www.SanTanSun.com
Opinion
June 2 - 15, 2007 31
Letters
to the
Editor
A great place for a
It was all those many, many man hours Thanks again for everything. Thanks express your opinion before a decision
bad situation
and the selfl ess service that made the for allowing me to bring the passion of my is made. Petition forms and information
Two days ago my car broke down on the
difference in the outcome of the election.
world at an airport into your world and are available on our website www.users.
freeway. However, I got it into Chandler,
To all of you out there who stepped up
forgive me for getting too carried away. qwest.net/~rostp or email us at crama2@
John Walkup, Chandler Air Service prodigy.net and we will gladly supply the
a completely new community for me.
and helped out in any way - 3 cheers!
forms.
Now I will always remember the many
Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Third strike, you’re out Say NO to a busy jet airport in Southeast
kindhearted people who live there.
And, 3 cheers for the democratic
John Walkup of Chandler Air Service Chandler.
My most grateful thanks go to Cupid’s
process; once again the voice of the people
seems to believe that the citizens of South Erik Mikkelsen, Crama co-chairman
Hot Dogs, Vision Gallery, Phoenix Flower
was heard.
Chandler “don’t understand” the runway and Oakwood resident
Shop, Lite Link Church, Scythe and
Beverly Parris, Chandler
extension proposal. We are all ignorant
Spade Company and to a most gracious
voters. John, it was voted down three Mayor right on with
anonymous giver who all paid the entire
Runway extension
times! The residents of South Chandler do casino comments
cost of repairs at the Muscle Car Garage
movement will carry on
not want a “celebrity jet port” operating
I’m pleasantly surprised by what
where the work was promptly and
As most of you know by now, the airport
24/7 and 365 days a year in our backyard.
our mayor has been saying about the
professionally accomplished.
bond question 10 did not pass. All other
Perhaps John Walkup should relocate
upcoming casino. His comments show
A big Thank You to everyone!
bonds passed with a great success margin.
to Williams Gateway to support the
some solid understanding of the issue. It’s
John Lindell, Mona, Arkansas
We did not succeed. I am sorry but it was
politicians and business executives who
not even close. 5803 against (54%), and
also really nice to see him not only care
need to “jet” into Chandler. But it doesn’t
but also get involved. Some of his points

4983 for (46%), a difference of 863 votes.
stop there. According to a recent article,
Downtown loses
The turnout was a little over 11,000 voters
are really on the mark. For example:
John wants to go back to the council
another friend
out of over 97,000. This was one of the
Hunt Highway. Mr. Dunn is correct in
and amend the ordinance requiring the
lowest turnouts in a long time.
that this is not a highway at all. It’s a small,
vote of the citizens to extend the runway.
Congratulations to the other committees
local, two-lane road down here in south
John if you want to further galvanize the
and the other nine questions! They all did
South Chandler residents, do just that.
Chandler. It’s not made for tons of traffi c.
a great job. It was a pleasure to meet and
The message will be clear and swift to
Traffi c, volume and speed. Excessive
work directly with so many community
any council members proposing such a
speed is a problem plaguing too many
leaders.
change: beware of the recall. You lost
of our roads here in Chandler. Surface
I want to thank all of you who took the
fair and square three times, now you
streets like Riggs are running at 55+ mph.
time to write letters, go to meetings, put up
want politicians to bypass the will of the
Not sure how to address this one.
signs, take down signs, help make up fl yers,
people.
Not much we all can do. Mr. Dunn
distribute fl yers, and lend moral support.
Speaking of ordinances, how about
is really correct on this point. The Gila
Special thanks to Kyle Moyer & Company
an ordinance that blocks all jet traffi c River Indian Community doesn’t have
and his troops for getting much of the
into Chandler airport? During the Bond to answer or care about anyone. Based
STSN photo
design, mailings and ads together and out.
10 media fl ow, the citizens were told on their actions to date, this certainly
ON TV: The 3-TV crew with Brad Perry from
They were indispensable. Bill Briscoe for
KTVK-TV when they paid a visit to Cupid’s.
that without the extension the airport is
seems to be the direction they are taking.
keeping the books and accounting reports
“unsafe” for jet operations. Well it’s not
Often in business, when one comes
They seem to be going full bore with their
up to keep the city clerk happy. Everyone
extended, so for the sake of safety, jet
in, another goes out. Historic downtown
plans for both this casino as well as their
who asked someone to vote and got a few
operations should cease. See John, we do
Chandler is no different from any other.
airfi eld. The heck with any other folks or
more. Those of you and your companies
understand.
We all seem to notice the new businesses
neighbors.
who made contributions to make this
Oh, and in case you think I am an anti
that come in, but forget to remember the possible have been a blessing.
What really gets me is that we don’t
private aviation person, I have a single
ones that slip quietly away. Cupid’s is just Chandler is the only city I have ever
have any recourse. If this was being done
engine license and started fl ying 40 years
that. By the time you read this, Cupid’s known that has an ordinance that requires
by, say, an adjacent town or city, I’m
ago.
Hot Dogs will be gone, Closed quietly a vote to extend the runway. To get the
certain this whole process would be done
Alex Gernert, Brooks Ranch
by owners John and Sue Wurster of Sun
citizens to vote on airport improvements
differently. There’s been examples of this
Lakes. They have owned Cupid’s for just
is not the norm and a runway extension
Another airport
already in Chandler, i.e. retail development
over 3-1/2 years. The term “owned” does
is unheard of. I hoped beyond hope we
expansion to worry about
with Tempe, etc. Since this is a Native
not do them justice. They worked it, and
could set a precedent and get this done.
American community, what? Are they part
The Chandler Municipal runway
worked it hard. John and Sue were in there
From the very beginning I knew it was
extension bond failed because residents
of our state, our country? They don’t have
all the time cooking, serving, cleaning,
a slim chance to get it passed. But if we
do not want a busier jet airport in their
to answer to anyone except themselves?
ordering and talking with the many loyal
didn’t, who was going to make this vital
neighborhood. Well residents, if you did
Sorry, but that’s not the way it’s supposed
patrons, doing everything that makes
need a reality? So it was worth the risk. I
not like the idea of an 850-foot extension
to work, not here.
a small restaurant work. And Cupid’s
am very sorry it failed and hope you will
at Chandler what do you think of an 8,000-
I’m sorry if the GRIC has had issues
seemed to always have a good crowd.
not hold me at fault for taking your time,
foot runway at Memorial Airfi eld with an
in the past with Chandler, our county,
So, why did they close, you ask?
energy and money for something that was
additional 6,000-foot parallel runway?
whomever. My concern is that I’m
Depends on who you talk to. You’ll hear
going to be so tough.
On the Chandler issue you were able to
seeing a neighbor who doesn’t seem to
rent increases and personal health issues.
You should be very proud of what you
vote. Unfortunately, you will not have this
know the fi rst thing about being a good
did to work on this project. I am very
Things that affect all businesses. I am not
option when it comes to the Memorial neighbor. I’ve lived and worked with a
proud of what we did. I am proud of what
here to judge. What I know is what I saw
Airfi eld located about 1 mile west of the lot of different cultures. Getting different
I did. We followed all the rules, met all the
and ate. A lot of daily hard work went into
Intel facility on Dobson Rd. That is on the folks together is always a challenge;
requirements and everything we said was
Cupid’s. And many Southern Chandler
Gila River Indian Community land. We do
however, when you do it right, the results
true. Our opponents did not do any of
patrons will miss Cupid’s.
not vote there.
can be extraordinary. What doesn’t work
those things.
It is sad that in this day of fast food
Fortunately, GRIC has recently shown
is refusing to communicate and behavior
So what is next, you may ask?
willingness to sit down and discuss
franchises that the Wursters had to work so
that seems to be antagonistic.
The ordinance was enacted by a
projects with its neighbors - projects on
hard just to keep up. I asked John recently
Mr. Dunn, thank you for getting
previous council at the request of a few
the Community land, which may have
why the departure. He said, “I’m tired ...
involved with this. Between the casino
and not put to vote. The city ordinance
impact on the neighboring communities.
real tired. And all this hard work should
and airfi eld, a lot of us here in Chandler,
must be changed and/or eliminated.
We hope this dialogue will continue on
have added up to something, right?”
Airport decisions should go through
especially in south Chandler, are very
all issues. CRAMA (Concerned Residents
It did, John and Sue. It did. Many of us
the public hearing process and council
concerned about the actions of the GRIC.
About Memorial Airfi eld) will maintain
appreciated you while you were here and
makes the fi nal decision. Out of 250,000
While some of us have to bend over so
its efforts for pre-decisional consultations
will miss you now that you are gone.
people and 97,000 registered voters, the
with the appropriate authorities.
these folks can exercise their rights, what
Good-bye, Cupid’s.
responsibility of managing and running
However, residents do have an option
about the rest of us? Believe it or not, you
Geoff Hancock, Fox Crossing
an airport for the safety of all was put in
for expressing an opinion regarding the
can create solutions that are a win for
the hands of 863 people. We elected a
development of the Memorial Airfi eld into
everyone.
Airport vote kudos council to look to the many and not satisfy
a jet airport larger than the Scottsdale
Paul Aspen, Springfi eld Lakes
Thank you for all the letters and the few. The runway must be extended for Airport. Sign the CRAMA petition.
comments you printed about the runway the preservation of life and this city, and CRAMA, a grassroots effort formed
extension. I am sure they had a big effect not the hindrance of it. in spring of 2005, has not only alerted
Letters to the Editor
We know you have your opinion! Share it with
on the outcome of the election.
I will take a break, catch my breath and residents of the potential problems but
the SanTan Sun News. Unless you’re the Mayor,
Kudos to all the folks who gave so much
go to work on our elected representatives also our state and federal representatives. please keep your letters around 200-300 words, or
personal time to help get the information
to make the proper decision. If they can So far more than 8,300 southeast Valley
they may be edited for length. Include your fi rst
and last name, community or development name in
out concerning the airport runway issue.
survive a little Covance episode, they residents have already signed the petition
Southern Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun
surely can take on 850 feet of asphalt. Let to Congress opposing this development.
Groves, etc.) or zip code and daytime phone number
me know if you wish to be on this team. I Votes count! We urge you to sign the
for verifi cation. Anonymous letters are not typically
accepted. Email is the preferred submission method,
have a couple already. CRAMA petition. This is your chance to to Letters@SanTanSun.com.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72