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Unnecessary airport grab costing big bucks
So, the state and city are spending a boat load of taxpayer cash – close to $1 million and counting – on a fight over control of Charlotte Douglas International Airport that didn’t have to happen. Who knew?
We’d say most anyone who was observing this wasteful boondoggle orchestrated by unwise, meddling, power-grasping N.C. lawmakers. This editorial board noted early on that the state’s strong-arming to wrest away control of the Charlotte airport was wrongheaded. We agree with city attorney Bob Hagemann that “the whole effort by the legislature was unfair and not needed.”
Even GOP Gov. Pat McCrory belatedly acknowledged last month that the city should retain control and ownership of the airport. It might not have made a difference, but we wish he had spoken up during the legislative session when his fellow Republicans in the legislature were blindsiding Charlotte city leaders and ramming through troublesome, unnecessary legislation.
Only the city has revealed exactly how much money it has spent on legal costs to stall the state law passed in July that would shift control of the airport from the city to a new commission. More than $397,000 was spent on work from outside law firms. The commission wouldn’t disclose how much it has spent, but its legal bills are expected to be similar in size. What the new commission chairman, Robert Stolz, would say is this: “The amount of money being spent on this situation is outrageous.”
We’d say most anyone who was observing this wasteful boondoggle orchestrated by unwise, meddling, power-grasping N.C. lawmakers. This editorial board noted early on that the state’s strong-arming to wrest away control of the Charlotte airport was wrongheaded. We agree with city attorney Bob Hagemann that “the whole effort by the legislature was unfair and not needed.”
Even GOP Gov. Pat McCrory belatedly acknowledged last month that the city should retain control and ownership of the airport. It might not have made a difference, but we wish he had spoken up during the legislative session when his fellow Republicans in the legislature were blindsiding Charlotte city leaders and ramming through troublesome, unnecessary legislation.
Only the city has revealed exactly how much money it has spent on legal costs to stall the state law passed in July that would shift control of the airport from the city to a new commission. More than $397,000 was spent on work from outside law firms. The commission wouldn’t disclose how much it has spent, but its legal bills are expected to be similar in size. What the new commission chairman, Robert Stolz, would say is this: “The amount of money being spent on this situation is outrageous.”
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/12/15/4543249/unnecessary-airport-grab-costing.html#.Uq-_-haDnww#storylink=cpy