"Revisionist" And "Insulting"
(Though ours involve a certain expression otherwise known as "Bravo
Sierra...")
The city of
Chicago’s claim that Meigs Field was abandoned and had to be
cleaned up is an insulting, revisionist explanation that warps the
truth, says the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The claim
is contained in a response from the city’s attorneys to an
FAA investigation into whether or not Chicago improperly used $1.5
million in airport development funds earmarked for O’Hare
International Airport to pay for the Meigs demolition.
Chicago’s 40-page response in essence says the city
had no choice but to use funds not only from O’Hare, but from
Chicago Midway International Airport as well, to clean up the
"abandoned" Meigs Field or face a lawsuit from the airport’s
landowner, the Chicago Parks District. The Chicago Parks District
is ostensibly separate from the city of Chicago, but its seven
member board is appointed by the mayor of Chicago, and its current
superintendent is the person who oversaw the initial Meigs
demolition work as Mayor Richard Daley’s chief of
infrastructure and operations.
"This is yet another
insult. Our 400,000 members know this airport wasn't abandoned.
Meigs Field was willfully destroyed by elected officials using
public monies that were intended for airport construction, not
destruction," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We're analyzing the
city's brief to determine if there is an appropriate legal response
from AOPA. But it's clear that the city is once again engaging in
revisionist history and justification."
The FAA began its
investigation after AOPA filed a complaint saying that Chicago had
not given the required 30-days’ notice before closing the
airport. The agency found AOPA's complaint valid and has proposed
fining the city the maximum $33,100. Officials also notified the
city that they were looking into the possible diversion of federal
funds intended for O’Hare.
In its response, the city acknowledged that it formally notified
the FAA of the "deactivation of Meigs" on the same day the
demolition began – not 30 days prior, as required. The city
attorneys also acknowledged that a total of $2.8 million in airport
development funds from O’Hare and Midway were used for the
demolition project, but claimed there was precedent for doing so,
citing examples in Denver, Colorado, and Austin, Texas. What they
did not say in their brief was that in both of those cases, the old
airports were replaced with new airports, and the FAA had approved
the expenditure of funds in advance.
If the FAA determines Chicago used federal airport funds
improperly, it could fine the city three times the amount of
diverted funds. That could make the fine $8.4 million, in addition
to $33,100 for improper notification.
FMI: Chicago's Brief To The FAA