Chicago Shuts Down Meigs Field; Critics Cry Foul
Runways Closed With No Notice, Airport Supporters Say
Posted: 7:36 am CST March 31, 2003Updated: 1:23 pm CST March 31, 2003
CHICAGO -- 
City crews apparently began demolishing Meigs Field, Chicago's small lakefront airport, Sunday night. Workers used heavy earthmoving equipment to dig up portions of the runways, marking each one with an "X" and shutting down air traffic.The road leading into Meigs was also closed.Mayor Richard M. Daley said years ago that he wanted to close Meigs Field, but he told former Gov. George Ryan he would keep it open at least through 2006. That agreement was only on a handshake, however.A spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich said that his office was unaware of the city's plan, with the governor only learning of it from his staff Monday morning."The governor has supported shutting down Meigs Field for a long time," said Cheryl Jackson, director of communications with the governor's office. "It's the city's decision. The city owns the property," she added.Jackson said that Gov. Blagojevich shares Daley's concern that Meigs Field presents a security concern for residents of the area, saying that's why the governor wants it shutdown.Rachel Goodstein, spokeswoman of "Friends of Meigs," said her group was given no notice and, as far as she knew, no notice was given to aviation authorities."I think it's outrageous that it was done in the middle of the night without notice," Goodstein said. "There are something like 10 or 12 planes that are now stranded there."Goodstein went on to argue that Meigs Field is an asset to the city and its security.Mayor Daley recently won a fight with federal authorities to restrict air space over Chicago, as part of the city's security measures.FAA Reaction
Federal Aviation Administration officials said they were concerned to learn Monday morning that Meigs Field was shut down.The FAA said removing any centrally located airport, such as Meigs, puts added pressure on Chicago's O'Hare International and Midway airports.FAA Great Lakes region spokesman Tony Molinaro said the city can close Meigs because it is an "unobligated airport." That means the city has paid back all the federal money that was given to it for the airport.
City crews apparently began demolishing Meigs Field, Chicago's small lakefront airport, Sunday night. Workers used heavy earthmoving equipment to dig up portions of the runways, marking each one with an "X" and shutting down air traffic.The road leading into Meigs was also closed.Mayor Richard M. Daley said years ago that he wanted to close Meigs Field, but he told former Gov. George Ryan he would keep it open at least through 2006. That agreement was only on a handshake, however.A spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich said that his office was unaware of the city's plan, with the governor only learning of it from his staff Monday morning."The governor has supported shutting down Meigs Field for a long time," said Cheryl Jackson, director of communications with the governor's office. "It's the city's decision. The city owns the property," she added.Jackson said that Gov. Blagojevich shares Daley's concern that Meigs Field presents a security concern for residents of the area, saying that's why the governor wants it shutdown.Rachel Goodstein, spokeswoman of "Friends of Meigs," said her group was given no notice and, as far as she knew, no notice was given to aviation authorities."I think it's outrageous that it was done in the middle of the night without notice," Goodstein said. "There are something like 10 or 12 planes that are now stranded there."Goodstein went on to argue that Meigs Field is an asset to the city and its security.Mayor Daley recently won a fight with federal authorities to restrict air space over Chicago, as part of the city's security measures.FAA ReactionFederal Aviation Administration officials said they were concerned to learn Monday morning that Meigs Field was shut down.The FAA said removing any centrally located airport, such as Meigs, puts added pressure on Chicago's O'Hare International and Midway airports.FAA Great Lakes region spokesman Tony Molinaro said the city can close Meigs because it is an "unobligated airport." That means the city has paid back all the federal money that was given to it for the airport.
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