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Marty Black's misinterpreted comments (huh?)
City manager backpedals, is now stating that he has been misinterpreted when it comes to alleged FAA requirements for a marina and hotel / resort complex
-- John Patten, 05/02/07
-- jpatten@veniceflorida.comGot a comment? Make it here. | 
Despite what you might have heard, this is not a picture of City Manager Marty Black
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Sorry Marty, you're right -- we're all idiots
It's getting so I don't really have to write anything to get a point across. All I have to do is quote city records and the pols harpoon themselves with their own words. Take today's Joke of the Day from the Venice Gondolier Sun, for instance. From an article in today's Gondo: Even more upsetting to the group was the revelation that the Federal Aviation Administration is not pushing for further development of the airport property. "City Manager Marty Black has been saying all along that one of the reasons the development of the airport is necessary is to meet the requirements of the FAA," said one Venice resident. "But all the FAA requires," he said, "are fair market rates for any part of the property that is leased so the airport can pay for its own operating costs. Mr. Black should be asked to explain that." In an interview Tuesday, Black said people have misinterpreted his previous comments by taking them out of context. The FAA requirements are only one small part of the equation, he said.
From the city pamphlet that Black wrote, the so-called Black FAQ, written and published solely to promote support of a marina and hotel / resort operation: Is the city required to lease property for development at the airport?
Yes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires the city demonstrate that it is obtaining fair market rents for available property at the airport. This is a federal and state policy aimed at reducing subsidies for improvements needed for aviation safety and operations. In the past the City has not always met this standard and has had federal and state monies withheld and needed safety work delayed. The FAA has also threatened legal action in cases where the city did not abide by these standards. Current city officials believe it is important to adhere to all federal and state requirements. The City recently completed an independent appraisal of all airport lands to help guide these decisions and ensure that appropriate lease terms are negotiated in the future.
What, exactly, was it that we misunderstood? John Patten is the editor and publisher of Venice Florida! dot com and had previously worked in broadcasting for over 12 years. He can also be incredibly rude at times. |
