Chicagos Crime
Chicagos Mayor wasting Taxpayers Money. FAA Determines Meigs Closure Illegal, Imposes Maximum Fine.
Nearly 2 1/2 years after the fact, the FAA has determined that Mayor Richard Daley violated federal law when he ordered bulldozers to carve large “X’s” into the runway at Chicago’s lakefront jewel, Merrill C. Meigs Field, after midnight March 30, 2003. As a result, the FAA has levied a $33,000 fine, the maximum allowed by law, on the city. “This vindicates what we’ve said all along,” said Steve Whitney, president of the Friends of Meigs Field. “Mayor Daley’s midnight massacre of Meigs was illegal. Good government doesn’t happen in the secret of night.” The group calls on Daley himself to pay the fine. “The Mayor of Chicago knew when he did this that it was illegal and would incur fines,” said Whitney. “Taxpayers should be outraged if they are made to pay for such blatant abuse of power.” The FAA is also investigating whether the city improperly used over $2.8 million in restricted federal aviation funds designated for airport improvement. According to documents filed by the City of Chicago in December, $2,887,462 in airport funds was spent to demolish Meigs and make way for a nature park. If found in violation, the city may incur additional fines of $8 million or more. For more information, visit www.friendsofmeigs.org.