By BARRY SHILLER
The democratic process is slow and difficult, but the democratic
process is known to yield the best decisions in complex and
difficult matters. It’s a challenge to appropriately weigh and
balance the needs of its citizenry and, as Supervisor Don Gage
commented during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 19,
seldom are all parties happy in public decision-making. With
respect to the proposed expansion of South County Airport, the
desire for local residents to maintain a rural environment must be
balanced against the needs of pilots and the business community.
Tough questions need to be answered that never will be because the
citizenry of San Martin was not allowed to participate in the
discussion and analysis of issues relating to the expansion of the
South County Airport.
By BARRY SHILLER
The democratic process is slow and difficult, but the democratic process is known to yield the best decisions in complex and difficult matters. It’s a challenge to appropriately weigh and balance the needs of its citizenry and, as Supervisor Don Gage commented during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 19, seldom are all parties happy in public decision-making. With respect to the proposed expansion of South County Airport, the desire for local residents to maintain a rural environment must be balanced against the needs of pilots and the business community. Tough questions need to be answered that never will be because the citizenry of San Martin was not allowed to participate in the discussion and analysis of issues relating to the expansion of the South County Airport.
County representatives will respond that there have been numerous public hearings on the matter and tell you my claim is preposterous. Gage has been quoted as saying the issue has “been beaten to death.” But, in fact, there was no public input in the decision-making process.
On Oct. 1 the Airport Commissioners advanced Chapter 2 of a proposal submitted to them by County Staff and outside Consultants to modify the 20-year County Airport Master Plan. The Airport Commissioners discussed the proposal briefly before moving to accept it. Airport Commissioners lacked notes from public discussion on the subject, didn’t have the benefit of any community position papers, and weren’t even aware that the community had sent a petition to County. Although there had been public meetings with County Staff and Consultants prior to Oct. 1, the communication was strictly one way. Staff and Consultants talked and the community listened.
Residents of San Martin were promised they’d have a chance to ask questions and provide input. So the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance and the San Martin Planning Advisory Committee prepared position papers. There was never an opportunity for those position papers to be incorporated into the analysis or recommendations advanced by the Airport Commissioners to the Board of Supervisors.
San Martin residents did have an opportunity to talk at the Airport Commissioners meeting – but since a motion was passed to accept the proposal almost immediately, there was never opportunity to consider community input. Likewise, the residents of San Martin were afforded two minutes to address the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 19. Here, too, decisions had already been made, and there was nothing the community could say to sway the outcome and the Board of Supervisors accepted the proposal as presented to them.
So questions go unanswered; here are a few:
Although San Jose International Airport intends to diminish basing capacity for private planes from 289 to 189 over the next 20 years, would they continue to allow business jets to base at San Jose and only displace small single engine aircraft to South County? It’s clear the Board of Supervisors intend to lengthen the runway at South County Airport to allow business jets to land there on a routine basis. Would it make more sense to ensure that these jets can continue to use San Jose International?
Why wasn’t a ‘regional’ analysis performed to consider the role of airports outside of Santa Clara County – such as Hollister, Watsonville, San Carlos and Hayward? Representatives from the Pilots Association have advised the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance that they would find these airports more attractive than South County due to the proximity to their homes and/or lower fees. If the County enlarges the South County Airport, will it be economically feasible? Will it benefit many or only a few at the expense of many?
Public dialogue on the most fundamental public policy issue is missing. San Martin is designated as a protected rural community in the Santa Clara County General Plan. Is the erosion of the rural environment in San Martin an inevitable consequence of growth, or can San Martin be preserved? Must urban sprawl, like a cancer, invade every community? Is the General Plan a one-way guideline that guides the public but not our elected representatives?
Possibly, the answers will not be the ones I personally prefer. But I would respect the answers if they came through legitimate public discourse – through a democratic process. I will never respect the type of decision-making done in back rooms with the citizenry denied its right not only to speak, but also to be respected, listened to and their input considered.
Was the decision by the Board of Supervisors to accept the proposal advanced by the Airports Commission to expand basing capacity at South County Airport an appropriate one? I don’t know. I do know the process wasn’t democratic. Let’s start having real working sessions with residents of San Martin and start holding public meetings where citizens might present their input and have that input considered. Let’s regain our democratic process.
Barry Shiller is a San Martin resident
