With Minneapolitans once again opening their windows
this Spring -- or at least the ones in homes without
HVAC systems paid for by the Metropolitan Airports
Commission -- I suggest revisiting the subject of
excessive airplane noise.
Let's assume, for argument's sake, that we're stuck
with the airport "status quo" for the forseeable
future because: a) no one in government is serious
about doing anything; and b) new airports, runways,
etc. take a long time to plan and build.
What alternatives does that leave the growing number
of people who are experiencing more and more plane
noise?
Sit-ins at the airport may garner attention, but they
haven't done anything -- at least so far -- to reduce
airplane noise. What's needed is a graduated,
multi-step strategy that wields a real "stick" --
after first dangling a "carrot."
1. Declare an immediate, unilateral curfew on all
late-night flights. Whatever Minneapolis city
ordinances say about loud music -- not allowed from 10
p.m. to 7 a.m., I'm guessing -- should apply to
airport activity, too. Iraq is subject to a "no fly
zone" -- so should Northwest Airlines and our city
airport.
2. If the appropriate branch(es) of government won't
declare such a curfew, then citizens' groups (ROAR?)
should declare their own voluntary curfew.
3. Next, the curfew sponsor(s) should monitor who
abides by that curfew -- and who violates it. I heard
more than a dozen planes flying over SW Minneapolis
between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mon. night; whose were
they, and what were they carrying? People? Cargo?
The easiest way to generate such a list would be to
require the airport (Metropolitan Airports
Commission?) to compile it. Alternatively, if the
Minneapolis City Council has subpoena power, it should
use it.
If neither of the above works, find someone "on the
ground" willing to keep a log, while they're waiting
to fall asleep. Shouldn't be too hard . . .
4. Publicize the list of violators -- widely.
Companies will go to surprising lengths to quiet
criticism (unless, of course, they don't have
competition).
5. If that doesn't work, organize boycotts of
companies identified in #3. Make them choose between
the negligible income associated with curfew-violating
flights, vs. a general -- or at least local --
consumer boycott of their products or services.
6. If that doesn't have an effect, target customers of
curfew-violating companies. This strategy is no
different than targeting "johns" as well as
prostitutes, drug users as well as drug sellers, etc.
If you want to have an effect, tackle both sides of
the problem (i.e., supply AND demand).
Of course, there are other approaches as well.
Everyone can just get used to more and more obnoxious
plane noise -- how depressing! Or, the people who are
most disturbed by the noise can try to move someplace
else, if they can afford it.
Neither approach is becoming of a truly progressive
community -- particularly one that prides itself on
its "quality of life."
Can anyone seriously imagine commercial jets buzzing
residential neighborhoods in the middle of the night
in places like D.C. or San Francisco? Of course not;
those communities wouldn't stand for it.
Neither should ours . . .
Ross Kaplan
Fulton
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