San Diego District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner hosted a second University City community meeting Thursday, Jan. 22, in an effort to allow residents a forum to vent frustrations stemming from the Dec. 8 F/A 18 plane crash that killed four family members and demolished two homes. At about 11:58 a.m. Dec. 8, a Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar pilot ejected safely from an F/A 18 plane, but the military aircraft crashed into one home at 4416 Cather Ave. in University City, killing a woman, her mother and two children and demolishing two UC homes. The aircraft was just two miles short of the air base. Although Lightner said the meeting wasn’t intended to dispense information, MCAS Miramar Commanding Officer Col. Chris O’Connor attended, answering questions and offering information regarding the current status of the investigation. “Our condolences go out to those who’ve suffered. We’re assisting with claims and cleanup is going well,” O’Connor said. O’Connor said soil samples taken from the area revealed elevated levels of hydrocarbons from jet fuel. “We’re working with city and county officials [to clean the soil],” Ma. Jay Delarosa said. Regarding alternate flight paths, O’Connor said officials plan to analyze and make adjustments during the ongoing JAG investigation. Three families are not back in their homes and two homes are destroyed, O’Connor said. O’Connor said military officials plan to increase operations around MCAS Miramar. “The pilot is doing well physically but has not returned to flight status,” O’Connor said. “We are committed to having continued dialogue with the community.” UC resident Stephanie Jed said a group of citizens hired an attorney in Washington in an effort to seek information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). “It’s important for our community to have all the information that we need,” Jed said. Other residents asked O’Connor whether the pilot should have landed the plane at North Island or ditched it over the Pacific Ocean. Others asked if the pilot was training. “Miramar was a secondary diversion,” O’Connor said. “Was he a qualified pilot? Absolutely. He was a qualified pilot …” O’Connor said more than 79,000 planes fly at Miramar but only 137 fly over UC. “We’ve done everything we could possibly do to mitigate and be good neighbors,” O’Connor said. “The investigation is going to find out exactly why [this happened].” The crash demolished the home of Sunny Zhuang, where she lived with her husband and two children at 4406 Cather Ave. Zhuang pleaded for answers during the meeting. “The Marines asked for our insurance and it’s not enough. I have no money to pay the rental,” Zhuang said. “I worked at a biotech company and they laid me off. Only me. I called the city for help, and they said I have to call the Marines.” Zhuang said she sent hundreds of e-mails to officials. “I thought we had a policy that would take care of everything. If our daughter’s classmate didn’t open her home after Dec. 8, we would be homeless,” Zhuang said. Zhuang stood in front of her neighbors. “Please give me advice,” Zhuang said. Zuang said her family doesn’t have enough money to cover a rental home. But Delarosa said there are resources available, Zhuang just needs to ask. “Her and her husband have been in daily contact with Major Crandall. We’ve been working with her closely. She has been through a lot,” Delarosa said. “Obviously we can’t influence her place of employment, but when it comes to her house it’s definitely a matter of the insurance company doing the evaluation.” Delarosa said the Marine Corps has provided assistance, and if the family was staying in a hotel the military would pay for it. “To assist with immediate care and comfort needs, we’ve provided $3,200,” Delarosa said. Military officials have also worked with the State Department to help the families get documents lost in the crash, Delarosa said. Various groups initiated funds for the crash victims. Dong Yoon’s church established a memorial fund for the Yoon family. Checks should be made to Dong Yun Yoon and sent to Korean United Methodist Church, 3520 Mount Acadia Blvd., San Diego, CA 92111. UCCA set up a fund for families affected by the crash. Gift cards may be sent to UCCA – Families, 3368 Governor Drive, #1221, San Diego, CA 92122. Or e-mail car [email protected].