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Meigs Field gone without warning
The Chicago Sun-Times ^ | April 1, 2003 | Bob Herguth and Dave McKinney

Posted on 04/01/2003 2:01:52 PM PST by Writer1

In a stunning move decried by critics as "the epitome of arrogance," Mayor Daley closed down Meigs Field by tearing up its only runway--without warning pilots, air traffic controllers or many of his political allies.

A combative mayor said he was staving off possible terrorist attacks from the skies over the Loop, and that the quick action was necessary to avoid a protracted battle with Meigs supporters.

But to those supporters, Daley's motivation was clear: For years he has wanted the 80 or so acres for a park, and now he's shamelessly using these anxious times as an excuse to fulfill Daniel Burnham's vision for Chicago's lakefront.

"From our perspective, this is a pure and simple land grab,'' said Steve Whitney, founder of the Friends of Meigs Field. "It really has nothing to do with homeland security. It will make homeland security worse" because there no longer will be a manned control tower around.

"Creepy" was how the current president, Rachel Goodstein, described Daley's methods.

Around 11:30 p.m. Sunday--the airport is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.--heavy equipment under police escort arrived at Meigs and began tearing into the 3,899-foot-long runway, carving huge "X's" and horizontal marks into the grooved asphalt to prevent aircraft from using the strip.

"If it was a fear of terrorists, he could have just closed us" without doing such damage, a Meigs controller said. "By doing this it makes it too expensive for the state or federal government to say, 'We'll buy it from you.' This guarantees him his park."

Even as critics prepared to sue the city to reopen Meigs, they conceded the city seems within its rights since it operates the airfield and it sits on Park District property. A Daley aide, while denying the motive behind closing Meigs was to build a park, said "it's safe to say it will eventually be a park."

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was "concerned" by the city's move. "Removing any centrally located airport such as Meigs from the national airspace system only diminishes capacity and puts added pressure on O'Hare and Midway airports," the agency said in a statement.

A top FAA official in Chicago was notified of Meigs' closing after being awakened by a 2 a.m. call from a city official, an FAA spokesman said.

(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: abuseofpower; chicago; domesticfascism; mayordaley
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To: drlevy88
So both Ryan and Daley lied to Congress. How special.

Ryan has to be the luckiest man alive with the scandals around him and not be in jail; instead he gets nominated for the Nobel.

61 posted on 04/02/2003 6:26:53 AM PST by fight_truth_decay (occupied)
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To: xdem
Let us take an analogue case: An American city owns a parking garage, in which several dozen vehicles are parked, day and night. The only exits from the garage is through the driveway and one pedestrian bridge too narrow for a car. A water-filled moat surrounds the garage at all other points. Throw in a pair of engangered American alligators and a few dozen cottonmouth moccasins for good measure.

One otherwise unsuspecting night, the Mayor or the City, in the interest of improving drainage and public recreation, orders City road crews to dig up the driveway. This action isolates 16 cars owned by private citizens who had paid monthly parking fees for the balance of the year for unlimited parking permission.

When the citizens paid for this parking, they assumed that they would be permitted to extract their cars on demand and at will. A few were at work in a nearby hospital at the time and commute from the distant suburbs. Has this amounted to an unconstitutional taking, even if the mayor decides that he'll retrieve the cars eventually. I think so.
62 posted on 04/02/2003 6:47:26 AM PST by dufekin (Peace soon coming to the tortured people of Iraq and Justice to their terrorist military dictator.)
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To: dufekin
Also note that the Mayor did not bother to seek permission from City Council, which I imagine has budgeting and spending authority, before taking this dastardly action.
63 posted on 04/02/2003 6:50:54 AM PST by dufekin (Peace soon coming to the tortured people of Iraq and Justice to their terrorist military dictator.)
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To: Writer1
I think it was a mistake for the mayor or Chicago to take unilateral action and resort to the use of force in a conflict that should be resolved through diplomatic means.

;)

64 posted on 04/02/2003 6:53:32 AM PST by ChadGore (288,007,154 Americans did not protest the war today)
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To: taxcontrol
Property in question belongs to the city (y/n)? Run ways in question belong to the the city (y/n)?

The city belongs to ...?

65 posted on 04/02/2003 6:54:14 AM PST by ctdonath2
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To: taxcontrol
Case you cite is superceded by newer cases which overruled; SCOTUS in the 1990s ruled in a South Carolina case that takings cases could be brought by individuals. Famous cases.
66 posted on 04/02/2003 9:42:01 AM PST by Writer1
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To: taxcontrol
Please see fifth amendment takings clause and case law doctrine on constructive takings from SCOTUS, inter alia.
67 posted on 04/02/2003 9:43:58 AM PST by Writer1
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To: Writer1
Case you cite is superceded by newer cases which overruled; SCOTUS in the 1990s ruled in a South Carolina case that takings cases could be brought by individuals. Famous cases.


For my own edification would you please cite (and site) the case?

Thanks,
68 posted on 04/02/2003 9:47:47 AM PST by taxcontrol
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To: xdem
I'm aware of the Intitute for Justice. In fact, I'm on their mailing list and support thier cause.

However, in this particular case, I feel that the arguements against "taking" is far stronger than those for.

Primarily because the action taken was by the city against the city property. No transfer of private assest was done.

While I agree that this entire matter could have been handled in a better manner, I don't see any taking. Again, the may be contract violations through rental agreements and those will need to be taken care of - but I dont see a taking of private property.
69 posted on 04/02/2003 9:56:26 AM PST by taxcontrol
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To: taxcontrol
Folks,

One further update:

Seems the planes in question are being allowed to leave.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-030402meigs,0,5251637.story?coll=chi-news-hed
70 posted on 04/02/2003 10:04:06 AM PST by taxcontrol
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To: fight_truth_decay
Please see

H.R. 592 Sec. 5

and

S. 83 Section (i)

Both of those bills call for Meigs Fld to remain open as a major part of the O'Hare expansion Bill. By Daily destroying the only runwqay at Meigs, he has in fact voided the entire O'Hare expansion project.

71 posted on 04/02/2003 10:52:16 AM PST by Mr_Magoo (Single, available, and easy)
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To: Mr_Magoo
“Where is the ‘historic agreement’ in which Ryan supposedly gave his approval for O’Hare expansion?"

Will see how it plays out.

Thanks

f_t_d
72 posted on 04/02/2003 3:34:50 PM PST by fight_truth_decay (occupied)
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To: fight_truth_decay
I sent a letter to the Illinois US Attorney's office, suggesting that Daley may have committed a felony by the manner in which he demolished the airport, and I just got a letter back from them saying they'd forwarded the letter to FAA and DOT.
73 posted on 04/11/2003 9:51:19 AM PDT by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: bert

I used to take off from runway 36 ever since flight simulator for DOS was around dreaming of the day I can do it for real.. and now it is simply impossible. How sad :(


74 posted on 07/20/2007 11:40:21 PM PDT by --Gack--
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To: IncPen

The bottom line....someone got paid off...and likely several folks got paid off. I’m guessing in the $20 million range for all the parties involved. Watch and see who in the upper levels of the Chicago staff gets new houses in the next twelve months and moves way up in status.


75 posted on 07/20/2007 11:51:29 PM PDT by pepsionice
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To: Writer1

The streetlamps are on in Chicago tonight,
And lovers a’gazin’ at stars;
The stores are all closin’, and Daley is dozin’,
And the fat man is counting the cars...
And there’s more cars than places to put ‘em, he says,
But I’ve got room for them all;
So ‘round ‘em up boys, ‘cause I want some more toys,
In the lot by the grocery store...

To me, way, hey, tow them away,
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we,
>From Wilmette to Gary, there’s nothin’ so hairy
And we always collect our fee!
So it’s way, hey, tow ‘em away,
We plunder the streets of your town,
Be it Edsel or Chevy, there’s no car too heavy,
And no one can make us shut down.

We break into cars when we gotta,
With hammer and pickaxe and saw;
And they said this garage had no license;
But little care I for the law!
Our drivers are friendly and courteous;
Their good manners you always will get;
‘Cause they all are recent graduates
Of the charm school in Joliet.

To me, way, hey, tow them away,
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we,
>From Wilmette to Gary, there’s nothin’ so hairy
And we always collect our fee!
So it’s way, hey, tow ‘em away,
We plunder the streets of your town,
Be it Edsel or Chevy, there’s no car too heavy,
And no one can make us shut down.

And when all the cars are collected,
And all of their fenders are ruined,
Then I’ll tow all the boats in Belmont Harbor
To the Lincoln Park Lagoon;
And when I’ve collected the ransom,
And sunk all the ones that won’t yield;
I’ll tow all the planes that are blocking the runways
At Midway, O’Hare, and Meigs Field!

To me, way, hey, tow them away,
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we,
>From Wilmette to Gary, there’s nothin’ so hairy
And we always collect our fee!
So it’s way, hey, tow ‘em away,
Now citizens, gather around,
And I think it’s enough, let’s call his bluff,
Let’s throw the bum out of town!


76 posted on 07/20/2007 11:57:04 PM PDT by SlowBoat407 (It's never a good time to get sucked into an evil vortex.)
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To: pepsionice
Watch and see who in the upper levels of the Chicago staff gets new houses in the next twelve months and moves way up in status.

This already happened... in 2003. But Barack Obama and his pal Tony Rezko are probably involved.

77 posted on 07/20/2007 11:59:24 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: pepsionice
bttt... good to see you again.

I am shamelessly reminiscing to see old Freepers and I won't stop until we regain our old contingent :)

Love, Lisa

78 posted on 07/21/2007 12:18:51 AM PDT by txhurl
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