SMAAC Virtual Forum experiment was a mixed bag, unfortunately

BY JIM SPENSLEY

The 2010 SMAAC Virtual Forum: Future Use and Governance of MSP International Airport ran from July 12 to Aug. 10. All 13 candidates for Minnesota governor as filed for primary elections were invited to participate, and seven accepted. Their opening statements on four topics were posted on bulletin boards.

SMAAC posed questions to the candidates concerning appointments to Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Chair and Commission; MAC’s plan to dedicate the Lindbergh Terminal for the Delta Airlines hub; long-term plan for MSP expansion and what to do when the small size and urban location of MSP becomes a problem.

SMAAC wanted the next governor to accept responsibility for safe and sufficient air transportation services in Minnesota and let voters, travelers, airlines and Minnesota businesses know their plans.

The responses by the candidates were quite different. Some were better informed than others, and some were quite original, but not enough people reviewed the candidates’ input, although there could be a surge over the final
weekend.

On the positive side, the importance of MAC appointments was confirmed.
The candidates expressed fairly wide-ranging philosophies of government. For example, former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton took the position that a remark by Representative Emmer needed a general housecleaning. Emmer said, “MAC is charged with balancing the economic benefits of efficient and plentiful air travel with the social costs associated with ensuring that service.”

Dayton said the Commission had too long catered to Delta/Northwest and ignored neighbors of MSP. Emmer denied the statutory requirement for MAC to assure the residents of the metropolitan area of the minimum environmental impact from air navigation and transportation, and to that end provide for noise abatement, control of airport area land use, and other protective measures; and, promote the overall goals of the state’s environmental policies and minimize the public’s exposure to noise and safety hazards around airports [MN Stat. 473.602].
SMAAC will be reporting more about the Virtual Forum proceedings and the remarks posted by the primary election winners.