Airport lives matter

Posted 7/28/16

To the Editor: So, by now we have all driven down the new Main Avenue as the airport expansion looms closer over our heads. With it becoming so ever louder on my street, off Buttonwoods Avenue by Main Avenue, behind Wickes School, I called the

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Airport lives matter

Posted

To the Editor:

So, by now we have all driven down the new Main Avenue as the airport expansion looms closer over our heads. With it becoming so ever louder on my street, off Buttonwoods Avenue by Main Avenue, behind Wickes School, I called the Acquisition Office to discuss noise abatement.

After all, Jack Reed was boasting all over the news how this mess is "good for Rhode Island.” I was quickly told I am "not on the map" so pretty much no one cares. I, of course, spoke of how much louder it is here now with all the houses gone but with the runway even more embedded into the neighborhood it will be worse. I am already being awakened by loud obtrusive noises before 6 a.m., which was not like this at all even 10 yrs ago. I was again informed "I am not on the map," therefore our lives don't matter. With more prodding, I was told the FAA said they would do a new noise study in 2018.m However, that was followed by the runway opens in December. So, for a year plus, our section of lives who live and pay taxes here don't matter.

As if this is not bad enough, I now have seen rats run through and so have my neighbors. For the first time in my 15 years, we are now seeing rats run by keeping me in the house and afraid of my backyard come dusk. I called City Hall repeatedly. The following week, I finally got a return call just to be told the guy who takes care of rats is on vacation and will call me next week. I hope the rodents don't know this and breed more while he is off.

I believe this new run of never-ha- before large creatures are from the old ball fields, Winslow Park area now dug up and in the midst of being flipped into new roadways and runways. Burrowing rats were dug up and now they are here looking for someplace new a few streets over. I urge my neighbors to keep their trash contained, replace any chewed up or broken barrels and don't feed bread and seeds to birds – all things that will attract them here while that one guy in the city is on vacation.

Oh, and Jack Reed, if you think 1,500 feet of runway will solve Rhode Island problems you need to be replaced. It is not enough to take us off the list as number 50 – last – in being a business-friendly state.

Meanwhile, I would like to think Airport Lives Matter!

Bette A. Spinale

Warwick

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