Republic Airport

The airport has considerable value to the general aviation that it serves. It is subsidized 80% by the federal government. If the well-off, if not to say rich, Long Islanders think this airport is so valuable, perhaps they should pay for it. Why do these privileged few need help from the rest of us?

We may want to stay away from that “class warfare” argument altogether because that goes nowhere. We should look at this valuable piece of real estate in terms of “the best and highest use’ concept. Are the taxpayers of the Town and County getting the same tax revenue as they would from say, a research park? Are they getting any tax revenues? Could multi-family housing be incorporated into the property? Could high-tech manufacturing be done here? Could all, or some of these things be done while preserving an emergency landing facility? If we did keep the runway available on an emergency only basis could we continue all or part of the federal subsidy?

These are some of the questions we should be asking. I have no objections to the property continuing as an airport, but if you want it, pony-up. Don’t lay it on the general public.

When you add up all of the costs to prop up Republic Airport maybe we should just consider closing it.

Ernie Fazio
LIMBA