PW_Plack
Active Member
Stan, everyone, the people who argue to close airports often try to use its costs as a justification, but it's usually really about one of three things:
(1) Alderman has a constituent who complains about the noise, but who moved in years after the airport was built, so he knows the noise argument is lame.
(2) Alderman has been lobbied, befriended or "economically incentivized" by a developer who'd like to get his hands on the property.
(3) Aldermen sees the potential for more local property tax revenue if the airport is turned into a Walmart or a condo development.
If there's a squeaky wheel in some town councilman's district, you may be able to find that person by researching records of speakers at previous meetings. If there's been a bribe, it may be beyond the ability of the individual citizen to find out.
Another tactic which might have been effective in this case would have been to get some of the farmers who'd pay the resulting higher costs of cropdusting to attend. Glad you didn't need the backup!
(1) Alderman has a constituent who complains about the noise, but who moved in years after the airport was built, so he knows the noise argument is lame.
(2) Alderman has been lobbied, befriended or "economically incentivized" by a developer who'd like to get his hands on the property.
(3) Aldermen sees the potential for more local property tax revenue if the airport is turned into a Walmart or a condo development.
If there's a squeaky wheel in some town councilman's district, you may be able to find that person by researching records of speakers at previous meetings. If there's been a bribe, it may be beyond the ability of the individual citizen to find out.
Another tactic which might have been effective in this case would have been to get some of the farmers who'd pay the resulting higher costs of cropdusting to attend. Glad you didn't need the backup!