Runway boondoggle should be stopped

We all learned how fragile the air we breath last month as smoke from the wildfires in Canada drifted across our area making being outdoors hazardous and dangerous. Most of us didn't even know what AQI (Air Quality Index) was. We do now.

Even before the Canadian wildfire smoke, air quality was a concern with the Waukegan Airport's plans to build a longer runway solely so a handful of corporate executives can fly their jets further without refueling. Corporate jets produce much greater per-passenger air pollution than commercial airliners. Two schools and two parks will have worse AQI from these corporate jets. Already Lake County has 130 to 144 poor air quality days annually. Should we risk the health of hundreds for the convenience of a few? Of course not.

The longer runway will take 52 acres of Forest Preserve taxpayer-purchased open space. In the past, the Waukegan Port Authority has issued Alternate Bonds for their capital projects. To finance their share of this $182 million project they will likely do it again. These bonds put Waukegan property taxpayers at risk of a multimillion property tax increase by securing airport expansion bonds with a property tax levy without a vote of Waukegan residents.

This boondoggle must be stopped to protect the physical and financial health of Waukegan, Beach Park and Zion residents.

Bill Morris

Waukegan