[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
We’ve all been hearing a lot about the expansion of Sea-Tac Airport, as well as the revival of the soundproofing program run by the Port of Seattle.
Locally, in airport communities, there has been much excitement about the latter, not so much the former. So went to a public comment event at Cedarhurst Elementary in Burien to see what was up and have my voice heard. I was terribly disappointed.
First, I met someone named “Steve” from the Port. I forget his last name. He was eager to tell me about adjusted flight approach angles, but when I mentioned the expansion of the airport, he claimed complete ignorance. Feeling there must be some misunderstanding, since everybody knows about the planned expansion and the whole reason for the public comment session was to talk about this expansion, I pressed on, explaining the background, how they’d tried to put in an airport around Enumclaw and it was shut down so they’re expanding SEA instead. “Oh, that!” exclaimed Steve in much the same manner as a man, soaked in blood, carrying a blood-drenched ax, and standing over a mutilated corpse might say to a detective, “Oh, that corpse!”
Yes, Steve, that airport expansion.
I meandered off, unconvinced that Steve was either informed about the general existence of specific airports in Washington or especially truthful, and soon met two sad gentlemen who had the duty of informing us plebeian suckers that the entire program to replace failed windows and soundproof homes is a fraud. Yep. Sorry folks, but they told me there are 3200 homes in the “65 DNL” and they are fixing the soundproofing on 8. Not a typo, 8 homes, ¼ of 1% of 3200. (Which they helpfully said was “About 5%”.) Yeah, in the sense that 500mph is about 25 mph. “No, officer, I wasn’t speeding when my F150 became airborne, I was going about 25.” They will not be fixing any more soundproofing. You are screwed.
The Port made a few things abundantly clear at this meeting: they don’t care about airport communities, and they’re happy to lie to us. Also they’re not great at math. The Port treats airport communities like a butcher treats a hog: they’re here to make money, and the welfare of the hog (or us lowly slobs under their flight path) is not their concern. Support the mayors of Burien, SeaTac and Des Moines in calling out the Port’s public comment and engagement as a sham.
– Matthew DeGoede
Port of Seattle Responds
Here’s a response from the Port of Seattle:
“We appreciate all of our neighbors being engaged in our processes here with SEA Airport.
“It sounds like Matthew was at the first of our three Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study Workshops at Cedarhurst Elementary. These workshops were hosted by the Port of Seattle for the multi-year study that evaluates SEA’s aircraft noise compatibility with the surrounding communities and explores current and potential new efforts to reduce the effects of aircraft noise on communities.
“The staff and consultants at the Part 150 Workshops are subject matter experts on noise topics. We believe the person you spoke with was one of our out-of-town consultants who is one of the country’s foremost experts on noise, not a local Port staffer.
“If you’re interested in Part 150 Noise Study information visit our website here. If you’d like to contact the Noise Programs office directly feel free to email at P150@portseattle.org or call 206-787-5393.
“The Sustainable Airport Master Plan referenced is a separate effort evaluating 31 proposed near-term airport projects. We did have people on hand who could have responded to such questions at the Part 150 event but we’re sorry you were not directed to them.
“The SAMP public meetings were earlier in the year and the 90-day comment period ended on August 20. The Port had four in-person, one online, and two meetings with Port Commissioners during that period this year. If you would like to stay up to date on next steps in the SAMP process, you’re encouraged to sign up for our email newsletter specifically on the topic.
“The writer’s reference to an airport around Enumclaw may be referring to the State of Washington looking into a new airport, under the CAWC (Commercial Aviation Work Group). That is not part of the Port of Seattle or SEA Airport, nor is SAMP which started prior to the state process. The state of Washington has not identified a place to build a new regional airport. You should check in with the State for current progress in their work.”
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