As of Wednesday, September 21, 2011
© Copyright 2013
Gwinnett Daily Post
Let's set the record straight regarding Gail McNeil's allegations. Gwinnett County staff received direction in a May vote of our elected commissioners, all with equal weighting. The directive was quite clear; move ahead with the RFP for possible commercialization of Briscoe Field. A follow-up action by staff was naturally expected. The inquiry by some of the commissioners into the delay of this action is appropriate. It should not be spun into fictional drama by supposition. A "contentious" debate was resolved by a 3-2 vote in favor of an RFP.
Fly Gwinnett Forward was formed to apply facts and logic to issues surrounding Briscoe Field. For example, the Hartsfield-Jackson study of a potential hub airport site is irrelevant to Gwinnett. Briscoe Field's RFP is framed to study the benefit of a regional airport model. Regarding taxpayer risk, we understand that lease obligations, performance bonds, and revenue streams could not only benefit, but protect our citizens. Gwinnett is indeed poised to benefit from an underutilized asset which now generates $85M million in total economic output, all while basically receiving no orchestrated support.
Indeed "something just ain't right." With the call for transparency and further citizen input, some continue to vilify commissioners. Unfortunately, the baseless jabs are aimed at commissioners who seem to understand their fiduciary responsibility to Gwinnnet's citizens and the region. Sadly, a vocal minority can misinform our electorate. The only saga here is one created by those wishing to bury an opportunity before it can be framed.
-- Paula Hastings
Lawrenceville
More like this story
- Letter: Opposition Spins Airport Debate ( September 21, 2011 )
- MCNEIL: Airport proceedings deserve your attention ( September 17, 2011 )
- Gwinnett airport committee complete ( October 18, 2011 )
- Proposals sought for Gwinnett's Briscoe Field ( December 8, 2011 )
- Mcneil: Airport Proceedings Deserve Your Attention ( September 18, 2011 )
Comments
WantingFacts 1 year, 8 months ago
Paula: You said, "Fly Gwinnett Forward was formed to apply facts and logic to issues surrounding Briscoe Field." Please provide the facts to support claims of 20,000 to 30,000 jobs and a $1.25 billion economic impact from commercial service at Briscoe. Please provide the facts to support your claim that commercial service at Briscoe will increase property values for nearby homes. You also said, "Regarding taxpayer risk, we understand that lease obligations, performance bonds, and revenue streams could not only benefit, but protect our citizens." Please explain how the taxpayers will benefit, when the FAA requires the continuous operation of the airport by Gwinnett County in the event of default by the private operator, and not one airport has been successfully privatized under this FAA program since 1997. In this economy, are you so confident that performance bonds will protect taxpayers that you will personally co-sign the contract, pledging all of your personal assets?
JRegan 1 year, 8 months ago
Yes Paula, by all means let's set the record straight, but let’s also get the facts right. 1) Gaye and Citizens for a Better Gwinnett have been providing independent studies on how other cities and communities have been impacted by commercial passenger aviation. The results are clear - home values decline, noise and air pollution increase, traffic congestion increases, and quality of life declines. These are not speculative or manipulated reports - such as the leading poll questions, fictitious job projects (20,000 - 30,000 new jobs), and over inflated economic impact figures ($1.25 Billion annually) circulated by Propeller Investments and Fly Gwinnett Forward.
2) The City of Atlanta Hartsfield study is germane to Briscoe Field expansion. The report very clear states airline capacity at Hartsfield is currently sufficient for Metro Atlanta, the cost to upgrade Briscoe to a regional airport could be $2.2 Billion, and there are significant obstacles to overcome including environmental and airspace management. I know Paula you're going to complain the report is biased. During my conversation with the head of the FAA's Southeastern Regional office he stated there is no bias in the report, the FAA defined the study parameters, selected the consultants, oversaw the process and paid 75% of the cost. While I have learned a lot about airports over the past 18 months, I know the FAA knows much more, and trust the independence of their study on Briscoe. Everyone should remember the FAA doesn’t have a dog in this fight.
3) The IMG study commissioned by Gwinnett County drew many of the same conclusions as the Hartsfield study. Additionally they pointed out the risk the county would incur because projects of this nature require "significant government funding". That means county taxpayers hold the ultimate liability. IMG also detailed the failure MidAmerica Airport, built by a Missouri community that invested $320 Million of taxpayer funds, as regional airport to relieve St Louis Lambert International. MidAmerica began operation in 1997 and currently has NO airline service. Tom Brokaw even featured it in his NBC News segment call the “Fleecing of America”. Watch the video for yourself, it underscores the risk.
This is a case where the CITIZENS got the FACTS straight and took action. Many citizens, not just a vocal minority, went to their officials who were elected to serve the will of the people, and not the will of “special interests”.
jack 1 year, 8 months ago
But Fly Gwinnett Forward would NEVER spin the debate. They're only interested in "facts and logic", as long as such "facts and logic" support their ultimate goal of privatization and commercialization. One has to wonder "What's in it for them?"
hubertsaam 1 year, 8 months ago
totally agree with you Jack,,,, they also have this face book page now that lets you comment on this subject, however, if you post anything that doesn't support their agenda your comment is removed immediately.
Don 1 year, 8 months ago
I moved here in 1991 and checked the land use plan and Briscoe was alwayslisted a a general avaiation airport. Going up in Dekalb county near PDK I was not concerned as ot my location of the house as long as the only thing I hear is genral avaiation plans and not 727's or other commercial plans.
1)How can Dekalb operated PDK and make a profit? 2)What happens when comercial service comes in the genral aviation planes will move to another airport out of the county and we will loose the property tax on these planes to other counties? 3) Has anyone looked inot how much it will cost us to staff the fire station that will be requires once this goes commercial? I am not so much against Brsicoe going private but just am opposed to the comercial flights in and out. Will the county offer to buy my house as was done around hartsfield When it expanded?
I wonder who owns the land north of the runway along 316 that will prosper when this happens? Wayne Mason maybe, or Kevin Kennerly possible?
AnnaRobertson_GA 1 year, 8 months ago
I usually don't write on these things but it seems that so many of the posts to anything that could be positive are so nasty and mean spirited. I know we all care about our community (I live 6 miles or so from Briscoe) why wouldn't we at least wait until something concrete comes out about what is being offered? It seems like Mr. Reagan has some type of personal vendetta or agenda here?? I hope that's not the case because if it is he and the others in the anti group would be doing a HUGE DISSERVICE which effects all of us. However, Mr. Reagan and this Gay McNeil and a few others seem to only complain and insult people. My gosh has this what our County has come to? The rhetoric is not productive and just plain ole silly.
WantingFacts 1 year, 8 months ago
Hi AnnaRobertson: You said that the posts about something that could be positive are so nasty and mean spirited. You also suggest that people wait until we see something concrete. What you may not realize is that Jim Reagan and Gaye McNeil have spent countless hours researching this issue and they know from past experience that citizens of Gwinnett cannot afford to wait until our commissioners go ahead and make a decision about commercialization. By then, it will be too late. Jim and Gaye have well documented independent research to support their position. Those who support commercial service at Briscoe have made outrageous claims that have no basis in fact. Why do you think this will be positive? Do you remember the Braves Stadium and all of the jobs and economic development that taxpayers were promised? Do you remember the rezoning of the property next to the Catholic Church for a waste transfer station? Do you remember the land deals that were made by our commissioners who promised us that they were saving the taxpayers money? Do you remember the trash plan that resulted in multi-million lawsuits and was ruled unconstitutional? Do you believe the completely unfounded claims that 20,000 to 30,000 jobs will be created by a commercial airport? Do you believe that home values near the airport will increase, as commercial service supporters claim? Do you know Jim Regan and Gaye McNeil? Jim is a quiet accountant most people would love to have as a neighbor. Gaye McNeil is a retired teacher who is one of the most loved teachers ever to teach in Gwinnett County. Do you really think that they have devoted countless hours of their time to this just so that they can be insulted and vilified by people who don’t even know them? No, they are doing this because they have the facts to prove their position and they are not willing to sit back and allow another taxpayer funded debacle in Gwinnett County that will make the land deals and the Braves Stadium look like child’s play. Have you noticed that those who attack Jim and Gaye don’t provide any research to support their position? They don’t because they can’t. When will Fly Gwinnett Forward come forward with research to show that sound insulation in a home increases its value? When will they explain why Propeller claims that 20,000 to 30,000 jobs will be created? When will Fly Gwinnett Forward come forward with research to support their claims that this will be positive for Gwinnett County? Jim and Gaye and thousands of others are waiting for the answers.
brownso 1 year, 8 months ago
I am speechless to think that someone would actually think this is a good idea. Where do you think the road improvements, fire and police protection, water and sewer, and other infrastructure will come from. We, in the form of State and Federal and Local taxes will foot the bill. And what will citizens of Gwinnett get? Drive around PD Airport and what do you see? Are you naive enough to think that we will not be flooded with bars and strip joints to accompany the hotels and motels? Schools (college), churches, hospitals will be impacted as well as residences. Gwinnett County just spent 7.3 million on Rhodes Jordan Park. Do you realize how low the planes fly over that Park now?....A much greater area of impact exists than most citizens realize. Those in Hamilton Mill and Chateau Elan will be certainly surprised if the airport expansion occurs! I pray that our Commissioners are just misinformed and not guided by some other motive. .
R 1 year, 7 months ago
Privatizing as a general aviation airfield may be a worthwhile consideration, as long as the traffic type stays the same as today. The real problem seems to be those who have set the term of Privatization to equal taking on passenger jet traffic and 737s. The negative perception will continue and increase as long as the ONLY vocal champion for passenger jet traffic and 737s is Propeller Air. They have proven to be extremely brazen in their business approach, even collecting resumes for potential jobs at Briscoe from job fairs all over Metro Atlanta (that would include SOUTH ATL.) Their recommendation that potential job applicants email our commissioners’ offices seeking to move this project forward is cruel and unusual, NOT the type of business that would make a reliable long term business partnership and should be eliminated immediately. As long as Fly Gwinnett Forward and to some extent The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce continue to involve Propeller, the leaders’ trust will generally keep taking hits.
If the opportunity presented itself, given its actions to date, would ANYONE buy so much as a used airplane from Propeller at this point?
CD 1 year, 7 months ago
"Opposition" or "Proponents". Let's clear one thing up: the "opposition" consists of citizens that understand this will negatively impact communities in numerous ways and that this is nothing but a financial fiasco in the making.
The "proponents" on the other hand are nothing but shills from the Chamber, Landmark Communications, and those that represent the developers in Gwinnett.
I've attended the meetings. Other than the shill "community activists" I did not see one person protesting "for" this fiasco.
Once again, it is the money interests of a few over the citizens. This would become a noose around the necks of all Gwinnett taxpayers and eventually everyone would suffer. Just as we have suffered through previous decietful and corrupted decisions, but this would be far more damaging than any previous money mongering by many fold.
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