Attorney David E. Ortman testified before the Seattle Port Commission in October 2016, arguing that Sea-Tac Airport's expansion plans are financially wasteful and environmentally harmful, citing a Washington State Auditor's report that found nearly $100 million wasted in Third Runway construction contracts and 10 instances of civil fraud. He contended that Sea-Tac cannot sustainably handle projected passenger growth to 66 million by 2034, and that overflight noise from the Third Runway has already depressed property values in north Seattle and Shoreline. Ortman also called on the Port to end its property tax levy, arguing that costs for fishing industry support, cruise facilities, and economic development should be borne by industry users rather than King County taxpayers.Open full document
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Attorney David E. Ortman testifies before the Seattle Port Commission on two agenda items: the Flight Corridor Safety Program Phase 1 and the Preliminary Tax Levy and Draft Plan of Finance 2017-2021. He criticizes Sea-Tac Airport’s ongoing expansion investments, citing waste and fraud related to the Third Runway, noise impacts on north Seattle residents, and argues that Port property tax levies should be ended and costs borne by industry users rather than King County taxpayers.