The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA) announced a new president for its board, none other than Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian, in its latest shuffle of top-tier brass, as per a meeting dated July 15th. Najarian, who’s not new to the dance of civic service, having clocked in 19 years on the Glendale City Council, seems poised to give Hollywood Burburnk Airport passengers a bit more to smile about, citing a strong focus on enhancing the travel experience, according to a GlendaleCA.gov news release.
So what does it look like when a seasoned politician with a breadth of experience in the industry steps into the airport's cockpit? Significant considering Najarian's already lengthy resume includes a history of tackling transit issues across the region, most notably as part of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board of Directors and a seat on the Metrolink Board of Directors, where he served as Chair in the last year, and he's been in this particular game since 2006—a stretch by any measure. His lauded work as the MTA chair was just a chapter in a narrative that now continues as he steps up to manage the trifecta of concerns between air transport efficiency and the quality of life for the communities that call the airport's neighboring turf home.
BGPAA, a tri-city pact rooted in owning and operating Hollywood Burbank Airport, upholds a long-standing practice where, every July, new officers are voted in to steer the ship. The latest election saw Ara Najarian, alongside other key figures such as Burbank Commissioner Jess Talamantes as Vice President and Pasadena Commissioner Tyron Hampton doubling down as Secretary and Treasurer, with Commissioner Andy Wilson of Pasadena assuming the role of Auditor. The new president, elected to the BGPAA Commission in 2020, seems to have the vision to chart a course that respects the balance between thriving airport operations and the echo of its presence in residential alcoves.
To hear it from Najarian himself, the priority reads clear and community-attuned: “It's important to me that we balance the success of Hollywood Burbank Airport with the quality of life in our surrounding residential neighborhoods,” he articulated, hinting at a term ahead wherein the hum of jet engines might harmonize a tad closer with the heartbeat of local lives, the city's statement reflects. With such a charge, Najarian's presidency may signal a fresh altitude for airport authority – one that delivers not just passengers to their destinations, but also pilots an ever-responsive relationship with the residents of Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena.
