"Anger, ovations at O'Hare expansion forum"

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Anger, ovations at O'Hare expansion forum
The Chicago (IL) Tribune


Clad in dungarees and business suits, union workers, airline executives and
ordinary citizens arrived at an Elk Grove Village banquet hall Tuesday with
a common purpose: to share their opinions on a proposal to expand O'Hare
International Airport.

Some spoke from prepared remarks. Others spoke from the gut, talking about
the jobs the project would create or the impact the plans would have on
residents and cemeteries.

The seven-hour session was the first of three public hearings the Federal
Aviation Administration will hold this week on its 5,000-page draft
environmental study of various expansion proposals, including what would
happen if nothing is done.

The hearings will continue Wednesday in Elmhurst and Thursday in Niles. They
are among the final steps in the process before the FAA issues a decision in
September.

Tuesday's hearing, which drew mayors, chamber of commerce officials,
electricians, carpenters and businessmen, was expected to be the biggest,
FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said.

Many people testified within the first two hours, and the majority was
supportive. But by nightfall the room was packed with opponents, many of
whom wore "Stop O'Hare Expansion" shirts and gave standing ovations to those
who spoke against the plan.

"The FAA has turned this entire process into a rubber-stamp sham," said Bob
Sell, an Arlington Heights resident who is worried about the impact the plan
would have on St. Johannes Cemetery in DuPage County, where 15 of his family
members are buried. But, he added, "This fight is far from over."

Several others spoke about how the delay-prone airport is affecting their
business. Mike Lynch, vice president of government affairs for
Glenview-based Illinois Tool Works Inc., said he could count on one hand the
number of times his flights from the East Coast last year were not delayed.

"O'Hare and the people who use it have become increasingly burdened by the
congestion, and the flight delays are only projected to worsen in the
future," said Lynch, whose company's North American employees bought nearly
88,000 airline tickets in 2004. "The time for action to remedy the problems
at O'Hare is long overdue, and the entire national aviation system is
suffering the consequences."

Tim Gorman, a member of the international union of operating engineers and
supporter of the expansion, said the project would create much-needed jobs.

"Our members have been suffering for the last two years," Gorman said. The
project is "just the thing for our members and families to get back on their
feet."

But others, like Norridge resident John Garner, are skeptical.

"I think all of this is to provide [Mayor] Rich Daley and his friends with
jobs," he said. "This is all about contracts and jobs."

Joe Karaganis, a lawyer for the suburbs that oppose the expansion plan, had
several questions about the FAA study, including why it did not analyze how
the city will pay for the project, which his group's experts believe could
exceed $20 billion. He also questioned how much the project would decrease
delays, saying he believes the modernized airport will be out of capacity
within two to three years of operating.

"Our data indicates it will be as bad or worse shortly after it opens,"
Karaganis said.

But executives for American and United Airlines, who will help pay for the
project, said they support the plan, noting it will save them money because
there will be fewer delays.


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