(1) Lexington Minuteman
May 24, 2001
Meeting sent an important message
To the editor:
There was a large turnout for the May 15 Hanscom Field Advisory Commission
(HFAC) meeting at which representatives from the three airlines proposing
passenger service to Hanscom Field were present. The huge crowd of 500 sent
the big and very important message to the airlines and to Massport that
Hanscom is the wrong place for commercial passenger service. All of the
people who came deserve thanks from the rest of the citizens of our towns
who were not there. If we are not successful in stopping these airlines from
coming to Hanscom, there will be 70 arrivals and departures of passenger
airplanes.
The meeting had a different tone from the hundreds of meetings held with
Massport over the last decade. Instead of merely asking rational questions
and voicing reasonable concerns, people expressed their anger and their
determination to fight on. Some people who were there, particularly those
who have not experienced the years of testifying and negotiating with
Massport only to have those inputs ignored, have expressed regret that they
were not able to speak and some may have been uncomfortable with the lack of
usual civility. I want to remind everyone of the history of the communities'
dealings with Massport.
We were promised just a couple of years ago by the then Massport Director
that Hanscom would remain a general aviation airport. Two years ago Gov.
Cellucci said to one of our members personally that there would be no
infrastructure improvements to support commercial aviation. He had said on
previous occasions that this should be a general aviation airport.
These promises/policies/commitments have been repeatedly broken. Two summers
ago Massport unilaterally, without community input, applied for full Part
139 certification for the airport, which opened it up to uncontrolled
commercial aviation. We are now seeing the fruits of that action. There are
plans for over $1 million dollars in terminal and parking upgrades for
passengers and millions for aviation infrastructure upgrades.
We have communicated in good faith for 12 years (we spent 18 months working
on a binding agreement with Massport only to have them walk out at the end)
and we will no doubt continue to do so in the future. But right now we are
at the most critical juncture for this airport that we have ever faced and
these are times that call for more forceful voices and actions.
Margaret Coppe, Lexington
ShhAir Board
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(2) Lincoln Journal
May 24, 2001
Disruption at meeting is described
To the editor:
For those of you not present, after brief and completely uninformative
presentations by representatives of three airlines wanting to commence
service out of Hanscom Field, some of the 500+ meeting attendees staged a
demonstration which disrupted and ultimately stopped the meeting.
Many of us are, at heart, uncomfortable with such behavior. We are much more
at home with reasoned dialogue and discussion on this issue, but this has
not worked during the last 12 years with the broken promises of Massport
Directors who said Hanscom would remain a general aviation airport and Gov.
Cellucci who said he would not build the infrastructure to let it happen.
These promises/policies/commitments have been repeatedly broken. Two summers
ago Massport unilaterally, without community input, applied for full Part
139 certification for the airport, which opened it up to uncontrolled
commercial aviation. We are now seeing the fruits of that action. There are
plans for over $1 million dollars in terminal and parking upgrades for
passengers and millions for aviation infrastructure upgrades.
Airlines are proposing to come with flights that would result in 70 arrivals
and departures a day by next September. It is our worst nightmare.
How do you discourage actions, which you don't want? We've done it all:
carefully articulated our positions, negotiated with Massport for 12 years,
held rallies, protested changes, proposed alternatives, researched impacts,
studied alternatives, sued and more. People Tuesday night took it to a new
level, by working to influence airline executives and let them know that
they will face bad publicity and active opposition - with the message that
people out here are determined to keep this airport within the bounds that
are appropriate for this historic, residential area.
We must use all appropriate and legal means to get our messages to
decision-makers. No expansion or commercial airport belongs here!
What steps will you take when the bully Massport pushes too far. Will you
turn your back on Lincoln, sell out and walk away? Or will you enjoy the
convenient air services until they get too noisy?
What is your commitment to protect this place, your home, community, it's
vast conservation legacy and historic treasures, a place where your children
go to school, where you share the depth and breadth of your life with other
members of this community?
We must work together as a community and take action, or we will become a
Westchester, NY with 1 million passengers a year over our heads. It's your
choice.
Jim Henderson, Lincoln
ShhAir Board
======================
(3) Bedford, Concord & Lincoln Journals
Lexington Minuteman
May 24, 2001
Meeting was victory for democracy
To the editor:
Congratulations to all the steadfast and stalwart supporters of the efforts
to stop Hanscom expansion. The protest that erupted at the last HFAC meeting
was a major victory for democracy at work.
After 12 years of the communities' effort to engage in respectful, rational
dialogue with Massport, speeches based on tireless research, filled with
fact and reason, finally the peoples' voice was heard.
For those among us who did not have the opportunity to express their
frustration during the comment period, I understand full well your
disappointment. However, while your individual ideas did not have a chance
to be voiced that evening, our collective goal to keep airlines out of this
unique and cherished National Historic Park was well served by raising our
voices in unison.
In its dealings with the communities, Massport has been duplicitous, driven
only by its arrogance and greed.
On Tuesday, the 15th of May, as did the Minutemen on the morning of the
American Revolution, we, too, stood our ground, in defense of our democratic
right to self determination and of the park where it all began.
Joan Goldmann, Lexington
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