Records show Surf Air owes county $328,371 in taxes

There are repercussions when we regular people don't pay our taxes. Penalties, fees, property in tax default, foreclosure, auction. Even the trolls that visit this dialogue must agree that something is wrong with this picture. The airport wants to maintain a successful airport and the County does not enforce the law. Where do we sign up for this privileged exception to the laws?

SEE QUESTIONS FOR SURF AIR (BELOW) POSTED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF AN OCT. 5th ALMANAC ARTICLE – “SURF AIR TO RETURN TO SAN CARLOS AIRPORT…” Perhaps one of the questions was partially answered in this latest article, that Surf Air may be getting it's PC-12s back. But we're awaiting a response to the other questions, below.

Posted by Q&A
a resident of another community
on Oct 8, 2018 at 10:14 pm
Hey, Surf Air spokesperson! Some questions for you: You mention in The Almanac article that “We’ve worked closely with the community…to identify ways to reduce our noise footprint, which we believe we’ve addressed by modifying our schedule and using a quieter type of aircraft.” Can you provide details? Like, how exactly will you be modifying your schedule and reducing your noise footprint? What type of quieter aircraft will your airline be flying over Peninsula communities? And who have you worked closely with in the community?

And one more question. According to The Almanac article, Surf Air is asking for the “return of the PC-12 turboprop planes” in a pending lawsuit. So, if Surf Air gets those planes back, the planes you were using before you suspended service at San Carlos Airport, will your airline be using those PC-12s or “a quieter type of aircraft?”

Looking forward to your response

"We're obviously concerned about our neighbors, but also trying to maintain a successful airport," Kelly said.

Kelley, do you mean that the airport wasn't successful before surf air existed for over 50 years? The airport is only successful because of surf air?

Also, thanks for the concern! The bay area people are concerned with you and wanna know when this place will be shut down as well!

If Surfair owes the taxes, they shouldn't be allowed to use the airport until they make their debt current.

Since it’s possible there may not be a response to various questions posed in our previous posts here in The Almanac -- we’re not aware of a response, so far – we have another question:

Surf Air has said (see Q&A's comment posted above): “We’ve worked closely with the community…to identify ways to reduce our noise footprint…” So we asked previously, along with other questions, for details regarding who Surf Air has been working closely with. Can something about that be provided? Maybe something about community groups Surf Air has reached out to? Or something about individuals in Peninsula communities the airline has been working with? That's another question for Surf Air.

Here’s another question one could ask Surf Air:

While people who’ve signed up to travel on your planes would naturally be thrilled at the prospect of renewed service at San Carlos Airport, are you worried about people in Peninsula communities who have been expressing concerns about noise and other matters? You’re serving some 5,000 members, isn’t that the number reported in news media? But haven’t media also reported some 150,000 people in communities along your route impacted by your planes? Doesn’t this suggest you’re going to be facing ongoing problems?

A company that owes 328K in back taxes to the county, and 2.3M in taxes to the federal government....is that the type of company that should be allowed to come back??? Amazing.

I believe a Surf Air PC-12, operated by Advanced Air, just took off from San Carlos bound for Santa Barbara.

Make em pay!

Latest press on Surf Air- Sounds like a scheduled airline to me...Web Link

That damn airport should be closed for good.

OK. everyone here.

Now, SQL airport responded: they don't care (Web Link
). expected response.

I think (1) something needs to be done to rally the people and broadcast the noise complain website (You couldn't find it unless you search for it) and the significance for them to complain there. (2) anyone tell me why this clamthesky (Web Link not doing anything meaningful? (3) If surf air operates with a large tax debt, they could be sued, right?

"A considerable number of complaints they receive come from a handful of addresses. For this month to date, the administration has received 315 complaints from 37 distinct individuals or addresses."

Wow. Really bothering "a lot" of people. Not.

To Menlo Voter:

Don’t worry. This number will be back after Surf air is back. In May when this rubbish was still operating, the number was a few thousand.

I would suggest sending large amounts of letter to increase awareness of the noise complain website for local people and let them know the existence of that website. Very few people knows that.

Justin:

a few thousand complaints by a couple hundred people. Still doesn't meet the disturbing a lot of people threshold.

Local government officials look at the $45-50 million San Francisco owned and operated SFO contributes to the city's general fund and think it is a good idea to go into the aviation business.

Unfortunately when government goes into business, they frequently use their governmental powers to support their industry partners, undercut competing businesses, and reward political cronies.

When San Mateo County decide to tax instead of regulate Surfair, they essentially decided to become business partners with Surfair. Now San Mateo County has a deadbeat business partner and is doing everything it can to save their business.

To Menlo Voter:

You are assuming that everyone knows the website, which is not the case. I already saw enough complaints and discussions from other websites such as Nextdoor. With such limited amount of awareness on this website and the no follow up from the airport which caused people to feel that website is useless, you still got a few thousand complains, then, that’s a lot.

The awareness of that website is a problem which could be solved by broadcasting through letters.

Let’s not go back and forth on this again. Agree that something needs to be done and people have to be more organized, instead of fighting individually, to close the airport for good.

Justin:

as I've said before, if you want to close the airport you're going to have to wait 20 years. The county has taken money from the FAA and is REQUIRED to keep the airport open for the next 20 years. So, you keep tilting at windmills for the next 20 years and IF the county doesn't take any more FAA money in the interim you may be able to get SQL closed 20 years from now. Good luck.

If you want to shut down the airport don't wait 20 years. Start now by demanding that your elected officials take responsibility for managing these municipal assets instead of shirking their responsibility by selling control of the airport to the FAA and then hiding behind the FAA's apron when they can't handle the heat.

Remember, the FAA has control of your airport because your elected officials SOLD their rights and responsibility to control your airport to the FAA.

"Remember, the FAA has control of your airport because your elected officials SOLD their rights and responsibility to control your airport to the FAA."

Yep. Sold them for 20 years. Demanding those politicians do something now is a waste of time.