In reply to 2021 Freedom of Information Act requests (FOIAs) asking for McClellan-Palomar info, the FAA finally coughed up about 3,300 record pages in Jan 2025. But only after this author sued in federal district court. An internal FAA WPR Director email produced, sent to 17 staff members said:
“HQ team, once again, Mr. Ray Bender, who has been granted media status from AFN, has tried to work the system by using said status to submit ongoing FOIA HUGE requests for McClellan-Palomar Airport (Carlsbad, CA), costs waived, WHILE sending letter to various FAA offices as spokesperson for the activist group Citizens for a Friendly Airport. … “ ***
We need to develop a response to his latest letter but more importantly we need to get a handle on this as no one has time and resources necessary to continue responding to Mr. Bender’s letter, particularly since we responded to him over the phone and in writing many times over many years. I need your help on this."
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[The FAA then deleted several lines claiming FOIA exemption (b)(5) for deliberative text.]
In essence, the FAA branded Bender as an FAA troublemaker trying to “work” the system to be “handled.” The FAA attitude flaunts the 2016 48-page FAA Community Involvement Policy; violates the FAA FOIA reply obligation because FOIA places no limit on FOIA requests or agency obligations to respond to them; and misstates the facts. Fairly read, the statement reeks of bias. It seeks to limit both FOIA and non FOIA info to Bender, to Citizens for a Friendly Airport, and to the community.
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Perhaps this FAA memo will spur you to donate to Citizens for a Friendly Airport (C4fa). C4fa won its 2019 Palomar suit. Suits are expensive. And C4fa members donate many hours of time to help the community. Consider supporting C4fas newly filed suit against SD County for granting a lease last month to American Airline (AA). AA will bring larger aircraft to Palomar despite the increased Palomar risks caused by the county now-closed, but still explosive methane-gas-producing landfills. And of course more noise over many houses and more grid-locked traffic on Palomar Airport Road if AA increases its flights. All this without County asking for Carlsbad approval and knowing that the Carlsbad Council adopted resolutions opposing the expansion of Palomar.
Your donations do not aid me. I am a retired LA city attorney and proceed with the above noted FOIA suit gratis on my own behalf.
