As 2018 drew to a close, a determined group of community and environmental leaders from around Westchester County gathered together.
They all had experience advocating for a limited and environmentally responsible County airport. Many had been active in opposing recent airport expansion schemes, such as the 2018 privatization drive, the 2016 initiative to "reform" our County's unique Terminal Use Regulations that shield us from unlimited commercial airline flights, and years-long march toward a new airport Master Plan designed to facilitate expansion. Many had campaigned actively for George Latimer's successful bid to become Westchester County Executive.
A year into the new County administration, the people assembled could point to some progress.
The County had not gone ahead with a pending privitization bid, though privitization is not yet off the table. A number of new portable noise monitoring devices had been purchased, but deployment and study was lagging. A few attendees had been appointed by Executive Latimer to sit on the County's Airport Advisory Board, which at least no longer belittled community members who voiced distress about harmful airport impacts and the potential for pollution of the Kensico Reservoir, which lies just a tenth of a mile away from the airport and supplies drinking water to millions of people in Westchester and NYC.
Overall, however, the mood was one of frustration and concern. No one felt progress was even close to sufficient.
The County was contending with counter-pressure from certain aviation and business interests, as well as limited budget and resources. No one felt that airport policy-making had shifted as much as it needed to ensure community and environmental interests would be adequately addressed. No one perceived enough openness and inclusion for grassroots representatives. No one saw the Advisory Board as able to make change on its own.
Out of this, the Coalition to Prevent Westchester Airport Expansion was born as 2019 got underway.
A Vision Statement was crafted and an outreach and advocacy strategy developed. The Coalition would function as the big tent, uniting organizations, communities, businesses, families and individuals with a stake in containing the County airport and addressing the harm and risks it brings to our community and region.
The Coalition does not aim to close or cripple the airport. It seeks to maintain it as the vibrant but limited County airport it has traditionally been, serving primarily light general and corporate aviation with explicit limitations on commercial airline use. Given the region's aviation congestion around NYC, schemes to expand use of our airport are ever-present and require continued vigilance. The Coalition can more effectively watchdog the airport and County, and obtain a seat at the table than its fragmented parts.
The Coalition seeks to partner with the County administration, which has pledged to prioritize environmental and community interests. We have good reason for optimism IF
we can demonstrate that broad-based support exists for limiting growth at the airport and aggressively protecting the adjacent Kensico Reservoir and Blind Brook watersheds as well as the surrounding communities.
The easiest time to mobilize is when there is a crisis. The best time to mobilize is before there's a crisis.
Please join with us as a Supporter. Better still, explore how you can Take Action and get involved.
