It Figures That A Politician Would Utter Such Nonsense

In yet another example of anti-airport propaganda, it seems that the opposition to Stuart, FL's Witham Field is getting a little out of control. Some Martin County (FL) Commissioners are pushing for a change in the future direction of Witham that may include down-sizing or even closure. Due to pressure from home-owners who built their homes around the airport or moved in to the area with the knowledge that an airport was close by (as if they could miss it...), there is a push among some to get Federal money to buy out surrounding property to provide more of a noise buffer around the field. Others don't want to take the money, and favor the closure or severe restriction of the airport, instead.

Mind you, the airport's been there for some fifty years... so the johnnny-come-latelies assert that IT is the problem... not the fact that they chose to move next to an active airport that was (in most cases) there LONG before they were.

An anti-airport organization known as WAAM is also pushing for the down-sizing of the airport and the elimination of much of the economically desirable jet traffic that has come to use Witham Field for fuel, hangarage, maintenance and other needs (feeding untold millions into the local economy). WAAM has indicated such a downsizing would free former airport lands to be used for Office Buildings, a "Cultural Center", an expanded Golf Course or a Convention Center. Additionally; the organization openly advocates increased airport costs in the from of landing fees and increased fuel flowage fees. Anyone want to bet that there's a developer (or lawyer) or two working with this organization?

Sure sounds familiar, doesn't it?

While a $100K study has suggested that down-sizing or closure is not a good idea, the resistance to the airport is none-the-less taking on some bizarre attributes. Unfortunately; Commissioners are still looking at a number of unpalatable measures (apparently suggested, in part, by WAAM) to deal with the problems they think they have with a busy airport... such measures include closing/removing one or two runways, increasing a number of access or usage fees, and imposing mandatory noise rules.

While there are moderates on the Commission, most of them fear the legal challenges and costs associated with restricting airport access such as those experienced by Naples, FL, in their allegedly illegal bans on so-called noisy airplanes. The Naples fight has reportedly cost the municipality over $750K for the studies they used to validate their restrictions and over a $Million$ more to fight the legal challenges that have arisen as a result [Note: this is where the value of the Naples fight truly starts having some long-term value and truly pays for itself--E-I-C].

In a Palm Beach Post article published this past weekend, the anti-airport rhetoric took on hellish proportions. Commissioner Susan Valliere's district that includes the airport property, and reportedly believes that 'one of the only ways to slow jet traffic is to stop accepting grant money.' Valliere asserts that the use of federal money leaves the county with less control over airport growth.

She is particularly critical of the FAA, telling the PBP that, "The FAA is a demon... It's a branch of the government that's for aviation. It's not for the people."

How Ms. Valliere separates aviation (and the people who populate its ranks) from other "people" is a bit curious, but it's obvious that the political rhetoric in Martin Country is not only reaching new lows, but that politicians like Valliere have a strong anti-airport agenda in the works that is going to make the future survival of Witham Field questionable.

We'll keep you updated on this story as it develops... and if those demonic attributes attributed to the Federal government don't get in the way.

FMI: http://www.martin.fl.us/GOVT/depts/mca/, www.waam.ws/, www.movetheairport.com, www.sewallspoint.com/Friends%20of%20Witham.htm