Town Hall Meeting: The Cortes Airstrip

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - About 125 people turned up for the town hall meeting in Mansons Hall, on Monday June 3, 2024. Noticeably absent were the air strip’s owner, Michael Ching, his manager,  Judy Kemchand, or Martene Rothblatt, who is financing the air strip’s renovations.

This did not come as a surprise.

One of the three speakers at the meeting read out an email he sent Rothblatt in February: 

“I am writing to see if there is a chance I (we) can persuade you from paving the airstrip.”

“If left as a gravelled surface we have a better chance of preserving our wonderful island and community. As they say, 'If you build it, they will come.’"

“Change is inevitable, a fact you are familiar with being a pioneer in so many fields. But I will guess it is this very change that has drawn you to Cortes, a safe sleepy little island, away from the busy mad world, and its constant change.”

“A paved runway will bring even more people to Cortes, and with that, comes more change. The biggest threat from this change is the slow but steady replacement of our local population. It is the locals that have created the sanctuary you seek, the community created though countless volunteer hours and persevering through the long winters and isolation.”

“I know that work is underway, so improve the runway, just don't pave it. Let's not make it any easier for change to advance here.”

“My name is Mike Manson. We live about 2kms from your place and are on the beach down from Hollyhock. I am the grandson of pioneer John Manson ( Mansons Landing). My family has been farming this same piece of land since 1888, now in our 136th year. We have seen change.”

Rothblatt did not reply.

One of the speakers, Sadhu Johnston, mentioned numerous attempts to communicate with the air strip or Rothblatt - all of which were met by silence. 

Half way through the meeting, the assembly broke into small groups for further discussion. 

After listening to reports from the small groups, Johnston pointed out, “The primary and first concern was (Ching’s and Rothblatt’s) lack of community mindedness to show up here, to a community meeting, and (at the same time) be making changes that could be really significant for the island.”

Judyth Weaver added, “A lot of this started because of non-communication, and it's gotten much bigger because of non-communication. This meeting was about communication, and I am so relieved.  The difference is quite stark to me.”