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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport was a 
3single-strip airport on Northerly Island in Chicago that began 
4operation on December 10, 1948; by 1955, Meigs Field became the 
5country's busiest single-strip airport, generating 40,000 
6flights every year and earning over $450,000,000 annually; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, On March 31, 2003, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley 
8ordered private crews to destroy the Meigs Field runway in the 
9middle of the night, bulldozing large X-shaped gouges into the 
10runway surface and rendering the airstrip unusable; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Repairing and reopening Meigs Field could spur 
12great economic growth in the City of Chicago and State of 
13Illinois; advances in technology and proper administration  
14could increase traffic at Meigs to over 50,000 flights every 
15year and bring in over $600,000,000 annually, which would serve 
16as a great boon to the people of this State during these 
17sagging economic times; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Reopening Meigs Field would also relieve the 
19congestion problems routinely seen at Midway Airport and O'Hare 
20International Airport and would lead to the creation of many 
21jobs; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Most people who traveled  to Meigs Field came to 
2the City of Chicago to conduct business or to attend 
3conventions within the city; reopening the airport would 
4reestablish this economic opportunity and aid the various 
5convention centers throughout Chicago, including McCormick 
6Place; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, The revitalization and reopening of Meigs Field 
8represents a golden opportunity for the people of the City of 
9Chicago and the State of Illinois to improve the economic 
10climate of the City of Chicago and the State, create countless 
11new jobs for Illinois workers, and to bring an iconic symbol 
12back to the City of Chicago; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the City of 
15Chicago to repair and reopen Meigs Field Airport as soon as 
16possible in order to bring much-needed resources and jobs to 
17this State; and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
19presented to Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and each member of 
20the Chicago City Council.