Free Republic

The city of Chicago (in particular, its taxpayers) could face fines approaching $5 million for its midnight assault on Meigs Field 18 months ago. The FAA announced Friday it's proposing the city be fined $33,000 (the maximum) for failing to provide 30 days notice of the closure. The agency also said it was launching an investigation into whether $1.5 million in federal funds that were supposed to be spent on development of O'Hare International were diverted to pay the contractor hired to tear up Meigs. If it's true, the penalty could reach as high as $4.5 million. City spokeswoman Annette...

FAA is taking legal action against the City of Chicago for its surprise closure of Meigs Field in March 2003, the agency said Friday. FAA is proposing a $33,000 civil penalty against the city for violating the 30-day notice period for the closure (DAILY, April 1, 2003). The agency will separately investigate whether the city improperly diverted $1.5 million in restricted airport revenues to pay for demolishing the Meigs runway. -AS

Feb. 11 — AOPA's claim that the city of Chicago violated federal law and aviation regulations when it shut down Meigs Field last March has merit, says the FAA, and will be investigated. AOPA filed a formal complaint following the destruction of Meigs's runway on Mayor Richard M. Daley's order, claiming the city failed to provide adequate notice, as required by the FARs. The complaint will not result in the airport's reopening but can lead to the mayor and the city being punished for their actions. "AOPA intends to push for the appropriate penalty to be imposed on the city,"...

Never mind that the Chicago City Council went on record in January opposing the war in Iraq. The unforgettable image of Saddam Hussein's statue being pulled down in a giddily liberated Baghdad was enough to convince Mayor Daley that Operation Iraqi Freedom was justified. "This type of action proves the president was right. The people there--and I hope everyone understands that--they want some form of democracy," the mayor said. "All the sudden, they're out there praising [coalition forces] in celebration. They lived under this type of regime. It shows you the president was right." On Jan. 16, Chicago climbed aboard...

March 31, 2003 — Meigs Field is now out of service after the city cut into its runway. According to the city and the FAA, Mayor Daley has the authority to close Meigs, but many want to know why he chose to do it now-and in the middle of the night. Very few people knew what was about to happen when the heavy equipment rolled into Meigs Field Sunday night at about 11:30. The FAA wasn't even informed until 2 a.m. Monday, well after the hired crews had started carving four X's into Meigs runway. "I still can't believe it...