Sen. Inhofe: "I'm A Little Bit Ashamed Of Chicago"
The US Senate held a transportation funding
hearing in Chicago today during which the committee chairman
criticized Mayor Daley for the demolition of Meigs Field.
Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) did not candycoat his criticism of
Mayor Daley and the dark of night demolition of Meigs: "I'm a
little bit ashamed of Chicago right now."
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works, almost boycotted the senate hearing aimed at setting funding
priorities for federal transportation dollars. Inhofe - a private
pilot himself - called the mayor's Meigs decision an act of
"reckless arrogance."
"You know if you willfully go out and destroy infrastructure the
way that the mayor did, it's a little inconsistent to come back and
have a hearing to see what kind of infrastructure needs we have in
Illinois.” When asked if the Meigs controversy would affect
Chicago's chances of getting federal transportation funds, Inhofe
said "I hope not."
On The Other Side Of The Coin...
Chicago Congressman William Lipinski, a key transportation
expert on Capitol Hill, says he doesn't believe disagreements over
the closing of Meigs Field will jeopardize local transportation
funding.
Lipinski says he thinks the controversy over Meigs Field will be
“a tempest in a teapot.” He says the shuttered
lakefront airport is not a major cog in the area's aviation
machinery.
And, the Congressman says he's not concerned that
Oklahoma Senator James InHofe, in Chicago for that field hearing,
will thwart Chicago's requests for federally funded transportation
projects.
First of all, he says, Sen. Inhofe sits on a committee that
deals with highways, which is more of an issue for the State of
Illinois. He says he would be more concerned if the Oklahoma
Republican sat on a mass transit committee, since more of those
funds would be earmarked for Chicago.
Hopefully, Lipinski says, Inhofe will see that Meigs is closed
and there is nothing he can do about it. And perhaps he will be
generous. Lipinski told a City Club luncheon Illinois wants seven
billion dollars in transportation funds from Washington, though
current legislation would provide far less than that.
If You're Gonna Tear Up A Runway, Better Check With The FAA
First
As otherwise
reported, AOPA has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of
Chicago and the Chicago Park District over the demolition of Meigs
Field.
According to the suit, Chicago violated federal regulations by
failing to provide the Federal Aviation Commission with advance
notice before damaging a runway. The suit claims that lack of
notice created "hazards and inconveniences" for aircraft. The
lawsuit says the action also interfered with the FAA's statutory
obligation to evaluate the effects of the action on "existing or
contemplated traffic patterns of neighboring airports" and the
effects on the "safe and efficient use of airspace by aircraft and
the safety of persons and property on the ground."
A spokesman for AOPA told said the goal of the lawsuit is to
eventually force the city to fix the runway and reopen Meigs
Field.