CRAMA January 2007 Update

Some of you, unfortunately, may have received our November Update with an erroneous website address. Here is the correct one: www.qwest.users.net/~rostp. Sorry for that error.

Still no real developments on the GRIC (Gila River Indian Community) side that we know of. Yet, some comments in the newspapers suggest that internally the GRIC is discussing the airport project; only it may not be their top priority. We are continuing our efforts to assure that we will be the first to know when GRIC has made a decision. We also know that we are not the only ones eagerly awaiting an announcement. Stellar Airpark and Chandler Municipal Airport are just two of the many others who want to know. After all, a decision to proceed may have consequences for these two aviation centers.

Since last Update, we not only had an excellent meeting with the Director of AZ Dept of Transportation, the Director of Aviation and the Governor's Advisor on Tribal Affairs, but we also spent an hour with Mayor Dunn of the City of Chandler. In addition, we have made presentations to various civic groups and clubs.

Now we are in the process of developing a formal request for an environmental impact study to be conducted by the FAA for the south Valley. We hope to have this request co-signed by several concerned state entities, so that this is not just a CRAMA initiative, but rather one that includes the city, the county and possibly even the state.

The Chandler City Council has in the meantime approved the lengthening of the Chandler Municipal Airport's runway. You may also have read articles in the papers regarding home developments around that airport. While most agree that commercial developments are no problem, many feel that the proximity of the airport does not make the area suitable for a residential development. Some developers may be willing to take the gamble. Yet speaking to realtors, we find that several have already lost sales once they disclosed the proximity of an airport to potential buyers, even an airport that is only in "a planning stage" such as Memorial Airfield. Even Boeing Company has spoken out against residential developments around airports, specifically the Williams Gateway Airport and Chandler. Here, however, in both cases it involves developments around established airports and the citizens will be able to vote on the matter. We do not have this opportunity when it comes to Memorial Airfield.

But our voices are heard. Especially when we bring up the number of petitions that have been signed. That is why we are not giving up on our petition drive. If you already have signed a petition, you need not sign another. We count them, we log them and store them, so one per person is all we need.

But as we have said before, these petitions are our only means of expressing our opposition to the Memorial Airfield project. If you know someone who has not signed one yet, urge them to do so today. We will gladly provide the petitions. They are available at www.users.qwest.net/~rostp or request some by email at crama2@prodigy.net or by writing us: CRAMA, PO Box 13204, Chandler, AZ 85248 and we will mail you some.