One Airport, Two Demonstrations: Which Side Do You Support?

Both sides surrounding a controversial third Chicagoland airport in Will County figuratively stood their ground against one another over the weekend, according to an Associated Press report in the Chicago Tribune.

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On one side was U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who held a symbolic groundbreaking on the project's proposed site in Peotone. Accompanied by pastors who blessed the land, Jackson, wearing a hardhat and standing on the back of a flatbed truck, made his case for the airport, claiming it will stimulate the economy in the south suburbs, the report stated.

On the other side were project protesters, including farmers who brought their tractors, who gathered a mile away, according to the report. They countered that the airport is unnecessary and would jeopardize family farms in the area, the report continued.

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In the past few months, , county Executive Larry Walsh and .

In March, candidates for the Will County Board were surveyed regarding the airport. Here's a sampling of what they said:

• Margo McDermed, District 12: "Appointments by those not actual stakeholders, the type of appointments in place now are completely inappropriate and illustrative of the power grab at work here."
• Dave Izzo, District 2: "Having voiced my opposition to the airport, if an airport is going to be built, I agree with (Will County Board) Chairman Jim Moustis that it should be controlled locally by Will County."

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is an airport outside of Peotone a good idea? Or should it be nixed? And if you support the airport, do you think it should be under county control? Take the poll and share your thoughts in the comments section.