A joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Health and Humans Services subcommittee is going to hold the long-awaited hearing on the closing of Horace Williams Airport on Thursday morning.
Look for, perhaps, some real surprises. From the calendar:
APPROPRIATIONS 643 8:30 am
H.B. 73 Improve State Construction Process.
S.B. 1119 State Budget Act/Technical Correction.
APPROPRIATIONS/Education (JOINT) and 643 9:00 am
APPROPRIATIONS/Health and Human Services (JOINT)
Discussion on the planned closing of Horace Williams Airport.
Just wondering what kind of surprises you’re expecting with regard to the closing of the airport… And why?
I was under the imression that the closure of Horace Williams Airport was a done deal. Just what “surprises” are you expecting? …And why?
Working on it now. Be sure to pick up a paper tomorrow.
The planes were roaring in all day yesterday (Wed.) so you can figure AOPA is converging. Based on WCHL’s reports this morning, they are resuming their full-court press, including the usual mis-information about what AHEC does (the “E” stands for Education, not emergency — their flights are mainly for outreach education, some clinical assistance but not to rural areas — most often Wilmington, Charlotte, etc., and a lot of ferrying of Univ. officials). They’ve also cranked out the old “we’re an asset, we provide jobs” clap.
Will this wealthy special interest group’s special interest outweigh the Univ.’s and the town’s will re: HWA? Will pilot Bob Epting’s partner, Joe Hackney, stay out of it? Will the subcommittee cave to the usual inundation of propaganda and pressure tactics? Stay tuned.
Seems that our worst nightmare may yet become a reality. The airport stays right where it is AND Carolina North grows up around it. Time for members of the town council to raise their voices before it’s too late, IMHO.