More local residents submitted letters to share their thoughts on the topic of bringing commercial flights to Ocala/Marion County.
“Bringing commercial flights to Marion County would be great. We all pay taxes and it would not affect the farms at all. In addition, it would bring more capital to Marion County from surrounding counties that will book flights. Expand the airport and put more food courts, a barbershop, and a gym there,” says Ocala resident Antoine McBride.
“I have been opposed to commercial flights to Ocala ever since I heard about it. I vote ‘no.’ Think about why you moved to this area. Orlando used to be a quiet, sleepy town until it mindlessly exploded, and I don’t want that here. Too bad if traveling to Orlando, Tampa, or Jacksonville is too much for you, or you don’t like to drive in the traffic. Do you not think there will be more traffic here? There’s already too much traffic here,” says Jackie White, Reddick resident.
“My wife and I, and most of our neighbors, travel by air. I know that we would love to have commercial flights. We live in Stone Creek. How nice it would be, rather than going to Tampa or Orlando,” says Ocala resident Mark Whitman.
“It would be great to open the airport. I wouldn’t have to drive to Orlando or Tampa to pick up my loved ones when they come to visit, or for me to go visit them,” says Dorothy Maher, Ocala resident.
“I just finished reading an item submitted by a gentleman who said he lived near an airport for a while. Honestly, we lived in the flight path of a Strategic Air Command base, and a train track ran adjacent to our property. After a few weeks, we didn’t notice any noise, and we frankly had trouble sleeping when we traveled. As we age, we are not looking forward to the drive to Orlando or Tampa. Since we don’t have access to a train, we would celebrate having the convenience of an airport nearby,” says Ocala resident Monica Hamilton.
Would you like to share your thoughts with us? Share them in a comment or by writing a Letter to the Editor.