While the annual Pacific Airshow is typically a three-day affair, Huntington Beach officials want to expand it.
Organizers for the event are looking to start the show on Wednesday and bring back nighttime concerts among other events, according to a public study.
Not everyone is on board with the idea. The Coastal Commission and the California State Lands Commission sent a letter to the city saying they had issues with the 2023 show.
“Additionally, staff understands that the public Pier was closed to the general public on all three days of the event and that the event operator allowed access to the Pier through the purchase of a ticket sold by a private vendor,” the letter read. “While staff were informed by the City that public access to the pier would still be available during the event, photographs of the pier during the event do not indicate that public access was provided.”
The commissioners also claimed the low flyovers by the jets involved in the show “caused disruptions in the normal behavior patterns of many bird species.”
The commissioners say they're not trying to shut down the whole event; however, they want some changes made for the future.
One man out on the beach Tuesday morning told KNX News’ Jon Baird that while he thinks five days is too long, he does believe there’s plenty of beach for people to enjoy.
“There's enough beach here for people to have free access to the air show,” he said. “And for those that want prime seats, if it funds the air show have at it.”
Michael Gates, the attorney for Huntington Beach, told KNX News that when it comes to the air show, the city follows the letter of the law.
“It's handled in the same way as any other event and that it's handled in the same way as any other event in any other city and any other public park and on any other public beach,” he said. “So we are consistent and compliant with all laws.”
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