The article, “City to examine future of municipal airport” (Auburn Reporter, Aug. 17), reminds me of a spoiled little boy crying that since the rest of the kids won’t play by his rules, he wants to take his ball and go home.

Mr. Lewis with his newly acquired seat on the GRCC board of trustees needs to grow up and learn how to run a city without tantrums and bullying people into doing it his way or no way.

The fact that the FAA denied GRCC to locate its Trades and Industry program at the airport shows that the FAA is in fact looking out for the best interests of our airport better than the City officials and the Airport Advisory Board.

I believe the reasons stated by the FAA are valid. Contrary to the mayor’s belief that the FAA only has say over the airport because they have given the City loans, the FAA in fact has been given the responsibility to oversee public safety issues of all aspects of aviation. Their influence and impact will be with the airport as long as it is in place, loans or not.

I, for one, appreciate the extra safety guidance to help prevent potential lawsuits against the City. I can only presume that had GRCC been allowed to set up its trades program on the airport, it would have been another gift of city land to GRCC like five of the nine-plus acres of parklands swapped on Lea Hill. The City would do far better for itself if it would work at locating aviation-related businesses on the airport property.

All I can say about this is please, Mr. Mayor and City Council members, stop whining about what we don’t have and start doing your job with what we do have. Don’t sell another City asset down the river just because it is a difficult task to work with.

Work within our means as a city, and you really can do “More Than You Imagined.”

– Frank Lonergan