Don't destroy island for convenience of few

Why are we trying to shoehorn a commercial airport into such a small community, an airport that provides services to only a few at the expense and sacrifice of many, sacrifices for the benefit of a mere 2.6 percent of visitors to Hilton Head Island?

We all should be good stewards of how our tax money is spent, especially with the high government deficits. Who pays for the Hilton Head Island Airport's employees, Transportation Security Administration agents, fire and disaster support, airport security, runway maintenance, lights, water, road maintenance, etc.? We just spent $2 million on a new fire station for the airport, and yet the county announced an airport budget deficit.

We are not only sacrificing peace and tranquility, but also air quality. What about the impact on wildlife? Where did all our birds go? The clear-cutting of trees will only make matters worse and totally contradicts the philosophy first established by Charles Fraser, a philosophy that has made Hilton Head one of the most desirable places to live and visit. Are the trees the first step? Will the next step be a runway extension, commercial jet service, more pollution, more noise, more over-flights. We should not be destroying our island for the convenience of a few.

So the question is: How many people does the airport really benefit given the cost to the taxpayer, environment, residents, wildlife and air quality? Considering the preponderance of private traffic and limited commercial traffic, who really benefits at the taxpayer's expense?

Dan Cleyrat

Hilton Head Island