To the Editor,

It has been very obvious from reading local papers over the last few weeks how much of a tussle Rhode Island Green Airport and the City of Warwick have found themselves in. Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi has stood stall and strong to safeguard his constituents from roaring loud airplane noise and cargo traffic on our roads. The airport through their CEO and President IftikharAhmad and multiple spokespeople have explained their stance about Picozzi’s concerns. Then Picozzi responds with complaints about how serious the airport is in addressing the issues at hand.

I suddenly find myself wondering what is actually happening at the airport because of all this arguing. Are flights still running? Does the airport still have “less B.S. than Boston”? Based on the discussions ongoing it sounds like Green Airport has plenty of B.S. and maybe more than Boston with the mess going on. All the arguing in public has become a distraction and if anyone is at fault, it is clearly the airport. They picked a fight with a willing and kind partner in the City of Warwick. Picozzi appears friendly as well.

Although word on the street is that this fight is not truly between Picozzi and the airport. Instead it is between Ahmad and Picozzi so that the Warwick leader knows who is boss because Ahmad knows what is best for Warwick. If Ahmad gets his way...the cargo building will bring loud noise to Warwick with more cargo planes and traffic so long on Warwick roads it will taken even longer to reach many of the tasty restaurants we have in town. Clearly Ahmad should stop picking fights with Picozzi and threatening to keep $500,000 from the City of Warwick as they are contractually owed. It is too bad us common folk will not get to ask Ahmad questions at a local city council meeting...I have read he does not attend public meetings. Is he afraid? Iftikhar Ahmad, please come out of your gilded office cave and speak to us common residents of Warwick!

Alice Applebaum

Warwick