Category : Change The Culture
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2026-02-19 23:43When Federal environmental maps go dark
The benefits and consequences for airport communities In January 2025, the Trump administration began removing content from federal websites following Executive Order 14151. The order directed all government agencies to terminate DEI and environmental justice–related programs. These include environmental justice and climate mapping using a nationally consistent dataset for evaluating the socioeconomic impacts of airports. -
2026-01-05 14:21
Airport mitigation for the twenty first century
A modern, community-based approach A failed 50 year natural experiment It has been axiomatic that transportation, land, sea, and air, will eventually accrue to the benefit of all–or at least the vast majority of stakeholders–including the communities through which they flow. At bottom, the Port of Seattle is a transportation agency. All of its work -
2026-01-01 23:03Not just another procedural
Happy New Year 2026 As we enter our tenth year, we want to thank everyone who helped out last year and ask for renewed support in the next. This is a big year and what we need most–to continue helping you–right now are a few more donations. Two slogans As the slogan says, “Solve for -
2025-07-19 01:22Money Balls
Using ‘bird deterrents’ to think about airport community compensation On November 21, 2024 the Des Moines City Council voted to spend $124,191 of Des Moines taxpayer money for Bird-X (brand) ‘bird balls’. This was not a discretionary purchase. According to FAA Advisory Circular 150-5200-33C a property owner of a retention pond near an airport is -
2025-06-15 23:32The Sleepy Time Penalty Period Explainer
Why Fly Quiet programs are not great. And the magic of DNL Sleep disruption, specifically from aircraft, is very unhealthy, creating both acute and chronic illnesses. The FAA recognizes this and takes night time flights into account when establishing the noise boundary (DNL) determining which homes get sound insulation. But there is a lot more -
2025-06-12 14:56Bird watching
Our last post on funding Port Package updates (Three Votes. Three Dollars.) got many more letters than most. The reactions were everything from enthusiasm to sarcasm and in this year of the SAMP we think it’s time for a reality check. We recently picked up a new volunteer. That in itself is unusual these days. -
2025-04-20 23:23
Virtue Signaling
The most important article we will ever write “Any public expression of support for a cause that is represented to be substantial, when it is demonstrably symbolic. These expressions come from a range of motives: from well-intentioned individuals who lack the time or capacity to achieve meaningful goals, to institutions and officials actively seeking to -
2025-04-02 21:40Status Report 2025 Q1 Part 2 (State and Local)
Where we’re at. What you can do. We’ve gotten questions regarding “where does everything stand?”, including the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), state legislation, local government and how it all fits together. In Part I, we discussed the SAMP, today we’ll talk about state and local affairs. Government State Both major bills we supported, SB5652 -
2025-04-01 18:03Status Report Q1 2025 Part 1 (SAMP)
Where we’re at. What you can do. We’ve gotten questions regarding where the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) is at, state legislation, and possible next steps. We’ll start with the SAMP today, where we don’t know a lot and go into the state and local affairs next time. The SAMP NEPA Draft EA The NEPA