Get off the O'Hare expansion bandwagon

After reading your editorial about O'Hare's runways I have to comment. I personally am sick and tired of hearing about how vital economic the O'Hare expansion project is and how it must be completed at all costs.

This statement being made by your editorial board the same week that the Chicago area earned the title of being the most traffic gridlocked in the country while at the same time paying the highest gasoline prices in the country is unbelievable. It's time you, Mayor Daley and his lackey Rosemarie Andolino face the reality that the project, is not and I might add probably was never needed at this time, nor wanted by most of the areas that are directly affected by it, especially Bensenville.

If the two major airlines, American and United, Chicago's “hometown” airline, that use the airfield are telling you it's not necessary and do not want to fund it, who are you to say it is? As for stimulus, perhaps the area's highways deserve a little of your attention and our federal dollars.

I truly believe that Mayor Daley has never had to try to use the Kennedy or Eisenhower expressways at any time during the daylight hours, without ramps and access being restricted to the rest of us taxpayers.

No, you are right. Let's expand O'Hare and put additional traffic on our already overcrowded highways. Then all of the expected new “”economic traffic” that is going to magically appear can sit bumper to bumper with the rest of it.

I say pay the lawyers. Then fix local transportation issues. Who here is shortsighted? It is time to get off Daley's ill-conceived bandwagon and back something that can really help the area.

John Cieslak

Wood Dale