Be Ever Vigilant Fellow Citizens - FAiR Knows The Answer to O'Hare Still Lies with the People

The FAiR Coalition had another huge week with more confirmation that our founding premise is correct - citizens had no real say in the October 2013 runway takeoff/landing pattern changes at O'Hare. Now this week, we are suddenly seeing a bunch of politicians coming out  to say they are with us even though when previously approached they brushed us off. We see politicians saying they've been "working on the issue" and "finding solutions" when we've never seen them at all the meetings FAiR has hosted and attended over the last 15 months. Some politicians have even said they've met with us or plan too soon, even as that comes as a total surprise to us.  So we say, be wary fellow citizens of being sold a bill of goods and fooled again. FAiR, a citizen-led movement, remains focused on the only real solution - a community-based plan for O'Hare with the citizens in charge of the process; we continue to demand Mayor Emanuel meet immediately with FAiR - despite 8 requests to meet he still does not find time to meet with FAiR even though we are constituents (FAiR notices however he can go to NY to be on late night TV, to Hollywood to raise money and to DC to shake hands); FAiR demands a real seat at the table and you as citizens should too. Be the citizen our nation needs each one of us to be, right here, right now. I invite you to join FAiR at www.fairchicago.org.
What is FAiR about?
FAiR seeks a real voice at O'Hare to secure an equitable distribution of takeoffs and landings, day and night, east and west, and using all existing runways including the diagonals.  FAiR is the leading voice for residents on this issue.
What does FAiR believe?
It is our Coalition's experience that citizens and civic organizations concerned about the severe impact on our communities from increased noise and air pollution occurring as a result of the new October 2013 runway configurations have not had a real seat at the table in the development and implementation of how O'Hare takeoff and landing patterns were designed.  FAiR supports the economic engine that is O'Hare, but we believe that as our neighbor, the airport must work with the community to determine when and where those engines fly over our homes, yards, schools, parks and businesses.  FAiR's desire is to obtain acceptable solutions to community concerns as well as future plans so they do not become an issue. To date, that conversation with communities has been non-existent, with the unfortunate viewpoint given that the communities will simply have to live with the consequences resulting from October 2013 and O'Hare Modernization Plan (OMP) changes yet to come.  The FAiR Coalition seeks to replace that antiquated institutional practice so common in Chicago and Cook County with a democratic approach involving a modern assessment of the risks and rewards for both O'Hare AND our communities.  FAiR's goal is a better future founded upon a real voice for communities and solutions arising out of collaboration between the citizenry and our government.  Solutions to these types of challenges are not solely technical in nature but are more importantly democratic in substance. 
What can you do?
As a neighbor, resident and fellow citizen, I ask you to join FAiR at www.fairchicago.org.  Then...

• Sign our online petition at www.fairchicago.org
• Report your noise complaints which can be done directly through our website at www.fairchicago.org
• Put up a FAiR yard sign
• Tell your neighbors about how our democracy has again been imperiled
• Become active with FAiR in your community