Council Member Hodges Response to Airport Changes

Dear concerned resident:

Thank you for contacting me this week regarding the proposed changes to the airport flight tracks. The turnout at the MAC Open House last night was good. Thank you to those who were able to attend. It does help to let the FAA and the MAC know that you are concerned. Minneapolis wants more information about the environmental (including health) impacts of this proposal and we want a more meaningful engagement process. We are working with State and Federal officials to fight for that.

Ideally, we think that the separate plans for expansion of the airport should be evaluated under the standards of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and RNAV should be incorporated into that analysis. That way, both issues get a thorough review. The reasoning to authorize the potential expansion of the airport is the fact that MSP is anticipating a large increase in the number of flights the airport will handle.

Many Minneapolis legislators are aware of this issue and are already fighting for you, along with our Federal Delegation, but they still need to hear from you so they understand how important this is to you. I suggest that you contact your legislator and contact Congressman Ellison, Senator Franken and Senator Klobuchar to thank them for their efforts and encourage them to keep fighting.

Use this website to see who represents you in the Legislature:  http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/.  If you just elected someone new, you could contact them also. You can find their names at the same website, just look to the link for the 2013-2014 Legislature.

Office of Congressman Keith Ellison

612-522-1212

Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar

612-727-5220

Senator Al Franken

651-221-1016

The Noise Oversight Committee will comment on some aspects of this proposal on November 14, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) is expected to act on November 19. MAC has the ability to conclude that the process thus far has not been adequate and that more should be done. We are working with people who we think can make our case to these bodies. The best thing that you can do to help is make the recommended calls.

Thanks for your help.

Betsy

Betsy Hodges

Council Member

City of Minneapolis, Ward 13

350 South Fifth Street

Room 307

Minneapolis, MN 55415

e-mail:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

phone:  612.673.2213