I never thought I would meet and pose for a picture with the next President of the United States!

But that is just what happened in 2004, during the annual 4th of July parade in Beecher, Illinois. As was tradition, I was reporting on the parade from the stoop in front of my house. That was when I met Barack Obama. I had no idea, and perhaps neither did he at that time, that he would become the 44th President of the United States.  

This photo was taken when Obama, an Illinois Senator was campaigning for the U.S. Senate. On this hot, sunny, day, he walked along the parade route meeting people and shaking hands. My house was on the parade route.

Since that day, I have been inspired by Obama's candidacy and the hope for change of which he speaks. The enthusiastic response that has come from Obama's candidacy reminds me of another who went on to become president -- Bill Clinton. 

Leadership needed to end Peotone nightmare

If there was one thing I would tell President-Elect Obama, it would be that I am eager to see if the hope for change for which he speaks, will translate into the end of the nightmare that has harmed individuals and families, threatened communities, and destroyed neighborhoods in eastern Will County, Illinois for 20 years. That nightmare is the proposed airport at Peotone.

To me, ending this non-sensical, unnecessary project, which has never had much chance of success, will be a true test of Obama's leadership. The biggest voice of support for the project comes from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., a personal friend of Obama's. In fact, Jackson had a leading role in Obama's campaign. And he is rumored to become Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate.

Bringing about an end to this project would restore my long lost faith that right does triumph over might; that hard working, good people really can influence their government; and that voices not heard for so long can finally be recognized during an Obama administration.

Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s obsession
with a Peotone airport
harms people, does nothing for his 2nd Congressional District

For the past 20 years much has been written about the State of Illinois' proposal to build an airport near Peotone, Illinois, about 40 miles south of the City of Chicago. The project has been opposed by many, including Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, the airline industry, the neighboring State of Indiana, and the people who would ultimately be most affected by it. 

But one of the most vocal proponents of the airport  project has been U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., national co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign. Jackson has been pushing the airport project since he first came to the congress 13 years ago. BUT, he uses false claims to make his case and uses the Internet and speeches on Capital Hill to mislead the public about the location and benefit of the proposed airport.

Let's set the record straight

The Peotone airport is not in Jackson's second congressional district, despite his trying to mislead visitors to his website at: http://www.jessejacksonjr.org On that site, under the category "My Home District," Jackson lists Peotone among the other municipalities he represents. Only after continued harping was a disclaimer added to the top of the page that says, Municipalities on the South Side and South Suburbs including the future Home of Chicago's Third Airport in Will County Illinois Peotone. 

Even with the disclaimer, Jackson's website is still misleading. 
                                          
Most recently, Jackson went beyond misleading. As he asked his colleagues to approve $231,000 in controversial earmarks, an add-on attached to a congressional spending bill, Jackson spoke of Ford Heights, one of Illinois' poorest communities. He told his colleagues, "Ford Heights abuts Peotone".

Either Jackson is very misinformed, is a geography dropout, or he knowingly lied about the airport's location. The reality is that the project -- Peotone -- is not in Jackson's 2nd Congressional District. The proposed airport is located wholly in Will County. It is in the 11th Congressional District. Ford Heights is in Cook County in Jackson's own 2nd Congressional District. Interestingly, the underserved Gary/Chicago International Airport, which Jackson ignores, is located in much closer proximity to Ford Heights than Peotone.

 Read the story and many other published stories on CHBlog
and
See the map containing the airport's location

Just hit the back button to return

No proven need for this public works project has ever been established.