SF Resolution To Ban Blue Angels Fails

SAN FRANCISCO, Sep. 25, 2007 (BCN) -- San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly's hopes of halting the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels show from performing its aerial acrobatics over the city during Fleet Week crashed today when the board of supervisors failed the resolution.

Supervisors voted down the resolution just before 2:30 p.m. Newly appointed interim Supervisor Carmen Chu, who attended her first meeting today as the representative for District 4, voted against the resolution.

After a slight technical problem, Daly showed the board members still photos taken after fatal air accident, which occurred during a Blue Angels show in April in a small rural town in South Carolina.

"Beaufort, South Carolina has a population of 12,950 people," Daly said, "and when a Blue Angel plane crashed there eight people on the ground were injured. What would happen if this happened over a heavily populated area like San Francisco?"

Before the supervisors voted on the resolution, Daly addressed the board and reiterated the reasons he believes that the Blue Angels show should be halted.

Daly submitted the resolution because he said it is "not a necessary risk that the city needs to take." He believes that having the fighter pilot exhibition over a densely populated area like San Francisco poses an unwarranted risk to life and property.

"It is strictly for entertainment and an accident would cause significant loss of life," Daly said.

The Blue Angels had its first air show in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1946. About 15 million spectators see the Blue Angels in air shows each year.

Blue Angels' air shows have resulted in 26 fatalities nationally during the past 60 years.

The group's mission is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts. An annual tradition in San Francisco since 1981, Fleet Week this year is scheduled for Oct. 4-9. The celebration is held to honor those serving in the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps.

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•