Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Motivated by self-interest, not historic preservation

By Craig P. Coy / Guest Columnist
(Craig P. Coy is the chief executive officer for the Massachusetts Port Authority.)

A band of professional activists did our community and our country a disservice last week by alleging that the Minute Man National Historic Park and the surrounding communities are "endangered" by a small airfield named L.G. Hanscom Field.

They talked about "sounding the alarm" that the "birthplace of patriotism, self-determination, and democracy" was being obliterated. Gathered at the Old North Bridge, they said that "225 years ago, we stopped an empire on this very spot" and that it was time to do it again.

When the groups did, through, was to hijack sacred American symbols in order to advance a self-interested cause by equating the first shots for American freedom with their own aggravation at living nearby a more than 60-year-old airfield.

As has been stated many times, in war truth is the first casualty. And if activists and their organizations want to describe their efforts in military terms it is often only because these groups need a campaign to raise money and justify their existence. But leaving the inflated rhetoric aside, let's be clear what we are talking about here.

This isn't about brave Minutemen standing tall against encroaching development, or Henry David Thoreau contemplating our obligations to country from the serenity of Walden Pond. This is about clever and well-connected activists of an already well-developed and wealthy community who want others to pay the price of that prosperity.

How sad that those who benefit most from the freedom, opportunity and economic prosperity this country has to offer are often the least willing to share in its burdens. Especially when the burden Hanscom Field poses is minimal. The airfield generates little traffic, flights consist of mostly small student aircraft, and the size and location of the airport keep impacts away from park visitors and nearby residents.

To put it into context, while this airport's presence in the area has diminished over time, the surrounding towns have allowed millions and millions of square feet of residential, office, and R&D space to be constructed. Rush hour on Virginia Road is a daily reminder of how extensive development has been over the past 20 years.

But activists unabashedly ignore the facts and disingenuously campaign against an airfield under the banner of historic preservation. Well, here's some history some may want to consider. A century ago, two brothers on the shores of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina made the first sustained, controlled flight in a powered aircraft. Within a quarter century of this historic event, Charles Lindbergh would fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean; within 45 years, the sound barrier would be broken; and within 66 years, astronauts would walk on the moon.

As a nation, the history of flight is our history. A history forged by ingenuity, bravery, and belief in an idea. An idea that has connected the world. An idea that has made a weekend visit to your grandmother possible and allows the Amazon.com business model to succeed. This idea can trace its roots back to the ingenuity, bravery and commitment that this country's forefathers showed when establishing the United States of America. But, like everything else of value that has built and sustained this country, the enormous benefits of American aviation come at a price. And that cost should be shared equally by those who share its benefits.

This was forgotten by the summer soldiers and sunshine patriots who stood in the hallowed footsteps of the minutemen at the Old North Bridge last week

Every airport in the nation has a little bit of the spirit of Kitty Hawk in it. Just as every inch of this country is embedded with the spirit of the Minute Man National Historic Park. In the end, the minutemen were not fighting for one park or one airport, they were fighting for liberty and freedom. Let's not dishonor them by using their name in vain. Instead, let us honor them by sharing the responsibility of liberty.

(Craig P. Coy is the chief executive officer for the Massachusetts Port Authority.)

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Letter: Trust exposes risk to Park

Last Thursday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the designation of Minute Man National Historical Park and the historic communities of Concord, Lexington, Lincoln and Bedford as one of America's 11 most endangered historic places. The Trust identified Massport's aggressive plans to expand the Hanscom Field airport as the threat to these nationally renowned sites.

On behalf of Save Our Heritage, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the 275 citizens who came to the announcement event at the Old North Bridge. Special thanks are also due to those who spoke so forcefully at the news conference: Wendy Nicholas, director of the Trust's northeast office; distinguished historian David McCullough; park superintendent Nancy Nelson; Congressman Marty Meehan; and former governor Michael Dukakis. Senators Kerry and Kennedy, and Congressmen Markey and Tierney, released statements in support of our efforts. (You can read Wendy Nicholas' speech, the congressional statements, and other information about this designation on our web site, www.saveourheritage.com.)

Thanks to the Trust, the threat Hanscom expansion poses to over 1,000 historic sites surrounding the airport is finally in the national spotlight. Both the New York Times and USA Today ran feature articles specifically about our designation. Our site was also featured in CNN's report on the 11 most endangered and will be again on a History Channel special on July 3. And the summer issue of the Atlantic Monthly will contain a special insert on the 11 most endangered. With national attention on what is at stake here, we can now launch a truly national campaign, like the one that stopped Disney from building a theme park next to the Manassas Civil War battlefield - a victory due in no small part to the Trust's "endangered" designation of Manassas.

In short, Massport's plans have endangered us, but this designation has empowered us. This is our year now. With the Trust's support and leadership, we will bring all interested parties to the table and negotiate a solution that will permanently protect these sites from the threat of unlimited airport expansion. Please support Save Our Heritage now, as we become part of a national movement to save our historic communities. To find out how you can help, call our office at 978-369-6662, or send e-mail to info@saveourheritage.com.

Anna Winter
Executive Director
Save Our Heritage

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Letter: Hanscom towns share the burden

We had to chuckle when we read Massport CEO Craig Coy's editorial regarding Hanscom Field and Minute Man National Historical Park. He seemed to be asserting that Hanscom is somehow a monument to the pioneers of aviation. ("Every airport in the nation has a little bit of the spirit of Kitty Hawk in it.")

We genuinely appreciate the importance of aviation in our history and in our lives today. No one involved in the fight against Massport's expansion of the Hanscom Field civilian airport has ever suggested otherwise. The points have always been that (1) the airport's operations must be kept in balance with the historical, natural and residential resources around it, and (2) it must be managed by an organization that deals openly, honestly, and fairly with the neighboring communities. Neither is the case today, and that is precisely the threat that the National Trust identified last week when it included the Park and our historic communities among America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

While Massport pumps millions of dollars into facilities at Hanscom to attract both more corporate jets and new commercial passenger service, Mr. Coy refers to it as a "small airfield named L.G. Hanscom Field," as if it were a remote stretch of dusty tarmac where one might expect to see Charles Lindbergh touch down. And in an attempt to foment class warfare, he reproaches the neighbors of Minute Man Park: "How sad that those who benefit most from the freedom, opportunity and economic prosperity this country has to offer are often the least willing to share in its burdens." That argument is just plain silly.

With over 218,000 operations last year, Hanscom is the second-busiest airport in all of New England -- busier than T.F. Green in Rhode Island, busier than Manchester, and over four times busier than Worcester. And with corporate jet flights having tripled since 1995, Hanscom now carries more business jet traffic than Logan. We are sharing the burden.

Mr. Coy says we should "put [Hanscom] into context." That is a good idea. Congress established Minute Man National Historical Park to be a monument to the pioneers of American liberty and self-determination, not an airport buffer zone. If building a busy, polluting, noisy jetport is the appropriate way to commemorate the pioneers of American aviation, let's build it in the appropriate place: Kitty Hawk.

Ron Green, Ruth Munden,
Robert Fagan, John Petty and Lori Eggert

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Letter: 'Activists' not on anyone's payroll

Craig Coy, the CEO of Massport (the Massachusetts Port Authority) has recently written a letter calling concerned citizens a "band of professional activists." "Professional" usually refers to paid activity. We are not paid to pass out leaflets at Hanscom, nor to pass the word by phone or e-mail that yet another meeting is being held. We are passionate, many of us are not wealthy, but we are not paid. This is a ground-swell volunteer movement because we feel that it is right. Mr. Coy says that we are acting out of self-interest and not out of the interest of historic preservation. Our towns have included historic preservation as a very important aspect of our town laws, activities, traditions, and businesses for many, many decades. This is nothing new. Historic preservation is our responsibility as citizens of these towns and of this country.

Mr. Coy implies that the National Park Service's efforts to protect the 18th century ambience of The Minuteman National Park is the effort of "paid activists." Our nation, through Congress, has paid millions of dollars to create that historically accurate landscape. Congress should be furious with Massport for the noise pollution and excess traffic that has already begun to change this area. Our country does not allow this type of noise pollution over the Grand Canyon, and it should not allow it over the Old North Bridge and the hundreds of other historic sites in very close proximity to the airport.

No, we are not paid activists. We are many thousands of often quite passionate citizens who insist on a thoughtful, cooperative answer to this situation that puts Revolutionary War American History first in this area, which once destroyed cannot be replaced.

Sandra Gardiner
Lexington

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Letter: Stereotype shows lack of knowledge

As a 40-year resident of the Bedford-Lexington area, I feel that Mr. Craig Coy, guest columnist and Massport chief executive, is woefully uninformed about the conservationist movement in the Hanscom Field area.

Contrary to what Mr. Coy asserts, area residents didn't encourage rampant commercial development. More than 50 years ago, the Minuteman National Park was established as the result of local efforts to preserve these historic sites from overdevelopment. Please remember, it is a conservationist movement -- meaning preserve, not change. The Air Force has been our good neighbor for 60 years and our movement does not want to change that.

The sweeping stereotyping of opponents of expansion at Hanscom Field as rich and privileged, shows Mr. Coy's lack of knowledge of our members. My home has the same real estate value as any home in East Boston or any other community affected by Logan Airport growth. My husband is a descendant of Captain John Parker, leader of the Lexington Minutemen. The rich and privileged involved in this discussion are those who find it inconvenient to deal with post-9/11 security and want to use Hanscom Field as their private airport.

Most ironic in Mr. Coy's lengthy defense of nonmilitary expansion of Hanscom Field is his description of the birthplace of aviation, Kitty Hawk. Isn't that now a National Memorial, protected from development?

Kathleen Kourian
Washington Street
Bedford

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Letter: Whose vision do you buy?

In his guest column in last week's Bedford Minuteman, Massport CEO Craig Coy does not just attack the integrity of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and that of the National Park Service. He also insults our intelligence with the absurd statement that the Hanscom Field civilian airport "generates little traffic" and has a "size and location [that] keeps impacts away from park visitors and nearby residents."

Has Mr. Coy never been to the Old North Bridge? Has he not witnessed the airplanes crisscrossing Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, or roaring over Walden Pond? The Hanscom Field he is writing about bears no relation to the real one.

Of course, it doesn't serve Mr. Coy's purpose to mention that Hanscom is the second busiest airport in New England, or that corporate jet traffic has tripled since 1995, or that Massport's own environmental plan (ESPR) proposes reconfiguring the Battle Road to handle increased car traffic, or that Hanscom permits aircraft too noisy to be allowed to land at Boston at night.

The National Trust is a nonprofit organization, created by the United States Congress, whose only interest is in preserving historically significant buildings and areas for the benefit of all Americans. Mr. Coy's accusation that this outstanding organization has included Minute Man National Historical Park in its 11 Most Endangered list solely to facilitate its fundraising is absolutely outrageous.

Mr. Coy also refers to the attendees of the May 29 press conference at the Old Manse as "a band of professional activists." On the contrary, the 275 people, men and women who took off from work, mothers with strollers, retirees standing in the rain, were all exercising their constitutional right to free assembly, not because someone was paying them.

Mr. Coy concludes by stating that we should "share the responsibility of liberty." Apparently, he equates liberty with aviation and believes that sharing aviation-related pain is the proper policy to guide airport expansion, even in an area rich with Revolutionary War sites that every school child in America would recognize.

Well, the Trust disagrees with Massport's vision. I do too. And I ask you: Whose vision do you want to live with? That of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, an impartial, congressionally-established organization dedicated to serving all Americans? Or that of Craig Coy, the head of Massport, an organization that makes money by pumping more planes into the airspace above the premier national park of the American Revolution?

Lori Eggert
Bonnievale Drive

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Letter: Ingenuity and bravery, or greed?

In Mr. Coy's guest commentary, he asserts that the people who argue with his employer, Massachusetts Port Authority, are "professional activists." Maybe some are. I know I'm not. He also says that we are "clever" and "well-connected" and suggests that to question Hanscom expansion is un-American. Well, it would be nice to be clever. But "well-connected?" The only connections I have are my mother and father.

My father served in the Army Air Corps, working on prototypes of radar until he was made deaf when an airplane engine started up near his face.

Possibly as a result of this accident, my parents were always careful about the safety of their children. My brother, sisters and I joke about it, but it was no joke to them.

Therefore, when they bought their home in Des Plaines, Ill. they asked about the airfield overgrown with weeds, but were assured that it was nothing, only a little-used Air Force field. The name of the field was O'Hare.

Ten years later, it was the busiest airport in the country. There were slicks of sludge on trees, sidewalks and the Des Plaines River, once a popular resort. The air smells foul. Tap water tastes like chlorine. Warehouses replaced homes, highways replaced town streets. The O'Hare "solution" to complaints is to offer windows that bolt onto homes, thereby eliminating fumes and noise generated by flights. Another "solution" is to have the planes take off at, according to newspaper interviews of pilots, a dangerously steep angle to reduce noise but that increases the possibility of accidents.

To me these are not solutions. And it's no solution to wait until the Assabet and Concord rivers, Walden Pond, and Great Meadows go the way of the Des Plaines River. It's no solution to wait until the area's wetlands and aquifers and history are paved over and we trade our outdoor recreation and open windows for hermetically sealed houses, like living inside a Zip-Lock bag. The time to ask if there is a valid need for expansion is now, before the FedEx planes start flying from Hanscom.

Mr. Coy gives ingenuity, bravery ,and belief in an idea as three reasons to expand Hanscom Field. I'd give three others: greed, desire for instant gratification, and if no one stops us, why not?

At the recent event at North Bridge, the historian David McCollough put forth the theory that the original Minutemen didn't originally fight for freedom, but for property. The land was theirs and damn it, they were going to fight for it. This land, the air above it, the water through it, the forests on it belong to more than a few companies. This land is my grandchildren's heritage and it is the stuff that will shape their minds.

So I say bravo to Save Our Heritage for their work in saving the area from unchecked expansion. By the way, Mr. Coy cites Kitty Hawk as an ideal: "Every airport in the nation has a little bit of the spirit of Kitty Hawk in it." Kitty Hawk is a protected National Park. So I guess Massport and Save Our Heritage are finally seeing eye to eye.

Ruth Bragg
Hancock Street

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Letter: Park designation is an opportunity

The National Trust for Historic Preservation put Minute Man National Historical Park and the national landmark historic sites in the surrounding four towns on this year's 11 most endangered historic places list, because of ongoing expansion of Massport's Hanscom civilian airport.

Noted national historians, National Park officials, and environmentalists from all over the country have long been calling attention to the growing peril from civilian aviation expansion at Hanscom to these irreplaceable historic sites.

At the May 29 press conference for the National Trust announcement, speaker after speaker called for working together to develop a plan that would maintain an airport in balance with its nationally important environs, and that would address what Congressman Ed Markey calls "the real and serious threat that Massport expansion at Hanscom poses to the crown jewel of our national heritage sites."

Thanks to the work of Save Our Heritage, our national, state and local elected officials, and the citizens of the four towns, and with the support of the National Trust, we now have an excellent opportunity to go to the governor and our congressional delegation to get their help to protect this area from unfettered, out-of-control growth at Hanscom. This is particularly good timing given the concern about FedEx's recent interest in coming to Hanscom.

Margaret Coppe, President
ShhAir

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Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Letter: Debate on Massport reality continues

The recent designations of our historic communities -- as a Last Chance Landscape by Scenic America, and as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation -- have stirred up a firestorm of response from Massport, which has engaged in a vitriolic attack campaign against anyone who suggests that these places need or deserve protection.

It is important to stand back and see what Massport has left unsaid. Massport has never acknowledged that any expansion at the Hanscom Field civilian airport could ever impact Minute Man Park, Walden, or any other historic site within our communities. Massport avoids discussion of its broken promises regarding the airport's mission. Massport claims it has no plans to expand Hanscom, even as it promotes new corporate jet hangars and "improves" the Civil Air Terminal. Massport avoids discussion of any alternatives to the expansion of Hanscom Field.

The reason all this is happening is that Hanscom and Logan are the only airports Massport owns. Massport wants expansion at Hanscom because it views all other airports as competition rather than as partners in a regional transportation strategy.

The most astounding part of all of this is that Massport is part of our government, which supposedly belongs to us. Instead of the government that our ancestors fought and died to create for us, we are confronted by a government of the developers, by the developers, and for the developers, in the form of an agency that views our Town Meeting resolutions as impediments rather than guidance.

The term "NIMBY" has been used to criticize the people of these communities. Never forget that developers invented this term in order to marginalize those who do not agree with their notion of "progress." In reality, the "NIMBY" argument asserts that the only people who are not entitled to protest a source of pollution are the ones who are most affected by it. If you buy that argument, the polluter always wins and the people always lose.

As citizens of these communities, we are the stewards of many extraordinary historical and natural resources that make Massachusetts a special place that attracts tourists and businesses. Ask yourself whether future Americans would want us to save these places for them. If your answer is yes, then stand for preservation and against the greed of shortsighted developers who would unnecessarily sacrifice this place for their own benefit.

Neil Rasmussen, President
Save Our Heritage

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