Story posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009
O'Hare In 'Positive Direction'
Stephens Happy Expansion Can Move Forward After Bensenville Drops Lawsuit
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
"It's good to see that they are moving in a positive direction."
That's the assessment of Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens following the announcement Monday that the village of Bensenville and city of Chicago are ending their longstanding often bitter legal dispute over expansion of O'Hare Airport.
"Why fight it when you can get something for your community?" asked Stephens during a telephone interview with the Journal & Topics Newspapers yesterday (Tuesday).
At a joint gathering Monday, Bensenville Village President Frank Soto and Chicago Aviation Commissioner Rosemary Andolino, announced that the village is ending its lawsuit involving O'Hare expansion. In exchange, Bensenville will be given $16 million to pay for property acquisition and to spur economic redevelopment. Also triggered with the deal is Chicago's ability to demolish 600 homes and businesses in the northeast corner of Bensenville where the airport will expand to allow for six east-west runways.
For years, Bensenville, under its former mayor, John Geils, and Elk Grove Village, led by current Mayor Craig Johnson, have been waging an all-out legal and public relations battle against O'Hare expansion. Earlier this year, Elk Grove dropped its opposition leaving Bensenville standing alone. However, when Frank Soto was elected village president earlier this year the writing was on the wall. Stephens, and his late father, Donald Stephens, have been strong supporters of the O'Hare expansion project citing their belief that it will generate tens of thousands of new jobs in the region, spur economic development and help fill the community's 13 hotels, and sprawling convention center.
"He ran on stopping the fighting," said Stephens of Soto. "I think people have had enough of it. So many homes there are vacant. What are they (Bensenville) really giving up? They're giving up paying Joe Karaganis," Stephens said referring to the attorney who has represented Bensenville, Elk Grove Village and other communities in the long fight against expansion. "He's a lawyer who's been churning out fees. It's a good thing what they are doing for the community."
Mayor Stephens added that if there was an uprising in Rosemont against the settlement that would be one thing. It's his belief, however, that most Bensenville residents are tired of the litigation and want to move forward.
"They have prime space there for airport-related industries. What is Elk Grove without the airport?" Stephens asked.
"As for us, I think we'll keep doing what we've been doing. We're probably ahead of the pack here. We will try to stay there."
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