Asks FAA To Cut Off Funds For Airport He Previously Supported

New York Senator Charles Schumer (D) has asked the FAA to rescind $8 million it has set aside for Syracuse Suburban Airport in Oswego county, after helping make that funding possible. The FAA appears to believe Schumer was right the first time, and says it has no plans to remove the airport from a list for potential funding.

The inactive Syracuse Suburban in the town of Hastings has already received $3 million, and could get as much as $8 more over the next 5 years if the owners submit paperwork and follow through. “Syracuse Suburban will continue to be eligible for federal funds,” FAA spokesman Jim Peters told the Syracuse Post-Standard. “We believe having Syracuse Suburban in this part of the state would be a benefit to the national airport system.”

An investigation by the paper turned up evidence that the airport's owners, David E. Pizio, of Jamesville, and Kenneth V. Coon Jr., of Cato, collectively owe back property taxes in excess of $50,000. $34,151 of that is owed by their company, Gildner Road Associates, for two parcels that are part of the airport property and go back two years.

Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Pizio says construction delays have left the project low on cash. He says they are struggling to keep the project on track.

In an e-mail obtained by the paper, Max Young, a Schumer aide, said “We urged FAA to reject any future awards and instead to use their resources on busier airports that need help.”

FMI: www.faa.gov