SR1021LRB096 23966 GRL 43363 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport was a
3single-strip airport on Northerly Island in Chicago that began
4operation on December 10, 1948; by 1955, Meigs Field became the
5country's busiest single-strip airport, generating 40,000
6flights every year and earning over $450,000,000 annually; and
 
7    WHEREAS, On March 31, 2003, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley
8ordered private crews to destroy the Meigs Field runway in the
9middle of the night, bulldozing large X-shaped gouges into the
10runway surface and rendering the airstrip unusable; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Repairing and reopening Meigs Field could spur
12great economic growth in the City of Chicago and State of
13Illinois; advances in technology and proper administration
14could increase traffic at Meigs to over 50,000 flights every
15year and bring in over $600,000,000 annually, which would serve
16as a great boon to the people of this State during these
17sagging economic times; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Reopening Meigs Field would also relieve the
19congestion problems routinely seen at Midway Airport and O'Hare
20International Airport and would lead to the creation of many
21jobs; and
 

 

 

SR1021- 2 -LRB096 23966 GRL 43363 r

1    WHEREAS, Most people who traveled to Meigs Field came to
2the City of Chicago to conduct business or to attend
3conventions within the city; reopening the airport would
4reestablish this economic opportunity and aid the various
5convention centers throughout Chicago, including McCormick
6Place; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The revitalization and reopening of Meigs Field
8represents a golden opportunity for the people of the City of
9Chicago and the State of Illinois to improve the economic
10climate of the City of Chicago and the State, create countless
11new jobs for Illinois workers, and to bring an iconic symbol
12back to the City of Chicago; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the City of
15Chicago to repair and reopen Meigs Field Airport as soon as
16possible in order to bring much-needed resources and jobs to
17this State; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
19presented to Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and each member of
20the Chicago City Council.