A new community group, backed by $500,000 in financing from American Airlines Inc., emerged Tuesday to support keeping federal restrictions on Dallas Love Field in place.
The group, called Stop-and-Think, hopes to shift the Wright amendment debate away from the interests of the airlines, and toward the issues of noise, traffic and jobs, executive director Jay Pritchard said at a news conference.
Stop-and-Think has already launched print and television ads for the Dallas-Fort Worth market that ask people to consider the potential ramifications of a Wright repeal.
But another organization, Friends of Love Field, came forward Tuesday in response to Stop-and-Think to say it speaks on behalf of people who live or work around the Dallas airport.
The group supports repealing Wright, the position backed by Southwest Airlines Co., which wants the law changed so it can fly throughout its nationwide network from Love, its home airport.
American opposes repeal, saying any changes to the law would harm its massive hub operations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, where the world's largest carrier is based.
The dueling efforts bring the Wright fight, which has so far largely taken place in Congress and other political venues, to the neighborhood level at a time when leaders from Dallas and Fort Worth are hammering out a local compromise on the issue.
"These are real problems and real citizens need a voice," Mr. Pritchard said at the event launching the group's campaign from its newly acquired offices at Snider Plaza in University Park.
Similarly, Friends of Love Field spokesman Anthony Page said there is a need for a stronger voice for those who support repeal.
"There are people who want to keep Wright in place, but they aren't the majority," Mr. Page said. "We're trying to provide an alternative voice."
Dallas Morning News
The group, called Stop-and-Think, hopes to shift the Wright amendment debate away from the interests of the airlines, and toward the issues of noise, traffic and jobs, executive director Jay Pritchard said at a news conference.
Stop-and-Think has already launched print and television ads for the Dallas-Fort Worth market that ask people to consider the potential ramifications of a Wright repeal.
But another organization, Friends of Love Field, came forward Tuesday in response to Stop-and-Think to say it speaks on behalf of people who live or work around the Dallas airport.
The group supports repealing Wright, the position backed by Southwest Airlines Co., which wants the law changed so it can fly throughout its nationwide network from Love, its home airport.
American opposes repeal, saying any changes to the law would harm its massive hub operations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, where the world's largest carrier is based.
The dueling efforts bring the Wright fight, which has so far largely taken place in Congress and other political venues, to the neighborhood level at a time when leaders from Dallas and Fort Worth are hammering out a local compromise on the issue.
"These are real problems and real citizens need a voice," Mr. Pritchard said at the event launching the group's campaign from its newly acquired offices at Snider Plaza in University Park.
Similarly, Friends of Love Field spokesman Anthony Page said there is a need for a stronger voice for those who support repeal.
"There are people who want to keep Wright in place, but they aren't the majority," Mr. Page said. "We're trying to provide an alternative voice."
Dallas Morning News
