Let’s give legislation a fair hearing

Bedford Minuteman
March 28, 2002

To the editor:

I would like to comment upon the March 20 front-page story titled " Bill would take Hanscom out of Massport’s Hands. "

It is very important that we keep an open mind about this legislation, which proposes to transfer the supervision of the airfield to the Massachusetts Aeronautical Commission (MAC). We must a not reject it prematurely, before the bill has even been filed. I say this for the following three reasons:

1. As Sen. Susan Fargo states in the article, Massport indeed has a very poor record for listening to the communities. As the Bedford selectmen have accurately stated, conflicts and ongoing tension between the citizenry and Massport are undeniable and have been well-documented in this newspaper and elsewhere.

It is certainly possible that the MAC, which as a state agency is accountable to the people through their elected representatives, might be more responsive to the people. It is vastly more productive to petition elected officials rather than employees of an entrenched agency like Massport who is only accountable to the governor. Also, under MAC control, it may be easier to find a solution that transfers more control of Hanscom directly to the four surrounding towns.

2. This step is not one that would happen overnight. The process started by senators Fargo and Havern would allow plenty of time for the communities, HFAC and HATS to explore what benefits and potential costs may result from the change.

3. There is no reason to believe that MAC would seek to abrogate the current regulations at Hanscom governing the 60-seat limit on commercial passenger aircraft or the night landing fees. Why would the MAC go out of its way to court trouble, knowing how controversial such a move would be and how vehemently we would oppose anything that would increase Hanscom’s negative impacts upon Bedford?

There are many questions that have to be answered. Let’s give this legislation a fair hearing before we decide where we stand on it. Surely senators Havern and Fargo, who are clearly trying to do something to help us, deserve that much.

Lori Eggert
Bonnievale Drive, Bedford

and

Ron Green
Old Stagecoach Road, Bedford

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Bedford Minuteman
March 28, 2002

Time to put Massport out

To the editor:

Save Our Heritage welcomes the creative thinking senators Havern and Fargo have displayed in their proposal to transfer oversight of Hanscom Field from Massport to the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission. We especially applaud the proposed companion bill that would set up a study commission to consider options for the ownership and operation of the airport.

Massport’s domination over what historian Douglas Brinkley has called one of the "four or five most important historic sites" in America must be ended, one way or another.

The communities have wasted years trying to work with Massport. Massport touts its involvement in "public process," but in reality the public has no voice in Massport’s decisions — after the meetings are over, and Massport has pretended to listen to community concerns, it does whatever it wants.

A recent series of ads to promote tourism refers to Boston as "the place where patriotism began." That designation actually applies to, and unites, all of Greater Boston. We must never forget that the American Revolution began right here, on our own soil, on April 19, 1775. The true aura and spirit and feeling of that day are available to the millions of visitors who come to Minute Man National Park from around the world.

We who live here are the stewards of these sites, and we are duty-bound to preserve them unscathed for future generations. We will never be able to do that as long as Massport controls Hanscom Field, because Massport cares nothing for these historic and natural treasures — all it cares about is maximizing its profits. It certainly doesn’t care how many corporate jets shatter the tranquility of Walden or the sanctity of the Old North Bridge where the British soldiers are buried, or how many commercial passengers clog the historic Battle Road where Minutemen from all over Greater Boston came to harry the British troops.

The French government plans to dig up thousands of soldiers’ graves at the Somme battlefield to build a new airport. No doubt Massport would cheerfully do the same if it served its ends. It does not deserve to control an airport that so powerfully impacts the heritage of all Americans. We appreciate the senators’ efforts to begin the search for a better way — a way that gets Massport out of Hanscom for good — and Save Our Heritage will be working hard toward that same essential goal.

Anna Winter, Executive Director
Save Our Heritage

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