Pols Cry 'Fowl' On LGA Trash Tower

In light of recent bird-strike incidents at La Guardia Airport, including the crash of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, Rep. Joseph Crowley recently joined community leaders from Queens to blast the proposed construction of a Marine Transfer Station within the La Guardia Airport runway safety zone.

By increasing garbage in the area, Crowley said, the MTS could increase the likelihood of bird-strikes at the already crowded airport, endangering passengers and surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, neighborhood streets would see increased crowding and pollution from incoming trucks en route to the MTS.

Rosemarie Povoromo from the United Community Civic Association and Giovanna Reid from Community Board 3 joined Crowley at the Marine Air Terminal Rotunda on Mar. 15 to protest the City of New York's plans to move the project forward.

"A 110 foot garbage tower at the end of a La Guardia runway is an invitation for disaster," said Crowley. "Increased trash around our airport means an increased bird population and that means an increased risk of another bird-strike. The safe landing of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 was a miracle, but we cannot afford to run the risk of another emergency landing, especially since the area around the airport is so densely populated. Unless the city can guarantee a 100- percent fail-safe system, they need to select a safer location for the pro- posed MTS. The community leaders in the La Guardia neighborhood and I would like to sit down with the city immediately to find a more appropriate location to ensure the safety of our community."

Crowley and other members of the Queens delegation have objected to the proposal as far back as 2006. Crowley is a member of the exclusive House Committee on Ways and Means.