ASE advisory board member 'shocked' BOCC moving to thwart citizen's initiative on airport

Note: This letter originally was sent to Pitkin County commissioners Steve Child, Patti Clapper, Francie Jacober, Kelly McNicholas Kury and Greg Poschman. At a meeting today, the commissioners will consider placing an item on the Nov. 5 ballot which, if approved, would give the county's elected officials greater authority over future decisions regarding the airport.

Dear Commissioners,

I am a member of the Aspen Airport Advisory Board, but today I writing on behalf of myself.  I am shocked that Pitkin County commissioners are moving to preempt a change to the Home Rule Charter that was democratically initiated by the people of Pitkin County.

This is antithetical to the whole reason the Home Rule Charter was voted into being. The proponents of that time wanted the people of Pitkin County to have as potent a voice in the governance of their county as possible. Expanding the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport to accommodate much larger aircraft is absolutely a quality of life issue and the voices of Pitkin County must be and rightfully should be heard.