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Garcetti Replaces Most of Airport Commission

New Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti this afternoon announced his appointments to the Board of Airport Commissioners, with only one holdover kept from the Villaraigosa administration. It was expected that Garcetti would name his own commissioners soon after taking office on July 1, but the appointments also come as Los Angeles World Airports, which the commission oversees, has come under fire for its reliance on outside consultants to manage construction at Los Angeles International Airport. The agency also is fighting with surrounding neighborhoods over plans to relocate an important runway. The furor prompted the commission last week to delay a vote on nearly $200 million in construction management contracts. New City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the area around the airport, has called for a review of the city’s procedures for how it selects and retains outside airport consultants. LAWA also owns and operates L.A./Ontario International Airport and Van Nuys Airport. “LA’s airports are a critical economic engine and our city’s first impression for millions of visitors every year,” said Garcetti, in a release announcing the new commission. “I’m pleased to appoint these talented Angelenos to the airport commission and know they will focus on ensuring L.A. has world-class airports that are also first class neighbors.” Valeria Velasco, a Playa del Rey estate planning attorney and member of the LAX/Coastal Chamber of Commerce, is the sole holdover from the old commission. New appointees include: Sean Burton, president of Westwood real estate investment firm CityView; Gabriel Eshaghian, vice-president of acquisitions and development with real estate investment company Somerset Group; former California State Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg; Bea Hsu, vice president of development for developer Related California and a former senior advisor to Garcetti; Matthew Johnson, managing partner of entertainment law firm Ziffren Brittenham LLP; and Cynthia Telles, a veteran civic leader and founding board member of the Public Policy Institute of California.

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