Friday, May 18,
2001
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North side commissioners decline to fight airport By DAVE
HAMRICK
Fulton County commissioners Wednesday "slapped the citizens of South Fulton in the face," said District 7 Commissioner William "Bill" Edwards. "I'm very disappointed," said Edwards following the commission's 3-3 vote on his proposed resolution opposing extension of Hartsfield International Airport's fifth runway. The vote was divided along north-south lines, with those representing areas south of I-20 in favor of the resolution, and those in the north opposing. Officials broke ground for the runway last month. It is approved as a 6,000-foot commuter runway, but city of Atlanta officials are seeking federal approval to add 3,000 more feet to allow large passenger planes to take off and land there. South Fulton residents have risen up in loud opposition to the plan, saying the region has already experienced more than its share of noise and pollution from the airport and other environmental hazards situated disproportionately in the south. A consultant hired by the commission to study the environmental impact of extending the runway has reported that the extension would constitute a breach of environmental justice, meaning it would have negative environmental impact that disproportionately affects minorities and low-income people. Edwards argued that the County Commission's policies require that the county be opposed to development in such cases. "We spent $240,000 for that survey, and they came back with a finding ... but we took that and threw it in the toilet," said Edwards. "There were 3,000 signatures on a petition [opposed to the extension] from one church alone, and they still spit in these people's faces," he added. After Edwards' resolution failed to pass, Chairman Mike Kenn directed the county's environmental staff to develop a set of questions and proposals for the city of Atlanta to answer, including a request that in exchange for the county's support on the fifth runway extension, the city agree to never propose a sixth runway, and promise to mitigate the environmental impact on South Fulton. Edwards said he has no faith in that approach. "We've been down this road before with these people," he said. "They don't want to negotiate. It's all about building the airport, and they don't care who you've got to kill to get the airport done," he added. He also had harsh words for North Fulton commission members who opposed his resolution. "They won't even entertain a conversation about a second airport up north," he said. "It's all about South Fulton and north Clayton County, where you have minority and low income folk." Vowing he will continue to fight the runway plans, Edwards said he is stymied for now. "I've done all that I can do. The people will take it from here," he said.
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