Subj: Airport Status Update
Date: 7/23/03 10:52:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Dianne Summers
Dear Friends and Pilots,
Most of you have by now heard that today’s CC Times had a story concerning the leases at the East Ramp Hangars. Ken Cole and I were able to attend the County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday and speak publically about the County mismanagement of the airport, loss of hangar revenue, the bad faith in negotiating a new lease with hangar tenants, and “oh by the way”, we do not want the airport closed. An airport that generates over 43 million dollars per year to the county. Now it’s on the record, and they have to deal with it. Lets not make it easy. Needless to say, it hit the fan. Mark DeSaulnier was not there to defend his good? name. Too Bad.
The supervisors have sent a two week deadline to staff, to address questions raised at the meeting. That means we need to have as many people as possible, present at the next Supervisors meeting on August 5th at 9:30am, in Martinez. DeSauliner will be there, so lets show him we mean business.
It will be important to project polite artiulate anger. That means no name calling, just the facts. We will hold a meeting next Wednesday July 30, at 6:30pm MDPA clubhouse, to plan public comments, make signs, and information handouts. Please come if you can, even if you are unable to make the supervisors meeting.
Combined with Mt. Diablo Pilots Association, we have have had 7 good airport stories in the CC Times in the last two weeks. The reporter for the Times followed us out of the Supervisors meeting, and interviewed me in the hallway. Maurice Shu, County Department of Public Works, came running out to do damage control; too late.
As a result of the supervisors meeting, Gail Uilkema and the new supervisor, Millie Greenberg have agreed to meet and discuss the issues that concern us. These meetings are scheduled for July 31 and Aug 1st. A summary of those meetings will follow.
We have the county’s, and public’s attention, we need to keep it going. So please stay involved.
We will also discuss petitions, recall and otherwise, and status of a political action committee (PAC) at our Wednesday meeting.
Thanks for your support.
Dianne Cole
