More on the Airport Mutiny

Mutiny, piracy, whatever you want to call it: No one--seriously, I have yet to read a defense of the idea, if anyone has one you want to shoot my way--is happy with the idea of turning Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport over to a private board. Here's some more on the issue from Bay Viewan Bill Sell:

The airport is well managed by Milwaukee County. There have been no reports of poor management--on the contrary, airport director C. Barry Bateman is given high marks for managing this largest airport in the state, without using property tax money to do so.

Why should this change? Why privatize our airport? The Airport District bill solves no problem, and cuts out the public by putting the power of eminent domain in the hands of a seven person management politically insulated from the public.

Thankfully the Milwaukee County Board and the Mayor’s office are resisting this misguided proposal. The County Executive, however, is supportive of the change, which increases his personal power over the airport. Scott Walker’s appointive power under this law would grace his campaign for governor at a time when he is spending money to explain to out-state Wisconsin who he is.

What The Airport District Bill Does
Plale’s bill defines Wisconsin’s public airports into two new categories: (a) large (only GMIA!)—”in excess of 2 million scheduled passenger enplanements” per year [229.861 (1) (a)]; and (b) all the other airports [229.861 (1) (b)]. GMIA has about 3.5 million passenger enplanements per year; Dane County about 1 million. (“Enplanements” are passengers departing.) [. . .]

The bill takes the assets of Mitchell Field away from Milwaukee County “without financial consideration other than the assumption of liabilities and obligations.” [229.865 (1) (a) emphasis added] There is no provision in this bill for Milwaukee County consent. [. . .] While taking Mitchell Field from the County, the bill allows all other counties or municipalities to sell their airports. The transfer of jurisdiction “may take the form of a sale, lease, or other conveyance and may be with or without financial consideration.” [. . .] GMIA assets would be turned over free of charge to an unelected district board. The bill requires no consent of the Milwaukee County Board. The drafting of the bill was, apparently, a surprise to local officials.

For out-state airports this bill is an opportunity for cash. This cash-out opportunity is tactical, lining up other airport managements in favor a bill to wrest control of GMIA--a kind of legislative mobbing, or ganging up. Anti-Milwaukee strategy is not new, either, but when Senator Plale--who represents a hunk of Milwaukee--rides currents of anti-Milwaukee fever (as he has at other times, too), a Milwaukee voter must wonder what--or whether--is he thinking?

As I said, no one is presenting justifications for this bill, this taking of the airport from the people of Milwaukee County and putting it in the hands of an unelected board with no compensation.

It wasn't that long ago that the buzz was about demanding that tech college boards start being elected instead of appointed; why on earth would anyone think that turning over an operation the size of Mitchell International to an appointed board is a good idea?