They're like the energizer bunny...

"Jim Weir" wrote in message Jay said that the bitch bunch was the
university folks, so they HAVE to have a seat at the table.

Governor Jim, this might be the time for your 'run for office' lecture. If
Jay were on the commission, the airport's future would be more secure.

D.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:IMFzc.36228$2i5.28452@attbi_s52...
Why is the city providing any funds for the airport?

Why does government build roads? Or sidewalks? How is a runway
different
from a road?

Jesus, man, what kind of a stupid question is that? Is there a city road
in
any city in America that isn't built with public funds?

Is there a municipal airport in America that DOESN'T take public funds?

He said city, not federal dollars. Our city of about 100,000 has a self
supporting airport. Has been since the airlines started flying here. About
75 years ago.

If the local AOPA guy is not doing it for you, why not go over his head? I
gotta believe that SOMEONE at the AOPA would be eager to react to the
possibility of an Airport closure (even in Iowa)...

Good luck...



"Jay Honeck" wrote in
news:Pmuzc.55284$Sw.10947@attbi_s51:
snip
I know what you'll say: Call AOPA. Hell, they're no help -- our local
"representative" is a commercial pilot -- who, in 7 years, I've never
even MET -- who only wants that title on his resume. I'm at the
airport every god danged day of my life, and I couldn't pick this guy
out of a line-up... Helluva job he's doing.

We are soooo screwed.

What would it take to make the airport designated a historic landmark?


"Jay Honeck" wrote in
news:Pmuzc.55284$Sw.10947@attbi_s51:

Depression and despair rule the roost tonight in Iowa City.

After all the meetings attended, and all the editorials rebutted, and
all the interviews granted, and all the letters written -- our City
Council called a sudden, surprise joint meeting with our Airport
Commission tonight, and announced their intention of putting the
dissolution of our independent Airport Commission to a voter's
referendum on the November ballot.

This signals the end of our airport, plain and simple. The independent
airport commission was set up after World War II SPECIFICALLY to
protect the airport from the political whims and vagaries of subsequent
city governments, and now the council has indicated that they intend to
dissolve the only body that protects our airport from the land
developers and noise nazis.

I knew when I found the meeting agenda on the city website this
afternoon (posted just hours before the meeting) -- and it listed NO
topic for discussion -- that we were in deep ****. Boy, were we ever.

Upon hearing about this (almost by accident, from a connection deep
within the bureaucracy) I immediately sent a bulletin email out to the
"Friends of Iowa City Airport" mailing list -- but it was too late. We
only managed to get about ten members to attend, and there was no
opportunity for public comment. We just had to sit there and take it,
while they spewed their political lies and slanted bull crap about how
this change would "help the airport in the long run"...

I'm tired, man. We fight, and fight, and fight, and we defeat them at
every logical level, both publicly and privately -- and then they pull
together a sneak attack like this. Hell, even the airport manager -- a
city employee! -- didn't know about this meeting until last Friday, and
he didn't know what it was going to be about until he walked in the
door and was broadsided.

I know what you'll say: Call AOPA. Hell, they're no help -- our local
"representative" is a commercial pilot -- who, in 7 years, I've never
even MET -- who only wants that title on his resume. I'm at the
airport every god danged day of my life, and I couldn't pick this guy
out of a line-up... Helluva job he's doing.

We are soooo screwed.

Jim Weir wrote:

What part of "run for office" haven't you heard?

Perhaps he doesn't want to pay the price you did.

George Patterson
None of us is as dumb as all of us.

Jay Honeck wrote:

Depression and despair rule the roost tonight in Iowa City.
snip
We are soooo screwed.

I just came home from listening to Phil Boyer speak at the Hobby Hilton
in Houston, TX. This was my first Pilot's Town Hall meeting with him and
it came across as a positive experience. At least now I can say I've
heard him in person and I can say that I believe there is an effective
machine within the AOPA

I cant say that I agree 100% with AOPA on all the party-line issues, but
they do a fair job of representing or advocating for GA (versus big tin)
interests and I would say that I agree with the majority of what they
advocate for, and have no problem with my membership fees supporting
their advocacy.

While a cynic could conclude the session was rightfully a "pat myself on
the back" session, Boyer gave some insight to the recent victory that
saved Albert Whitted Field in St Petersberg (TAMPA), Florida.

Boyer talked about finding the voting bloc that made the difference, and
targeting them HARD. Rather than paying for broadcast network TV ($$$),
they send direct mail, they played radio and cable commercials on the
targeted demographic (in this case, older women who liked their
waterfront free of any new condo development) and on the day of the
election there was a landslide victory in favor of the airport (65-75%
for, depending on the ballot item)

To back up what someone else said.. FORM AN INTEREST ORGANIZATION. Get
it chartered now. At Whitted, they had TWO separate interest groups in
support of the airport that AOPA was able to ally with. Play the
historical end of it.. Your airport has been there 75 years. Play the
angle that the airport commission's sole duty and goal is to protect
that history while promoting growth in their town.

And if you cant find the existing ASN guy... say so. Tell AOPA we dont
know who he is, he doesnt show up and that you have a replacement who is
willing to take a proactive stance with regards to the position.

Good Luck Jay.
Dave

"Newps" wrote in message
...
He said city, not federal dollars. Our city of about 100,000 has a self
supporting airport. Has been since the airlines started flying here.
About
75 years ago.

Our whole country has self supporting airports.

Well, "supporting" varies... :-)

And I don't necessarily think this is a good thing. Too many landing fees!

Paul (UK)

Howdy!

In article ,
Jay Masino wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote:
snip
We are soooo screwed.

It seems like this is happening to airports all over the country. Very
few municipalities recognize their airports as valuable parts of the
transportation infrastructure. I fought similar fights for years at
College Park (MD) airport, then fought overdevelopment issues at Freeway
(MD) airport, and now I'm involved in the same type of attacks from the
City Council at the Ocean City (MD) airport. Write as many letters as you
can and speak at as many City Council meetings as you can.

....so where do things stand with Freeway? Did the county (state?) pass that
rule about density around airports? Or is Rouse still planning to put
houses on the extended centerline across Rt 50?

yours,
Michael (under the edge of the pattern and loving it)


--
Michael and MJ Houghton | Herveus d'Ormonde and Megan O'Donnelly
| White Wolf and the Phoenix
Bowie, MD, USA | Tablet and Inkle bands, and other stuff
| http://www.radix.net/~herveus/

I'm not buyin' it, Jay. You spend considerable time posting, and presumably
reading, here. That time could be spent schmoozing instead. And another thing
.... If the "university types" are the main enemy, you need to befriend/involve a
few of them as well as local officials and boosters.

Best regards,

Steve Robertson
N4732J 1967 Beechcraft Musketeer A23-24

Jay Honeck wrote:


Sadly, while our opposition is made up of university types, all enjoying
their summers off, the rest of us have to work for a living. Since Mary and
I work from 100 to 120 hours per week between us, plus trying to spend as
much time with the kids as possible, it's safe to say that our time
allotment devoted to the schmoozing of local officials and media types is
virtually non-existent.

I need to clone myself.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Michael Houghton wrote:
...so where do things stand with Freeway? Did the county (state?) pass that
rule about density around airports? Or is Rouse still planning to put
houses on the extended centerline across Rt 50?

To tell you the truth, I can't remember what Martha said in her last
e-mail message to "the group". I think they're leaving open space along
the extended centerline, but not as much as we'd like I haven't been
paying as much attention since moving my plane to Ocean City. I still
live in Bowie, though.

Michael (under the edge of the pattern and loving it)

I guess, as long as you don't mind filing a flight plan every time you
want to scratch your butt.



--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com