— from the Citizens of the Ebey Reserve [Whidbey Island] —
Congressman Rick Larsen, who boasts of his role in bringing controversial ‘Growler’ Navy Jets to Washington’s Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, is being criticized for the noise reduction plans he announced at his March 30 standing-‐room only Coupeville ‘Town Hall Meeting.’ Larson revealed his plans after listening as tearful and angry residents complained about noise-related health and property damages.
The Navy’s EA18-‐G Growlers are home-‐based at Whidbey Island’s Naval Air Station and are the loudest jets ever to fly. They have become a source of noise complaints in seven counties from throughout the Puget Sound region.
At his previous Town Hall Meeting in Coupeville, Larsen refused even to discuss Growler issues, prompting most of those in attendance to walk out. Larson since acknowledged receiving a large number of complaints from his constituents. “We are glad our Congressman came back to hear our concerns, but very disappointed in his failure to propose meaningful solutions,” said Ken Pickard, of the Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve (COER).
Larsen listened as citizens pleaded for help, but reiterated his unwavering support for keeping Growlers at Whidbey and for their low-‐flying training exercises. Growler training that he supports includes ‘Electromagnetic Warfare Training’ over the Olympic National Forest and Park. There are now 82 Growlers on Whidbey, with 26 more expected and a stationary emitter at OLF, Coupeville.
Larsen offered three proposals to reduce jet noise, all of which COER labeled as “non-‐ solutions,” designed more to give people false hope and allow the continuation of harmful operations. For instance, a proposed Hush House for Growler maintenance will have minimal noise reduction and ignores the problem of noise from jets in flight. Larsen’s proposal to have Growlers fly with landing gear raised won’t change noisy “touch-‐and-‐go” operations that require landing gear be down. Retrofitting Growlers with “Chevrons,” which Larsen says is in the discussion phase, was once considered and rejected by the Navy. It would take years to accomplish and fails to significantly reduce noise.
When asked at the meeting, Congressman Larsen admitted that he had never heard the low-‐ level touch-‐and-‐go noise, yet refused to say if he would change his position if he were given clear evidence on Growler related health harms. COER continues to provide him and other elected officials with related health studies and information.
“It is telling that Larsen voiced support for all things Growler even before a required Environmental Impact Study is completed -‐ and in the face of overwhelming evidence of the harms being caused,” said Greenbank resident and noise victim, Rick Abraham. “Congressman Larsen appears to be in the Navy’s and Boeing’s pocket,” he said. Boeing sells the $87 million dollar jets to the Navy and contributed to Larson’s campaign.
Members of Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve (COER) will continue to educate the public and all of our elected officials about the impacts of Growler operations, said Maryon Attwood of Coupeville. We are hopeful that the Navy and Congressman Larsen will eventually take steps to protect the people they are supposed to defend and serve.
Rick Abraham is absolutely correct : Follow the money and understand that this game – and all its attendant sorrows – is being played and dictated at a higher pay level than the citizens of W, Wash have access to.
Yet, no-one asks about the nature of the Growler’s mission; why or if it is necessary for any purpose other than the politics of pork and plutocracy. As long as war criminals and plutocrats control the game, the chimera of national security is just that. An illusion.
Thank you Citizens for keeping us informed, however unfortunate the news to those of us constantly under threat of the shock and drone of the Growler fly-overs and run-ups.
Thank you too Rick for your comments. I believe we all have suspected that Larsen is in the pocket of the various industries destroying our health and ecosystems. As someone working hard against the Gateway Pacific Terminal and other fossil fuel shipping proposals, I can say the same bought-politician seems to be operating there. Larsen takes a position in support of projects that truly threaten his constituents before even starting to listen to their concerns – but boy does he have a healthy campaign account and his post-Congress finances are secure I’m sure.
Good for Larsen – Bad for the people of the San Juan Islands
It’s not likely that we will see Rick stray much from the status quo (that which got us into the mess we’re in today); for as we all know, it’s difficult for a man to make an unbiased decision when his paycheck is dependent upon his answer.
Rick Larsen is ranked 20th in the congressional listing of the largest recipients of campaign donations from large corporations in both the House & the Senate in 2013-2014. He is ranked as the 7th largest recipient of corporate campaign donations in the House. His list of donors in 2013-2014 (over $800,000) include Monsanto, Weyerheauser, John Deere, Syngenta, BP, Phillips 66, Shell Oil, Boeing, GE, Lockheed, Northrup Gruman, Dyno corp, Babcox & Wilcox, and other associated RR, air, and sea transport PAC groups. This is over four times the amount of money he gained from individual donations during the same time period. This information is readily available from the Center for Responsive Politics, and from the Federal Election Commission Data.
Please, tell me it ain’t so!!! This Larson fella is a politician? He’s not working in the best interest of the citizenry? He’s working for the best interest of big money and others who can keep him in his plush office? How can this be? Is he not a Liberal Democrat? You know, the likes of Clinton (whom he has endorsed for POTUS)and Obama who are also extremely in bed with very “big money.” This is unthinkable. Oh woe, death, misery and destruction! Whatever shall we do?
This is not a liberal v/s conservative, or a democrat v/s a republican issue. Both sides of the aisle are participants in the greed machine.