(Palm Springs) Airport gets $6.8M for improvements

[question everything]

Airport gets $6.8M for improvements

Diana Marrero
Desert Sun Washington Bureau
September 9, 2006

WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Palm Springs International Airport $6.8 million to improve airport operations and runway safety. Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, who is running for re-election this year, announced the grant Friday.

Airport safety - the city's airport is the second most dangerous in the state behind Los Angeles International Airport - became a campaign issue recently when Bono's Democratic challenger, David Roth, criticized the Palm Springs lawmaker for not doing enough to address airport safety concerns.

"As one of the fastest-growing regions in California, our airport has seen exponential growth in the past several years," Bono said in a statement. "These funds will help accommodate the growing number of people utilizing the airport and will facilitate the airport's safe and effective service to our region."

(snip)

Roth held a press conference on airport safety Wednesday at the airport.

(snip)

The airport served more than 1.5 million passengers last year. Airport officials say they need additional federal money to improve its infrastructure. A major complaint: an airport tower that is too short to allow air traffic controllers full visibility of the airport's main runway... Bono, who in 2000 also secured $4 million for new radar at the airport, disclosed this summer that FAA officials were considering sending the $2.3 million set aside for the airport to other projects. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., recently wrote to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, requesting the agency make the Palm Springs tower a priority.

(snip)

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060909/NEWS01/609090327/1006

[mitchtv]

1. The thanks go to Boxer and

David Roth. Bono is a do-nothing

[raising2moredems]

2. How ironic

Palm Springs gets plenty of revenue from non-heterosexuals. Money trumps all, when (if ever) will the religious nuts realize this?

[mitchtv]

3. during the winter(hi-season) they say

One tenth of the wealth of the nation lives in Coachella Valley, and five percent of the world's Rolls Royce are sold here also. It has the largest concentration of Log Cabin Pukes around.