For more than half a century, the Miramar Air Show has been one of San Diego's biggest annual events.
"When you go there, you see thousands of kids that would never have the opportunity to see planes up close," military spouse Kimberly Miller said.
But this year, the show is being threatened by budget cuts; the Blue Angels performance has already been canceled. MCAS Miramar is in Councilmember Lorie Zapf's sixth district, and she said loss of the show would cut much deeper than mere disappointment from enthusiastic fans.
“It's not just entertainment. It's not just tradition. It actually has a huge economic impact to San Diego," Zapf said.
Zapf said the show brings around $17 million into San Diego’s economy. Larry Blumberg of the San Diego Military Advisory Council said canceling the airshow would also impact money for on-base programs that support our troops and their families.
“The childcare, all the recreational facilities, the gymnasiums, the golf course...everything that’s funded by non-appropriated funds gets money that is generated from the air show," Blumberg said.
“When my husband was deployed, having these types of programs were incredibly supportive at a time when I felt like I was doing many things on my own," Miller said.
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On Tuesday, the city council unanimously passed a resolution to encourage the Secretary of Defense to allow the Miramar Air Show to take place in October. Zapf said it's a proactive measure to protect San Diego and its military families.
"We want to make sure that the powers that be in Washington know how important and critical it is for San Diego," Zapf said.
The resolution encourages the Secretary of Defense to restore defense funding and allow the show to take place. The show is scheduled for October 4-6.
