LETTERS.

Airfield of dreams

The article about the Global TransPark (cover story, April) did present both sidles but was negative on balance, especially the sidebars. The intent seemed to portray GTP supporters as defenseless and besieged, with little to show for years of work and millions of dollars. My main disappointment, however, is your disparaging editorial, which is laced with derogatory references to the good people of Eastern North Carolina. You did not mention one alternative for building a stronger economy in a region that is losing it mainstay tobacco markets and was devastated by Hurricane Floyd.

I can assure you we are working hard to achieve a great benefit for Eastern North Carolina. That may be hard to justify in your office, situated in the robust urban economy of our great and prosperous Charlotte, which I am proud to have represented for years. But the condescending attitude of your editorial is another example of why so many people who live east of I-95 distrust us. Someday we will grow out of this East vs. West enmity and begin to see North Carolina as One United State. Forgive me if that is too much to comprehend.

The article quoted several opponents as if the were disinterested, independent were. You should have pointed out that most of them have an ax to grind in opposition to success of any venture outside their territory and that they have a long record of opposition to GTP. The article quoted me accurately and conveyed my message, so I am confident it was equally accurate in quoting theirs.

Jerry Orr is one of the finest airport executives in America. That does not make him an expert on a project in Kinston that he wants to fail. His "offer" to build the GTP at Charlotte's Douglas Airport "for free" was just a joke. He did not identify any greenfield acreage for the industrial park, an essential element of the concept. If we had picked his far superior airport, the basic objective would have been abandoned the next day. We are not his rival and cannot be. We hope to become his partner.

UNC Charlotte Professor A1 Stuart is a respected expert on the geography of the past, but he is in a dream world if he thinks that rural North Carolina is going to build "textile mills and shirt factories." Maybe he was just caught up in your attack theme and couldn't resist the scorching quip. Does he also think his clever gibes will make our job easier to win support for Charlotte in the General Assembly. Does he care?

John Hood and the...