"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