Submitted by Corinne Doud, on behalf of Mothers Out Front Bedford:
The Minute Man National Historical Park, Walden, and Nearby Landmarks were named as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Places on May 1 due to a proposed major private jet expansion at nearby Hanscom Field airport which is expected to significantly increase private jet traffic, leading to increased noise, vehicular traffic, and negative environmental and climate impacts.
This area is the foundation of the American Revolutionary War. People come here to experience the past firsthand and relive the creation of our nation. Minute Man Park alone receives more than one million visitors a year!
Already, 38,000 private jet operations occur annually at Hanscom, and the proposed expansion may increase private jet flights each year by more than 6,000 according to an independent study. This extraordinarily important historic area should not be impaired by a development of this scale and potential impact.
Nothing is protected if the climate isn’t. Stopping this expansion should be an easy litmus test for whether the government will take action on climate change. If our democracy can’t protect the places that gave it the life it has today, how can it protect anywhere?
What can we do? As Ashley Judd, featured speaker at the National Trust ceremony said, “We can pretend to care, but we cannot pretend to show up.” So show up and go to savingplaces.org to sign the National Trust’s petition to Governor Maura Healey and Secretary Pete Buttigieg, urging them to stop the expansion of Hanscom airport and protect our historic sites.
Private jets are the most carbon intensive form of travel per passenger mile and disproportionately contribute to the acceleration of climate change.
Mothers Out Front Bedford urges you to submit a public comment by June 14th opposing the Hanscom Air Field expansion. This formal process is the most impactful way we can voice our opposition to the proposed Hanscom Air Field expansion for private jets.
Mothers Out Front is dedicated to fostering a livable climate and equitable future for all children and has partnered with the Coalition (www.SPJE.org). To submit a comment, use:
Mothers Out Front Toolkit: Action Instructions
OR
Coalition’s more detailed Toolkit: spje.org/DEIRtools
Sign the Coalition’s petition to Governor Healey here (in addition to the National Trust’s petitions at SavingPlaces.org).
Learn more at [email protected].
The opinions expressed are those of the writer, not The Bedford Citizen.
Loading ...
