Why I think Bob Smith's idea to take over Hartsfield is wrong

State Representative Bob Smith of Watkinsville has recently floated an idea to take over the operations of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport from that of the current amalgamation of Clayton County and the City of Atlanta, of which it currently stands. While I am not an Air Traffic Controller nor experienced in the day to day running of an airport, I can vouch for the State of Georgia's ability to try to cope with the traffic in metro Atlanta and can give them a grade for their efforts so far: F as in failing.

It is funny how the Republican majority here in Georgia seems to be very anxious to yank control of the State Department of Transportation or the Airport at any given chance, but when it comes to funding those infrastructure improvements so desperately needed, the transportation issue is seemingly always last in line.

For years an idea of an alternative airport has been kicked around for Jackson County and elsewhere, and this is no where near getting ready to taxi on the runway or even take off. Athens has needed a bigger run way at our pathetically small airport for years, and we failed miserably with our experiment in having a pair of commuter airlines to Atlanta when it was obvious that the advantages of checking in here in Athens would not apply to William B.Hartsfield - Maynard Jackson airport.

Perhaps if State Rep. Bob Smith had shown the slightest bit of vision or leadership in either the Jackson County dream or the Athens nightmare of airport reality, I would be a little more confident in his ability or ambition to take over the big city airport. Don't get me wrong, I know there are many different improvements desperately needed at Hartsfield. I just wish it was more than an obvious naked power grab by our State Representative to do it. Consult, learn, advise and consent before throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

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