pudge's Journal: Democratic County Council Vows to Break Promise

Even I didn't think they would go this far. Shows what I know.

Small passenger service airline Allegiant Air wants to have service at Paine Field in Snohomish County. Because the county has accepted millions of dollars from the federal government, it is prohibited from discriminating against any type of aviation use, including commercial service.

But the four Democrats on the County Council have vowed to do precisely that: discriminate against Allegiant Air, simply because of the service it provides. And now the FAA is threatening to pull funding.

The FAA made a point of noting that the county "is obligated to make areas available for lease on reasonable terms and negotiate in good faith," because the county clearly is not meeting those obligations.

Even if funding is pulled -- as perhaps some people would prefer to having Allegiant Air service -- it would still represent Snohomish County turning its back on its obligations, its promises. When you take the money, you are promising you will abide by the terms, not just at the moment, but for the future. The runways and so on are paid for with the expectation that aviators will not be discriminated against.

The Democrats on the Council are breaking the promise Snohomish County made. It's not right.

I personally couldn't care less either way about Paine Field. I don't live close to it. And if I did live there, I probably wouldn't want expanded air service. But rules are rules, and promises are promises, and I do have an interest in my county doing what it promises it will do.

Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.

Good article.

[rholliday]

Ends with, "Shortly after vowing to fight the airline, County Council members accepted a $3.1 million federal grant to replace a 60-year-old wooden fire station at Paine Field." I wonder if that was really noted by anyone present. People never seem to realize or understand that federal money comes with obligations. It's not like they're hidden, they're usually quite plainly stated.

Re:

[pudge]

Yeah, I am not a big fan of taking the money, but since we did, we follow our obligations. And if we do want out, then we need to talk to the FAA and try to get out, not just unilaterally ignore our obligations.

Re:

[ces]

You've got to wonder if Boeing might have something to say about telling the feds to piss off.

Re:

[multimed]

People never seem to realize or understand that federal money comes with obligations.

A when federal funds don't come with immediate strings - like No Child Left Behind which attempted to provide schools with funding, but also the freedom to determine where to best spend it - it's endlessly vilified as an unfunded mandate.

What's the objection?

[multimed]

Pudge I'm curious - what is the argument against letting Allegiant Air come in? Generally speaking, don't most municipalities actually want commercial flight service? Isn't it a good thing for business, economic development and general travel for their constituients? And more specifically, Allegiant Air seems to have some really great deals. I have family in both Las Vegas & Phoenix - Green Bay to either of those places via Allegiant Air is almost always cheaper than any other carrier, typically $7

Re:

[pudge]

Pudge I'm curious - what is the argument against letting Allegiant Air come in?

Neighbors and noise.

Of course, the County let the neighborhood get built up knowing FULL WELL that Paine Field was required to let commercial air service come in if it wished.