Chicago gets FAA approval to spend $182 million on O'Hare expansion design

The FAA blows your money on a pie in the sky expansion of O'Hare. Aside from the questionable legality (the ticket tax was intended to be used for actual construction, not for plans), there is the sight of $182 million going down the drain for a project that the airlines say they don't even want. More proof that the FAA continues to be in the tank for Richard M. Daley

Details are here.

Dist. 214 To Host Special Meeting On O'Hare Ring Road

You mean that after years of hemming and hawing, O'Hare expansion enablers are finally going to tell everyone where the ring road around the airport will go?

Here it here

Daley brushes off questions on link between O'Hare deals, alderman's brother

I know nothing, Daley says.

Who will govern region's 3rd airport?

Here is some background on the fight over the construction of a south suburban airport, which is an important part of the O'Hare Airport expansion saga. It describes the contest between a group of south suburban suburbs that has the better plan and a late-coming Will County group for control over the new airport.

What the story doesn't mention is that the Will County group is a stalking horse for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who didn't want the the realistic prospect of a third regional airport challenging his screw-loose plans to expand O'Hare Airport and the jobs and contracts that would go with it.

The South Suburban Airport Authority was well on the way to locating two major international public works contractors to plan, finance, build and operate the airport at little or no cost to the public. Earlier, Daley had scared off another major builder who was interested in participating in the privatized airport project; the contractor did business with Chicago and Daley threatened to yank away that business.

Still, for more than a year, the South Suburban Airport Authority (affiliated with Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Elk Grove Village) made significant enough progress to worry Daley.

First, he used his influence in Springfield and Washington to "put a brick" on the development of the airport by stalling necessary legislation and administrative action.

Then in the next election, in alliance with the Daley political machine, Democrats made significant strides in Will County (with the help of Chicago patronage workers).

It is important to note that Will County had shown no interest in the airport until Daley became involved. His goal has already been partially achieved: The squabbling for control of the airport has stalled it for an unconscionable long time. If not for the fight (and Daley's intervention) the first stage of the airport could have been up and running today, bringing relief to O'Hare delays.

Tell Congress, no federal funding for O'Hare expansion

Go to the link at Citizens Against Government Waste:

Opponents of O'Hare expansion unveil new campaign

More details on the ad campaign and the failure of the expansion plan are found in the Chicago Tribune

Momentum Shifts, O'Hare Expansion Plans Hit With Reality

Link

Push To Stop O'Hare Expansion

Link

Feds want ex-Blago aide to spill O'Hare info

According to Carol Marin in the Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois Legislators Label O'Hare Expansion Plan as Runway to Nowhere, Tell Congress to Reject Federal Funding of Pork Project

Details of press conference

Here's one mayor that doesn't want "stimulus" money

Bensenville Mayor John Geils goes to Washington to fight against "stimulus" funds being award to O'Hare expansion. Read it in the Daily Herald

More links to kinky dealing at O'Hare Airport

Chicagoist is the latest to take note of the monkey business at O'Hare and how it might threaten the expansion project.

Daley hoping to land funds for O'Hare -- chicagotribune.com

Maybe Mayor Richard M. Daley can explain while he's asking for this money, why he needs it when he and his administration time after time assured us that the money was there to move ahead on this absurd expansion. Maybe he should be required to explain to American taxpayers why they should be called upon to fix his mistakes.

What's that? Only $50 million short?

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley reveals that his federal stimulus package wish list includes $50 million to make up a "deficit" in the O'Hare Airport expansion program. Without the money, he said, the project won't be completed on time, in 2014.

Good one, Richie.

While you're in D.C. begging, why don't you ask for the billions of dollars that the program lacks, because the airlines won't commit to financing the second phase. Well, at least you're finally admitting that you're short some dough, even though it's just a tiny fraction of what you're truly lacking.

Stimulus Sparks Debate Over O'Hare Expansion - MarketWatch

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. argues that the stimulus package should not be used to fund the $20-billion white-elephant, O'Hare Airport Expansion. The south suburban airport would cost only a fraction of that--$500 million, funded by private sources--and solve the region's aviation congestion problem better than expanding O'Hare.

More shenanigans at O'Hare

Friend of Rod Blagojevich hit with new federal charges -- chicagotribune.com

Mayor Daley Looking for Piece of Stimulus Pie

Political Machine - Politics Blog, Opinion and Analysis - AOL News

O'Hare Expansion Opponents Decry Possible Loss Of Cemetery

In Aero-News Network

Pat Quinn, Illinois' new governor, opposed O'Hare expansion

Will he continue to? It will be a test of his independence from the bi-partisan combine that runs Illinois

Daily Herald | What Gov. Quinn means for the suburbs