LETTERS

‘How many legs does a dog have’

Posted 1/25/23

To the Editor:

In response to another Letter to the Editor submitted by Richard Langseth containing a litany of disinformation related to the proposed replacement and relocation of cargo …

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LETTERS

‘How many legs does a dog have’

Posted

To the Editor:

In response to another Letter to the Editor submitted by Richard Langseth containing a litany of disinformation related to the proposed replacement and relocation of cargo facilities at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, I cannot help but be reminded of a well-known quote from President Abraham Lincoln.

During his time as a practicing attorney, Lincoln would sometimes encounter individuals prone to embellishing the truth or engaging in outright lies.  In response to such circumstances, Lincoln posed the question, “How many legs does a dog have if one counts its tail as a leg?”

The answer?  “Four.  Saying that a tail is a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”

Similarly, Mr. Langseth cites his unswerving, yet unsubstantiated, belief that cargo activity at RIAC’s proposed relocated cargo facility would instantly increase air cargo activity 20-fold, with 70 departures per day, and NOT the one to two additional flights for a total of 7 per day as planned by airport cargo operators.

Another impression propagated by Mr. Langseth is that the City-supported Northpoint Distribution Center is being built by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. Creating these rumors ultimately only serves to undermine his own credibility. As for the Northpoint facility, RIAC has had no involvement in the development of Northpoint’s 500,000 square foot distribution center.  Continuing to propagate rumors about RIAC involvement is irresponsible. While RIAC supports such developments that City leadership supports, RIAC cannot take credit for that facility.

As for RIAC’s cargo relocation project, here is the reality. The FAA expects all commercial airports to have a master plan to identify the next 20 years of projects. RIAC recently completed a master plan for PVD after four years of collaborative work with Warwick and others airport stakeholders. One of the identified projects was to build a relocated cargo facility, replacing a WWII era hangar, which is what is being proposed.

RIAC was not required to hold its recent public open house regarding the project, but RIAC is proud to reach out to its own community directly to mitigate exactly the type of misinformation Mr. Langseth is intent on spreading. If Mr. Langseth is looking for notoriety and is searching for a “cause” to champion, this is not it. In this age of social media, gossip still only goes so far, whether it is misinformation related to the airport, or any assertion that dogs have five legs.

John J. Goodman

Assistant Vice President

Media and Public Relations

Rhode Island Airport Corporation

letter, letters

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  • RELangseth

    The basic question here is whether FedEx appreciates such antics from the RIAC executives. RIAC needs to send its staff to courtesy school.

    Thursday, January 26, 2023 Report this