Alderman "Listening Tour" O'Connor is famous for her listening meetings. Usually though, none of us are invited, except for a few loyal patronage workers, a sprinkling of chamber of commerce pals and the press, of course.
Election time is coming up, everyone. Start attending Alderman O'Connor's meetings to get the skinny on how her hands are tied.
A few runways have been built and more are scheduled to be built in the near future. The result: 41st Ward residents are being deafened by the noise levels.
The solution: invite a few airline CEOs and federal officials to a meeting to explain why we are being subjected to life shortening levels of noise, and ask about a "mitigation" plan.
Stop expanding the airport and close the new troubling runway - now that sounds like the noise mitigation plan residents have been screaming to Alderman "Listening Tour" since she took office. Now, with over the top noise complaints being the top story in last Sunday's Tribune, and the aldermanic election exactly one year away, we get a meeting...
chicagotribune.com
2 aldermen seek hearing on O'Hare jet noise
By Jon HilkevitchTribune reporter
9:55 PM CST, January 16, 2014
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The hearings would focus on the changing noise contours that are the result of new runways, O'Connor said in a email sent to residents of her ward Thursday night.
The call for hearings followed a Tribune report Monday detailing an all-time record for noise complaints involving jets at O'Hare in 2013. Almost 25,000 complaints were filed between January and November — more than for any full year on record since Chicago installed noise-monitoring devices in 1996, officials said. Complaints also sharply increased in November, a month after O'Hare's fourth parallel east-west runway opened. The runway opening triggered an increase in takeoffs and landings east and west of the airport.
O'Connor told residents that she and Laurino want to “gather information about the airline industry's efforts to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on the surrounding population.'”
“I co-sponsored this resolution because I feel it's important to keep the conversation going about these changes that have taken place at O'Hare Airport,'' said O'Connor, who is a supporter of O'Hare expansion.
She said she wants to strike “a balance that fosters economic growth for the region while still respecting the concerns of residents on the Far Northwest Side of the city.'”
Dates for the hearings were not immediately set.
The latest noise complaint report issued by the city, which covers November, includes 2,300 from Chicago. Almost half, or 1,032, came from the 41st Ward. Next was the 45th Ward, with 923 complaints; and the 39th Ward, 247 complaints.
jhilkevitch@tribune.com
Twitter @jhilkevitch
The only way to get O'Connor to do anything is to have a reporter write about it. She responds to media fires, but not to much else. The exception being to mug for school expansion photos with the mayor. The schools are so overcrowded, I'm waiting to see tents put up in the parking lot. It would have been great to see the school expansion photos of kids, teachers and parents only, who have been advocating for more room for years, minus the politicians.
ReplyDeleteHard not to notice, Alderman O'Connor's flurry of activity at this weeks City Council meeting. Introducing proposals for two issues in the news the week before, the city sticker issue with the senior citizens and now the airport noise levels written about last week. More media politics. Sounds like O'Connor has taken the Rahm Emmanual course, "governance via the media"
DeleteThere has been local concern about the O'Hare Expansion plan for years and politicians refused to listen citing economic gains for the community. The local economy will suffer when no one can sell their homes due to noise pollution. The noise near me is unbelievable and shakes the entire house. Building a third airport would have lessoned air traffic and noise in area. Common sense would tell you spreading air traffic around would make noise more tolerable, but politicians have no common sense. They only care about assigning contracts to their friends and political supporters.
ReplyDeleteThese politicians will put up speed camera to save the children, but they will fly endless aircraft over several schools crop dust toxic fumes. I can't wait until the summer !! No eating outside on Northwest Highway, no enjoying our backyards and gardens. We got 60 % more noise, are we going to pay 60% less in taxes? If I was not a city employee I would of just abandoned my house three months ago when this began. I have worked every square mile of this city and I can tell you there is no other safe areas to live in the is city and raise A family. Our political leader are afraid to enforce laws and alienate their voter stock. I hope you consider this in 2015 when our Alderwomen is up for reelection.
ReplyDeleteThe noise was so bad one night I actually slept in my basement !! This is unacceptable considering I live 8 miles from the airport.
The noise is so bad, I have been shaken out of bed and landed on the floor. This is no joke. The blogger is correct in asserting the noise will shorten your life.
ReplyDeleteAlderman calls a "listening" meeting when we are all now deaf from the noise. Like your use of irony 41st Ward News.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Alderman O'Conner will ask the Chicago Hearing Society to set up a satellite office next to hers.
ReplyDeleteooooooooooooOOOOOOOO, Mary O'Connor is calling for "a meeting" and inviting airline officials. I bet they're shaking in their boots.
ReplyDelete