I want to make clear that allowing passenger airline service at Paine Field is such an egregious betrayal of public trust that it has become a moral issue.
Allowing foot-in-the-door approval for commercial passenger service will be a death knell for Mukilteo, Edmonds, south Everett and adjacent communities.
That decision happened at the 10:30 a.m. Monday County Council meeting in Everett. (Now that is a strange time to expect the public to show up for comment.) The County Council decision came down to one individual, one man in a five-person council. Mr. Terry Ryan cast the deciding vote, along with Councilmen Dave Somers and Ken Klein. The motion passed 3 to 2.
Commercial aviation shouldn’t happen at Paine Field. Why? Because, given the world of power, money and privilege that we live in, the following has happened:
In the 1990s, when Paine Field was in the midst of 4,000 acres of timberland, those regionally aware wanted no change in the status of Paine Field. They were intent on building out that acreage with high-priced family residencies, giving assurances that degradation of the environment by commercialization of passenger flight at Paine Field would never happen. But it did. Entrepreneurs were allowed to build expensive homes and demand top dollar. They assured new owners that their money thus invested was worth the price, and the county airport would never become a problem.
Now we know differently.
With the opening of the third runway at SeaTac, there are 30 years of excess runway available. The public doesn’t need additional services. We do have alternatives:
Bigger airport now? No. In 2045, if more runway is needed, build another airport where regional growth is going to be — north of Marysville.
Don’t like to drive? Take public transportation.
Business folks in state/out of state don’t like the congestion? Take a red-eye special.
Citizens by the hundreds with up to 20 percent loss of market value for your home? Have the County Council increase taxes — on local businesses. Then increase the sales tax.
E. Scott Casselman
Mukilteo
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
