine, hoping to meet with him privately to discuss the issue.

“I have known George for quite some time. I know his daughter and I went to high school with his wife,” Chick said. “He has done a very good job and is very devoted.”

Jerome acknowledged he was appointed to the panel after his daughter, Evelyn Jerome, served as Chick’s campaign manager in Chick’s first successful bid for office. Evelyn Jerome now represents airport tenants who are lobbying to ease restrictions and expand business, a position vigorously opposed by the most outspoken anti-noise homeowner representatives.

But Jerome denies his daughter’s activities influence his position. “What my daughter does in her profession bears no connection or relationship to what I do,” Jerome said, adding that the two “have gone to loggerheads” over issues.

“I would not compromise my position even for my own daughter.”

Jerome said he has sought to maintain a balance between homeowner and aviation interests through negotiations.

Others praised his efforts, including Chick. “He has done a very diligent and persevering job for me for over four years,” she said, calling the advisory panel “a very difficult group with difficult issues.”

Don Schultz, president of the Van Nuys Homeowners Assn. and a veteran airport noise protester, said he was surprised to learn of Jerome’s removal, calling the action “unfortunate.” Schultz is one of five members who have served on the panel since it was formed in 1985.

“I know chairing this committee is probably one of the most difficult things to do because this council serves as a buffer between the public and the Department of Airports Commission,” Schultz said. “We are on the firing line every month. It is unfortunate, because George is one of the harder-working members to come along in a while.”