Airport Public Forum recap and news

This past week was full of Westchester County Airport activity and news. Look out for our delightful critique about the Sept 27 Astorino “tele-town hall” on airport privatization coming soon.

Airport Public Forum recap:

Well over 100 people from all over the county attended the Sept 26 event with many in attendance who were new to the issues, including Pleasantville, Chappaqua, Armonk, Lewisboro, Hartsdale, White Plains, Hastings-on-Hudson, Yonkers, Rye, New Rochelle, and Greenwich, CT, just to name a few. We heard from Ellen Weininger of Grassroots Environmental Education, Larry Belinsky of Frasca & Associates, County Legislator Catherine Parker (District 6), Carolyn Cunningham of FCWC, Martin Rogowsky, former County Legislator for District 7 and PEPA consultant, and Jonathan Wang of CRCA. Our panelists presented a variety of concerns and arguments against the dual proposals of privatization and the master plan.

The Q&A period was most engaging. The audience asked probing questions which the panelists answered as honestly and to the best extent possible given their breadth of experience. Several audience members agreed that the aircraft noise issue was a significant quality of life concern for them. Former County Legislator Martin Rogowsky, who for 13 years represented District 6, which includes the airport, reflected on his efforts to push the County Executive and Legislators to limit the size and expansion of the airport and to legally rein in noise issues and discourage curfew violations. County Legislator Ken Jenkins delivered a powerful speech condemning the opacity with which County Executive Astorino has been handling these major proposals, and stressed the importance of keeping both the airport and County government accountable.

State Assemblyman Steve Otis and candidates for county legislators for District 1, 3, and 6 were in attendance. Current County Legislators bordering the airport, David Gelfarb (District 6) and Margaret Cunzio (District 3) were unable to attend due to conflicting events.

News from the Event:

Aleesia Forni. “Westchester County airport privatization plans draw more opposition“. WestFair Online. Sept 27 2017.

News12 Westchester, “Residents voice concerns on privatized Westchester County Airport”. Sept 26 2017.

CRCA endorses George Latimer for County Executive, who calls for the shrouded proposal to monetize the airport to be scrapped.

Patch Staff. “Astorino’s Challenger Blasts Westchester Airport Plans”. Patch. Sept 28 2017.

Let’s keep our voices loud

  • Wed Oct 4th: Purchase College Airport Rally at 12 PM, followed by Westchester County Airport Privatization and Expansion Forum at 7 PM.
    Where: 7 PM Forum at SUNY Purchase’s Student Services Red Room at 197 Lincoln Ave, Purchase (listed as Port Chester in Google Maps). 12 PM Rally location TBA.
  • What effects will privatization of the Westchester Airport bring? How will expansion of the Airport affect our campus? Student group leaders will moderate a panel discussion on the potential impacts of corporate control of the airport here in our backyard. Panelists: Jonathan Wang of CRCA, Susan Leifer of Sierra Club, and Carolyn Cunningham of FCWC and Purchase College alumnus. Open to the public.
  • We have upcoming meetings with homeowners associations and other groups. Let us know if you would like to arrange a Town Hall in your community or a group discussion, and we will arrange our volunteers to come speak with you.
  • Additional Stop Westchester Airport Expansion and Privatization lawn signs are now available.

Questions?

Karen Tam
[email protected]

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