Federal Grant to Help Local Air Service
The federal government has announced a $360,000 grant to help Port Angeles preserve its air service to Boeing Field.
Kenmore Air has been providing the only regular flights between Seattle and Port Angeles. Last year the Port of Port Angeles, Kenmore Air and the city councils of Sequim and Port Angeles together provided $40,000, which was required to match the federal grant.
The flights between Boeing Field and Port Angeles have not been profitable. In 2009, 24,513 passengers made the trip. The 2009 figure is slightly higher than 2008; but lower than the 2007 total.
Kenmore Air has been providing the only regular flights between Seattle and Port Angeles. Last year the Port of Port Angeles, Kenmore Air and the city councils of Sequim and Port Angeles together provided $40,000, which was required to match the federal grant.
The flights between Boeing Field and Port Angeles have not been profitable. In 2009, 24,513 passengers made the trip. The 2009 figure is slightly higher than 2008; but lower than the 2007 total.
Labels: Boeing Field, federal grant, Kenmore Air
posted by Tom Harper at 10:54 PM
42 Comments:
Yet another step towards Socialism! Taxpayer money spent to prop up an otherwise unprofitable business. Where is the Free Market system these days? If Kenmore can't run a profitable business out of Port Angeles, then they should be allowed to go OUT of business like all the others that have in Port Angeles, and add one more vacant building to bunch we have here already!
Why should Kenmore get bailouts, when none of the other failing businesses in Port Angeles did?
For how long will the taxpayers be paying to keep Kemore in Port Angeles? Forever?
I understand we want to avoid a total meltdown, but it really seems like the government is just sticking its fingers in the dike. Time to start removing the training wheels, if I may mix metaphors. (Training wheels on dikes? What?) Don't get me wrong, it would suck to have one more transportation method out of Port Angeles fail. But, then, Kenmore Air may find other ways to make this profitable than a full schedule or handouts. In any event, these bailouts on company after company is not sustainable or advisable over the long haul.
no, we need air service to SeaTac. We're remote enough that it does make a difference. A lot of people cannot do the 2 1/2 hour drive, or 3+ hour bus trip. (not including if the Hood Canal bridge is open...that can add up to 90 minutes on that trip!)
If you posters want to see a total economic meltdown (which it appears you DO) then keep saying the canned "Rush" crap. Seriously, this benefits Port Angeles, not hurts.
Take some economics classes at the college....
Is the grant money going to the City of Port Angeles? or the Port?
"Take some economics classes at the college...."
Since it seems you have, tell me how long this selective subsidizing of a private company can go on for? If it can ONLY survive with lots of public/taxpayers' money, why then shouldn't the public just buy Kenmore outright, or create a wholely publicly owned transporttaion link to Sea-Tac?
Why have the uncertainty of annual taxpayer bailouts for this private business, it it is so critical for the survival of Port Angeles?
All the other struggling and failing businesses in Port Angeles are obviously NOT important. Their contributions to Port Angeles are obviously not as valued as Kenmores' are.
Kenmore is transportation. Considering that we have ceased to have train, we have no bus (that goes to SeaTac, and you cannot go directly, would mean going from PA to Sequim, transferring to Jefferson Transit, going to Port Townsend, getting on the Jefferson transit bus to Bainbridge Island, take the ferry to downtown Seattle, walk to Pioneer Square, bus tunnel, then take the bus to International Blvd in SeaTac, and walk to the departure area. Total time...about 8 hours.
Other options -- local shuttle service, or private. (Olympic Bus has 2 trips a day) for a 4 hour trek.
Drive, either ferry or Tacoma Narrows, and it is 3-4 hours.
This is simply not do-able for many commuters. We have a fair number of people who come and go from here on a regular basis, for business. The lack of air transit would severely hamper that business.
Because we are so, so VERY remote, and the transportation options are limited...we need to underwrite this service, for the good of all.
I think you, because you don't leave the area, or have to commute for business, do not understand the dire need we have for a variety of transportation options.
I travel monthly, often more frequently, and cannot take the 8PLUS hours out of my schedule to DRIVE or go a ground route. I cannot afford to sit for hours in a bus, and then sit for hours waiting for a connection, and getting there a day early and paying for a hotel is impossible to afford. I can only afford to live here if I get work elsewhere. (And, I ONLY SHOP LOCAL, never at Walmart, or other chain...so I put all my earned money back into the community!!!)
I pay full fare MOST of the time for the service...but our port fees are HIGH, as are our fuel costs (air fuel is higher in smaller airports). We've already allowed our port to over charge and be greedy as f*ck, so this is really the only way to keep the service.
This grant would go directly to the Port, if I understand this right. I have nothing good to say about the port...as they have their heads firmly UP their as*es, however.....if it means keeping our air transportation, good. Don't care, I need it. And, I see many of the same faces each time I travel, so I know this is a needed service by many in this remote, god-forsaken area. I'm pumping $$$$ into town....into your pockets, I pay taxes. I HIRE people. I have a house cleaner. I have people who tend my animals while I am gone. I hire people to maintain my yard. I hire locally, ONLY.
If I don't have air, I cannot live here. I cannot work. Don't know if you've noticed but there is NO WORK AROUND HERE. Wake up!!!
Simple as that.....and that is economics for you.
If I don't have air, I cannot live here. I cannot work. Don't know if you've noticed but there is NO WORK AROUND HERE. Wake up!!!
It wouldn't hurt my feelings if YOU MOVED TO YOUR WORK !!!
So you use a little part time help here, big deal.
You know what really ticks me off about stuff like this? The whole Port Angeles attitude. People around here are always going off about how they don't want Seattle telling them what to do. They don't even want the people of Seattle voting. Rossi's campaign slogan was "don't let Seattle steal the election". They whine gripe and moan about things like the domestic partnership law, which wouldn't have passed if it wasn't for King county.
And yet, this area always has its hand out. They need money for bridge replacements, for highway improvement, for a $14 million bus stop, for the development of a superfund site. And now, there's Kenmore Air, which is not making enough money to stay here, and the people of Port Angeles once again have their hand out. "We choose to live in an isolated area, and we need money for transportation."
Guess where that money's coming from? You think we have the tax base here to pay for all this? No, it comes from big cities like Seattle. You know, the people who shouldn't vote because they keep "stealing elections"?
If Port Angeles wants Seattle to leave it alone, then it should be left alone financially as well. See how long it survives. Otherwise the people here might want to consider a bit of reality.
If Port Angeles wants Seattle to leave it alone, then it should be left alone financially as well.
I would be fine with that, there are routes around where the bridges wouldn't be if they wasn't there, I seldom use one of them anyway.
And I'm damn sure not interested in this becoming Seattle West, just leave us country folks alone, we don't need all that.
It's time for a high speed rail line to connect the Peninsula to Seattle and beyond.
Enough with the bailouts already! Either they make it, or they don't.
Dungeness Bus Lines serves Port Angeles, and goes to Seattle. The Virginia Mason, the Greyhound station, Amtrack, and Seatac. They have priority loading at the Kingston-Edmonds Ferry. That means they do not have to wait in line. They drive to the front of the line, and catch the next loading ferry.
It's time for a high speed rail line to connect the Peninsula to Seattle and beyond.
Don't love this area, do you?
Keep inviting others here and we will end up with the same water shortage problems others are starting to have.
Not to mention over populating the area in some monkeys greed for money.
Then I'll have to move to get away from you fools. And if I do I won't miss any of you at all.
I ONLY SHOP LOCAL, never at Walmart, or other chain...so I put all my earned money back into the community!!!)
So you think that Walmart isn't part of this community? Tell that to my friends that work there and depend on the employment in order to pay their bills and rent and mortgages.
"If I don't have air, I cannot live here. I cannot work. Don't know if you've noticed but there is NO WORK AROUND HERE. Wake up!!!
Simple as that.....and that is economics for you."
Well, that is ONE form of "economics", where the many pay for the privileges of a few.
I'm not trying to be mean or insulting, just trying to point out that some business owners are getting "support", while most others in town are left to fail.
"Because we are so, so VERY remote, and the transportation options are limited...we need to underwrite this service, for the good of all."
Ah, yes.. Just what Jeff Lincoln was telling us.
Get your facts straight...it's not PA money that the GRANT is coming from, it's a FED grant....
As for our hands out, yes. It is. The state is doing the big "gimme gimme" that's for sure.
Now, as for the whole attitude of the locals (evidently who elected BBC their spokesman) everyone can't have their sh*t smell like roses, and live on their social security (will be gone by the time I get to tap into that..) So meanwhile, I'd love to work here. Been here for 18 years...but, guess what, no jobs!
Some people must work...and even if that work means NOT MAKING IT HERE....scr*w you! Yeah, I need the airport, yeah I need an airline. Too bad the morons at the port raised the fees to the point where Horizon cut PA.
Really? That is the first thing you say: You want people to leave? Wonderful town. I knew it was full of self righteous assh*les, it's like a cancer around here.
Brainless lot of narrow minded knee jerk Rush sycophants, let me say it again s-c-r-e-w y-o-u!
Walmart is NOT part of the community, BBC. It's a plague on the country.
It employs people part time, and encourages them to get state aid. It doesn't give health benefits (ditto on the state aid). It sucks money from the community and back to corporate headquarters.
Get smart, old man. Walmart is not your friend, it is not Port Angeles' friend... If you love this place so much, you'd figure that out, quickly.
Dungeness Bus line has...two times it's goes to SeaTac....TWICE A DAY.
Early morning, and late afternoon. Too bad the majority of the flights departing SeaTac for parts East are Early Morning, or late afternoon. Takes 3 hours to get from here to there. Then with a cross country trip, and waiting at the airport, etc., it's more like a 12-15 hour trip.
I'm sure that is all great for you when you go visit your Uncle Milton in Fresno....but, for business travel it stinks.
So, for a one day to NYC, it's more than a day in transit (round trip). With Kenmore, the trip half that.
Maybe you should support people working and bringing the bacon back here...?
Funny you should talk about how PA is looking for handouts....since we have more people on the dole than any other county in the state. Yep..between unemployed, and welfare, and government jobs, and disabled, and social security it's about 60-70% of the entire population of the area.
If you want to slap the hands that are outstretched....start with the grannies, and the retired, the disabled, and the welfare moms, and keep slapping down the line. 7 out of every 10 people you meet in this town are getting some aid, or sucking the government titties in some way.
Hey, my business HERE already failed. Yep, not enough customers, and the long term ones couldn't afford to come out anymore. Do NOT tell me about the economics of this place.
So, to keep a roof over my head I got off my ass and got work that makes me travel.
The port screws with high fees, and high parking fees, and stupid things which make no sense. Makes it so the airline can't make ends meet. So, who's fault is any of this?
Get nasty with the port morons, first, then your local city, and then your state legislators. Don't get nasty with me. I'm trying to stay OFF WELFARE.
Kenmore Air is losing money because they don't have passengers.
Kenmore air does not have passengers because they charge too much.
People in Pt. Angeles do not value their time, therefore it's more cost effective to drive then fly to Seattle.
Giving Kenmore money is not going to change this.....their business model is broken.
Do we remember Horizon Air?
"Because we are so, so VERY remote, and the transportation options are limited.
We are not remote, far from it, it's my opinion that we are not remote enough.
Please everyone, keep urging people from outside the area to move here, especially creative-types escaping from big cities. This would mean we not only get a bump in our population and business base and culture, but, as a bonus, it would (apparently) cause BBC to move away.
Which is no guarantee that he wouldn't still over-post at this blog, but we gotta start somewhere.
Watcher.... In case you have never noticed the comments here are moderated so my comments, most of them anyway, are at the okay of Mr. Harper.
And if you think I leave too many opinions you are free to not read my goddamn comments.
And you are correct, if I did move I still may leave comments here, reminding some of you fools how nice it is to be away from you. :-)
Today I saw one of those orange traffic cones and it was stencilled BBC ... Billy, have you started tagging traffic cones?
Today I saw one of those orange traffic cones and it was stencilled BBC ... Billy, have you started tagging traffic cones?
No, I haven't, but I know where traffic cones come from. From wore out Schneider long trucks, ha ha ha
Never mind,it's an old truckers joke.
BBC...I never said your comments weren't OK'd by Tom. My point is that you post too much, with your (on-topic) content being too little. You're not funny, and you rarely contribute to what the conversation is supposed to be about.
What with the PDN and its website being fairly useless as means of local expression, this blog is of some importance locally. And I am just sorry that so often it is "blogged down" with your lonely old guy ramblings. I think most of us here are trying to gather/exchange actual information - not trucker jokes.
And that's it for me on this subject. I didn't intend to get "personal" with another poster - but really, I don't think you add much if anything here.
Watcher, I'm supposed to care what you think if you don't agree with me?
Like I said, don't read my goddamn comments if you think they are bland and don't like them. :-)
Watcher, you have an open invitation to pop over to my blogs and get into a pissing contest with me where there is no comment moderation.
Feel free to do so, if you are not such a pussy that you can't take some beating back from me. :-)
OK, BBC, you've extended your invitation. Any more bickering between you two will have to be done at your site. Or in any case, someplace besides here.
I fully agree, in fact I think I made that pretty clear in a comment. :-)
Kenmore charges too much?
Let's see....they fly Cessna Caravans, which I think get about 20 gallons per hour (on average) of fuel. It is 90 miles from PA to SeaTac, flight time approximately 30 minutes.
Fuel is about $4.00 a gallon (which includes about .30 cents state tax), so a flight to SeaTac, so it's about $40 bucks for gas. The insurance is another hundred bucks, they have ground crew ($10 bucks an hour), a pilot (maybe $20-30 an hour), then there are landing fees....(2005 numbers) $29 and $55 each way for Boing field, compared to the $91.00 at OUR airport. (I'm sure it's higher now, for us, I hear Boing hasn't raised fees.) Then, there are the people you don't see-- the reservation employees, the mechanics, and so on and so on.
So, add it all up, and figure for everyone's time the cost for one flight to/from Boing Field is around $400-500 bucks. The plane only holds NINE passengers....the costs per passenger are $44.00 - 55.00 for a full 9 passengers. But, if only 3 show up, the costs would be 133-166.00 per person. So they're charging $80-90 bucks. This makes sense.
Add to the reality that often weather conditions aren't ideal here..in the winter fog can keep planes from flying, and they make zero when they cannot fly, but still have all the employee/support costs.
The unfortunately, it is expensive, and the port landing fees do not help. They are among the highest in the state. Who in the HELL knows why they are so high! But, the port has all these high minded ideals regarding their "industrial park" (the vacant land) and putting in a new airport terminal (like that is necessary..the last time they "remodeled" they made it look like a 1970's nightmare office). Their 2009 "strategic planning"budget had crap like 450,000 for sewer development for corporate hangars (WTF?) 200,000 for HarborWorks, and 1,000,000 for land purchase (hmm, wonder what that is!!)
So, obviously, the port has it's fingers in the pie. So who does this hurt? ....The airlines, and the people who must fly, to stay employed.
I think that all you "fiscal knee jerk reactives" aren't seeing the full picture.
Seriously, check out the port budget...www.portofpa.com/about/documents/Budget2009Web_000.pdf
And, then tell me how it really breaks down after some analysis.
Cut HarborWorks off the tit, and lower, or eliminate the landing fees....so that the airline can lower fees, and get more people to take advantage of the great service to SeaTac.
another step towards socialism.....lol.
We need to really think fiscally and take into account what is really necessary. I'd say the new cars for the city (and taking them home), the HarborWorks can be cut, along with the Incubator, the other doofus b.s. funded groups to promote tourism, and advise businesses, and the junkets, and all government business travel should STOP. I think the meetings should cut coffee and treats to eat, and the participants should provide their own paper and pencils. We need to cut government waste, not infrastructure (meaning travel....bus, plane, train..unfortunately someone already made a mint from pulling that out..shady deal with some kickback). We need to get our government to be responsible to the people....instead of raising taxes, adding taxes, and adding more taxes to keep itself in useless paper-pushers, making more requirments, more forms to be filled out, more inspections, more oversight.... the government is bloated, and, it's even MORE BLOATED here where the old-boy network finds new and ingenous ways to employ their buddies.
Kill HarborWorks. That is the most socialist concept EVER. Let businesses have a chance to survive...roll back all the bogus taxation (PADA, utility fees for businesses, business B&O taxes, health department fees, parking permits....yada yada). That is what has killed the economy. Not a grant to benefit the air service.
Get a grip!
"Hey, my business HERE already failed. Yep, not enough customers, and the long term ones couldn't afford to come out anymore. Do NOT tell me about the economics of this place."
Hey, Jeff Lincoln and the HarborWorks board, are you listening to this?
I'd suggest that, rather than the nefarious hand of *cue ominous music* Socialism at work, gnawing at the vitals of our healthy economy, the bailout/stimulus should be seen for what it really is: pure, unadulterated rampant Capitalism.
Only a Autocratic-Oligarchic system such as ours would use tax payer money to preserve all the dead wood and other rubbish ... and award itself bonuses!
In broad terms, under a Socialist system, the government having a stake in a bank or a business, the dead wood and such would be eliminated and entire banks/businesses scrapped if necessary.
It really baffles me how many people here think federal grants are "free money". It's like they think the federal reserve fairy -- and here I want you to imagine Bernanke in a pink tutu and tiara -- floats down, waves a magic wand and POOF! free money!
Federal grant money is added to the national debt. That debt is spread among taxpayers all across the nation or, as is the case this last decade, left up to our kids and grandkids to deal with. It is NOT free money, any more than your credit card is free money.
And like I said, I doubt this area has the tax base to keep things debt-neutral. The taxes are coming from high wage earners in Seattle, New York, L.A. and other big cities. In other words, cities are paying for Kenmore's bailouts, the Gateway, and all the other Bridges to Nowhere that small towns across the nation keep asking for.
Personally I don't really mind grants, especially when the economy is in the crapper like it does now. The bank and auto bailouts left a bad taste in my mouth, but having these institutions vanish would leave a worst taste. Likewise with Kenmore Air. Of course, I think they'll need more money even after the economy improves.
No, what I do mind is how much small towns hate... absolutely hate... the people who are paying taxes on these projects. Like Palin says, city folk aren't "real Americans." Like Rossi says, city folk just "steal elections" and tell the small towns what to do. Like you say, give me the money, then "s-c-r-e-w y-o-u!"
Classy.
Actually, I think I could start a business in this town and make it work. I had one in a town with a lot worse economy than this one has and made it work for me.
But it damn sure wouldn't be downtown.
the real joke of all this is that the "locals" here are on federal and state money, and/or employed by city, county or state, or FED government, or are on disability or welfare -- to the tune of about 6 out of every 10 of us.
That's right...we're already socialist, you nimrods!
Look around....how many people do you know are on social security, disability, getting some state aid, OR are working for the city (police, fire, city worker), the county (PUD), the state (DOT, L&I, DSHS, State Troopers, etc, etc) or FEDS (Border Patrol, Social Security Admin, Park etc., etc)?
How many of the "private sector" jobs are there, really?
The College and Library are partially funded by grants. All of these foundations around here...all Fed Grants.
Look around...seriously, folks. Of your ten friends, six of them will be getting their money by sucking the government titties.
And you complain about what?
Anon 5:55 PM, February 19, 2010
Seattle funds our federal and state roads? You misunderstand how government "works".
Anon 4:17 PM, February 21, 2010
Classy indeed. And - you misunderstand tax collection.
Anon 5:55 PM, February 19, 2010
Small Biz Owner said...
"Seattle funds our federal and state roads? You misunderstand how government "works".
Anon 4:17 PM, February 21, 2010
Classy indeed. And - you misunderstand tax collection."
So, Small Biz Owner, you figger the population of Port Angeles, or even of all of Clallam County (not to reduce the number to actual tax payers) comes remotely close to that of the Seattle area? You actually think the tax money raised in Clallam County comes remotely CLOSE to the state and federal tax monies that flow into Clallam county/Port Angeles to keep it afloat?
Yeah, right. I thought so.
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