Northern Hills Homeowner's Association

Group Against O'Hare Expansion is Model for Northern Hills

Sep 03, 2000

Note: I feel that this information might be of use to others that are facing the same situation.
FYI: The Suburban O'Hare Commission consists
of 12 communities, two townships and the County of DuPage representing over 1.1 million citizens. They are opposed to the expansion of Chicago O'Hare Airport.)

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Statement by Jack Saporito for the Alliance of Residents Concerning O'Hare to the DesPlaines City Council August 28, 2000

First, I would like to thank the City of DesPlaines for contributing funds for the O'Hare Toxic Pollution and Cancer Risk Study.

As you know, it takes money to protect the health and welfare of the citizens of DesPlaines. While I know it is a very conservative study and only the tip of the iceberg, it is still a real eye opener for community leaders and the public.

I went to Park Ridge several years ago and asked for their help in getting this landmark study made, after many other failed attempts at the local, federal and state levels, which started with me going to my own mayor, Arlene Mulder. Arlene, the chair of Chicago's Noise Compatibility
Commission, would always refuse our attempts, saying that it was noise that people noticed.

I am very concerned that DesPlaines is considering dropping out of Suburban O'Hare Commission (SOC) and joining Chicago. Everyone knows that the Chicago Commission is an O'Hare expansionist group. Recently, even Mayor
Nicholas Blas?© publicly acknowledged that.

This is so important to the O'Hare expansionists that even American Airlines has circulated a petition saying that if DesPlaines quits SOC and joins Chicago's O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission that "This is a change for the good and should be strongly encouraged." American Airlines is condemning SOC for taking Chicago to court so many times and saying that it is in the airline's best interest for DesPlaines to drop SOC. AReCO, along with the Natural Resources Defense Council, also won a settlement against
O'Hare for over 100 violations for the Clean Water Act. If Chicago did the right thing, they would not have to be sued. Court is one of our best defenses against O'Hare's injustices.

Everyone knows that sitting at the table with Chicago's expansionist group is going to harm us. From the very beginning it has been their plan to get communities that are located closer to the airport to join them. It is an effort to make it look like they represent all ommunities. That way, when the vote comes for expansion, they will have majority vote. Everyone knows what will come next. As president also of an international organization representing about 1.5 million members in the United States alone, I have
seen this happen before in other cities. They even teach this tactic in FAA Part 150 School; it is a way for them to market aviation expansion and
makes it appear a democratic process.

It costs money to protect the approximately 80% of your citizens who do not want airport expansion. I suspect that number is higher since the release of the O'Hare Cancer problem was made public. Today, I even received several calls from airport employees, including a union representative.

You are on the right course, doing the right thing; otherwise Chicago, the airlines and other expansionists wouldn't be fighting so hard for you to drop out of SOC and join Chicago. SOC has protected us and, with your support, will continue to do so.

Everyone knows it costs money to support SOC and your community. Membership in Chicago's group is free and paid for by Chicago. When the opposition is picking up the tab, there is a reason.

Everyone knows you get what you pay for. For your citizens' health and welfare, AReCO strongly urges you to do the right thing and support SOC.


Jack Saporito
Pres., US-Citizens Aviation Watch Association www.us-caw.org

Exec. Dir., Alliance of Residents Concerning O'Hare
www.areco.org

Board member, Mothers Against Airport Pollution