Million Air, an aircraft charter business and Fixed Base Operator, is seeking $1 million in state subsidies for their expansion at Westchester County Airport. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, August 13, from 10:00 am-11:00 am, at Harrison Town Hall. The state plans to adopt a finding of no environmental impact from Million Air's expansion. Please attend and speak at the public hearing. We will not condone giving bad neighbors $1 million of taxpayer money to expand their ability to run roughshod over residents. We demand an in-depth environmental impact study that includes the secondary impacts of increased air traffic.
FAA Reauthorization Bill Exempts Supersonic Aircraft from Noise Restrictions
The FAA Reauthorization Bill, S.1405, is scheduled to pass the Senate this month. Among its worst provisions is Section 5017, which addresses supersonic aircraft. This section: Exempts supersonic aircraft from existing Stage 4 and Stage 5 noise standards, instead requiring that they be as noisy as the largest airliners today (§ 5017 (a) (3), "specifies a... Continue Reading →
Talking Points for the Operations Public Hearing
Westchester County’s next public hearing on June 25 at 7pm covers airport operations. As with the past two hearings, we encourage concerned citizens to attend and discuss the impact the airport has had on their lives. The situation at Westchester County Airport today is already unacceptable. The airport’s continuing growth has led to decreases in property values, dramatic increases in noise complaints, and a public outcry that swept Rob Astorino and others from elected office.
Talking Points on Governance
Westchester County Airport is an important piece of infrastructure, but it is also a major source of pollution. The airport needs to remain fully accountable to the public in order to maintain balance between the services the airport provides and the pollution it causes. Obviously, this precludes handing over governance of the airport to a private entity. However, any change that turns the airport into a profit center, whether for the county or for a private party, will almost certainly lead to expansion and a weakening of governance and accountability.
Talking Points for the Master Plan Public Hearing
Westchester County Airport is unique. It is located next to the water supply for over nine million people in Westchester and NYC. It is also located in a residential area whose citizens expect and deserve the quiet enjoyment of their homes. The airport's air, water, and noise pollution represent important public health issues. Thus, the master plan should explicitly reject any expansion of airport capacity.
SAVE THE DATE – Public hearings on airport policy
The Latimer administration has announced three public hearings on airport policy. Aviation interests are already gearing up to lobby for more development and more traffic. It is critically important that community members appear and speak at these hearings in order to stop or roll back the airport's assault on our quality of life. Please save... Continue Reading →
Comment on the FAA’s noise study procedures TODAY
The FAA is seeking comment on how it collects information in its noise studies. The comment period closes TODAY, January 29, 2018. For decades, the FAA has used an arbitrarily high noise standard that averages noise over long periods of time in order to claim that communities are not subject to "significant" airport noise. Please... Continue Reading →
Urgent: Astorino telephone town hall tonight, September 27
County Executive Rob Astorino has given his constituents less than 8 hours' notice of his telephone forum to discuss his plan to privatize Westchester County Airport. Dial in at 7pm tonight to: 855-756-7520, Ext 36840 (then press #). Astorino thought that he could slip his plan past the Board of Legislators under budget pressure last... Continue Reading →
Wed June 28th, 7PM: Westchester County Airport Advisory Board Meeting
Westchester County Airport - Main Terminal 2nd Floor Conference Room 240 AIrport Rd, White Plains, NY Frasca, the county consultants who are in charge of privatization, will be present for questions. The Westchester County Airport Advisory Board is appointed by the County Executive to supervise issues at the airport and take public comments. Free parking... Continue Reading →
June 19th: Public Comment about Airport, at the Board of Legislators
Westchester County Airport Privatization: A Loss of Accountability and Expansion. Our efforts made the story for the front page of the Journal News on June 20th. http://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2017/06/20/westchester-county-airport-privatization/410191001/ Summary of the Airport issue brought to the Board of Legislators meeting: On June 19th, a group of about 70 Westchester residents from many areas of the county filled... Continue Reading →