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Happy New Year!!
During our recent holiday season, St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) airport had a record number of people travel through. While those of us who live locally may take Lambert for granted, it is important to recognize that millions of people pass through our airport, and it is the welcoming mat to our region. For businesspeople, it is a vital hub for transportation and commerce.
Whether you frequent Lambert for business or personal reasons, I'm sure you've noticed it is being outpaced by others. In order to compete, our airport needs a complete overhaul.
What role does the city’s Comptroller play in this? The office of Comptroller holds significant influence over Lambert. As a member of the Airport Commission, the Comptroller has a direct say in the it’s operations. Additionally, the Comptroller’s office must sign off on all vendor contracts and play a key role in approving airport bonding.
But what happens when that role is neglected?
Travelers expect clean and functioning facilities, but the vendor responsible for cleaning the airport’s restrooms went unpaid for six months and walked away from the contract. This left airport management scrambling to find a temporary replacement agency. The resulting disruption tarnished our region’s reputation. I was one of those travelers who experienced this firsthand. Despite the public outcry, the Comptroller’s office provided no valid reasoning for the delay in payments. Worse yet, if the Comptroller had been actively engaged as a member of the Airport Commission, she might have understood the damage done to our airport and its reputation.
In 2019, the current Comptroller missed 56% of the Airport Commission meetings. From 2019 to present, her average attendance has dropped to 30%. That's not including remote meetings or instances where others attended on their behalf. This lack of consistent involvement raises serious concerns about oversight and commitment to one of our region’s most important assets.
The current Comptroller frequently boasts about maintaining the city’s A bond rating. However, if that is the case, why does Kansas City International Airport (MCI) consistently outpace Lambert in investment bonds by a ratio of 4-to-1 and not until this year did the S&P raise our credit rating.
Confidence in Kansas City's future has helped fuel its airport's growth. In 2023, MCI opened a new 40 gate terminal. The construction cost $1.5 billion, with 90% of the cost financed and paid for by bonds. Annual debt repayments come from airport revenue — airline rents, parking fees, concession sales — not from city taxpayers.
Perception plays a crucial role in shaping investment outcomes, and the perception of St. Louis compared to Kansas City is decidedly unfavorable when vendors at Lambert are not paid on time and basic operations suffer as a result.
An airport serves as the first impression of a city, state, and region. This is especially critical for attracting business investment and tourism. While Lambert is currently busier than MCI in terms of passenger flights, MCI is making strides in development, passenger growth, and regional cooperation. For instance, MCI has $5 million from the State of Missouri to attract transatlantic flights and was in negotiations with Kansas to further expand its reach.
When I brought up this issue on a recent radio program, a listener shared that due to their location in Missouri, they now choose MCI over Lambert for business travel. This is a stark reminder that we are losing ground to other regions.
I am running for Comptroller because I believe Lambert Airport must be a top priority. If elected, I will personally attend Airport Commission meetings and work closely with city transportation committee, regional and state leaders to secure the funding and upgrades our airport desperately needs. I will focus on building the partnerships necessary to transform Lambert into a modern, efficient, and competitive airport that serves as a gateway to progress for St. Louis and Missouri as a whole.
We need leaders who are not only focused on maintaining the status quo but are committed to driving growth and innovation. We need leaders who can bring people to the table, regardless of political affiliation, to move our city, region, and state forward. As Comptroller, I will be that leader, dedicated to improving our region’s first impressions, retaining quality vendors, and ensuring our airport becomes a source of pride for everyone who passes through its doors.
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