Is the Ocean the Best Route for Planes? by Chrli Gatto Regional Editor a Newly Formed Group

COUNTY WORRALL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 199S SECTION B County Seat Is the ocean the best route for planes? By Chrli Gatto Regional Editor A newly formed group. The FAA official challenges Port Authority's study <Unless you go over the ocean>you>u affect you'll affect someone at some time," "We never said this is the only way Inclusion Council of Union Coun- By Mark Crudele Bales explained during a hearing in to solve the noise problem," Bales someone at some time.' ty, is taking on the momentous task Staff Writer — Glenn Bales Trenton last week. said, "But it is the only one that I of trying to re-educate people of all Eight years ago, Glenn Bales However, NJCAAN's plan was know of." Federal Aviation Administration racial and ethnic backgrounds to devised a flight plan for the entire dismissed by the Port Authority of After the meeting, Ogden said she live in harmony with one another. eastern seaboard. Now, he regrets It, New York and New Jersey, whose wants the Port Authority's study in the assumptions. We owe it to the groups was not an easy task," Ogden Talk about setting lofty goals. "In my 40 ye«n with the FAA, I own consultants found its conclusions redone, people," said. "It was very, very difficult," There is nothing wrong with never looked it what was on the ground when I was making flight unfeasible. They said it would create "There seems to be an honest dis- But ^ illiam Dunlay of Leigh- Bales was the architect of the reaching for the stars, and who operational and safiey problems, as agreement, but there is too much at Fisher Associates, the Port Authori- Expanded East Coast Plan. Imple- knows, they may accomplish what paths," Bales said. "I only looked at the airspace." well as causing flight delays at New- stake here," Ogden said, "We are talk- ty's consultants, said he had no plans mented in 1987, the plan routed they set out to do if they receive ark International Airport, ing about people's lives and their of redoing the authority's study. planes over local communities. enough cooperation. Bales* plan is the one that most legislators cite when they talk about The FAA then based its decision enjoyment of their homes. When "We do have some differences of The consultant said the plan's Many people may be too quick to not to reroute planes over the ocean someone like Glenn Bales says it, you opinion," Dunlay said. "We acknow- intent was to increase efficiency and discount the possibility of this excessive airplane noise over Union County. And as a consultant for a state based on that Port Authority study. have to listen. I can't think of anyone lodged there are differences. They reduce delays at Newark, LaGuardia" group having an impact on the But NJCAAN maintains that the who has more in-depth knowledge have their conclusions, and we have and Kennedy airports. However, he populace. They must, however, citizens group, he says it's time to change that. Port Authority's consultants misre- than he does." ours. But we believe we modeled the conceded all it did was increase air- realize that racial tension seems to presented Bales* Oceanic Routing She said not correcting the Port plan as they defined it." craft noise. be worsening not only in Union "If I broke it," Bales said, "maybe I can fix i:." Plan in its analysis, said Pamala Authority's plan would be misleading NJCAAN members charge that the After i2sidents complained about County, but around the world Barsam-I -own, executive director of to citizens, Port Authority did not communicate the EECP, the FAA decided to con- almost on a daily basis. Something Hired by the New Jersey Coalition Against Aircraft Noise, Bales is push- the citizens group. "That's really what has been unfor- with Bales before it formulated its duct an e wironmental impact study, must be done or we will be faced She claimed the authority "has tunate," Ogden said. "If people report, which recommended some flight plan with the inevitable — a global war ing a plan that would route incoming and departing planes over the water steadfastly stood in the way of scien- believe what the Port Authority said, "All of these 'mistakes' could have changes, However, it concluded that based on race, religion and tific accuracy and a tnnhful record," and it was based on an incorrect mod- been avoided had the Port Authority NJCAAN's plan to reroute airplanes ethnicity. instead of having them fly at low alti- tudes over land. That scenario has Bales told Assemblywoman Mau- el of the plan, then that wrong should staff and consultants conferred with in and out of Newark International None of us can accept a war such garnered support from the Union reen Ogdcn, R-Union, that the Port be righted. Despite the disputes Mr. Bales before their version of the Airport along the Atlantic Ocean as that, and no one who is of sane County Board of Chosen Freeholders Authority distorted the routes he between these two experts, I feel we plan was modeled," said Michael would be dangerous, cause flight mind should be willing to take on a and select lawmakers, who feel the proposed, the noise the planes would can go fcrward." Schatzki, •jresident of the New Jersey delays and increase noise for residents challenge which means "cleansing" FAA ignores the county's concerns make, the excess cost and delay con- Assemblyman Richard Bagger, R- Citizens for Environmental Research. in other states, of all cultures except those with about air traffic noise. sequences of his plan when they Union, added he also will ask the Port "Upon learning of these errors, the "We are now on the fast track to which you are a member. Why you Bales believes that "oeean-routing" determined it would not work. He Authority to re-evaluate its study. Port Authority chose to do nothing providing relief for many of the would even want to consider is the best way to keep the ihsm "There clearly were assumptions^ about them," claimed Patrick Russell, state's residents who were affected by "cleansing" — and"oh what a horrt- planes from disrupting people. that effectively decrease takeoff an3~ made that possibly were mistaken. TT ble use of a word that is — such as "Unless you go over the ocean, landing noise like his does. is not a difficult task to make changes "Free exchange between the two See OCEAN, Page B3 this is beyond me. What we must realize, and what the Inclusion Council is attempting to get people to do, is that each of us comes from a heritage which has Council reaches out brought us many wonderful things. At the same Uiftefhosts of other cul4i to unite, diversity tures have brought things with them pound and use our differences as a which all of us have surely enjoyed. By Chris Gatto Regional Editor cumulativ; advantage to foster posi- The most obvious example of A bipartisan citizen group has tive growth in many areas, then this would be in relation to our dai- announced its plans to serve as a vehi- nothing can stand before us," ly eating habits. America is indeed cle for the implementation of the gov- Desmond said during the Aug. 24 a "melting pot" and we have bor- ernor's diversity agenda in Union gathering at the Elizabethtown Gas rowed aspects we like from others County. Company's building in Union. and have had no problem with mak- The Inclusion "Council of Union "It is Governor Whitman who has ing those items part of our own dai- County's formation was announced ignited the spirit of diversity, the spirit ly living experience. How many of during a press conference last week of *We the People' that you see us enjoy eating Italian, Chinese, when Secretary of State Lonna Hooks assembled here today," she said. Spanish. Japanese or the wide array accepted the group under the state's "And it is Governor Whitman, in the of other foods? Probably most of "Many Faces, One Family" program one spirit of en&epreneurship that has you reading this enjoy partaking in umbrella. given us the freedom to develop our the culinary pleasures of at least Hooks, who said the council was 'We the People' pilot here in Union one of the aforementioned cuisines. the first of its kind, told attendees that County." But there are many other things people must become involved in order Through educational forums and which we have borrowed from to address "stresses" which exist testimonials, Desmond said the coun- Photo Ijr Barbani KokkalU other cultures and can be seen in between various groups of the state's cil will snive to "concentrate on our The Inclusion Council of Union County formed last week during a press conference our own homes, ranging from fash- population, similarities and celebrate our differ- ions to the decor on our walls. attended by, from left, Sophie Kauchak, Mary Patricia KeBfeL Secretary of State Lonna Veronica Desmond, who serves as ences," while also encouraging others Hooks, Assemblyman Alan Augustine, Chairman Veronica Desmond and Vice Chair- Imagine how boring we would commissioner to deter criminal activi- throughout the state to follow suit. man Jerry Midgetts. " all be eating the same food, wearing ty under the state Division of Law and The council's boundaries will not the same clothes or having similar Public Safety, heard the governor's stop in Union County, said Desmond, she sees 20 or 30 people a day who are Americans; Sue Yang, Asian- when it will tackle the subject of prop- household decor.

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