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PODCAST

The Airport Communities Podcast

by STNI (Sea-Tac Noise.Info).Based near Sea-Tac Airport, this podcast explores the impacts, policies, and inequalities faced by people living under the flight path everywhere. It"s definitely not just about noise.

government self-improvement

All Episodes

26:12

Emergency Episode - SB6240: Port Packages!

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2026/02/22

Our apologies for the delays between episodes - and for not being timely in updating you on our legislative efforts. We keep trying to tell a story — to provide a background on how airports work -- to benefit all airport communities. But this is the sixty-day legislative session in Olympia, the time of year where we have to try to turn those ideas into something real for you. The bad news: to all of you who have been putting off much-needed repairs-- waiting patiently to see results, it's not...

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10:28

Ep #21: Maps Are Good!

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2026/02/02

In our last episode (SB5652 Emergency Episode Port Packages), we talked about changes we'd like to see in Senator Orwall's airport legislation. But we didn't talk about why we're so concerned. Everything about airports is complicated. You need a map just to find your way through the terminal! Airport law is like that--multiplied by 1,000. Fortunately, we're now getting much needed help with mapping (Rami shout out!) You've already seen his great work in our Port Packages, Noise Trees Mapping ...

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5:59

Emergency Episode - SB5652: Port Packages!

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2026/01/27

The Airport Communities Pod In Olympia, Senator Tina Orwall has introduced two ambitious bills: SB5652 and SB6240. Each has so many moving parts we're still trying to digest them all. In the broad strokes: SB5652 is about trying to address some very thorny problems that have not moved forward: Port Package updates, air quality, public health.SB6240 takes a slice of an existing aviation fuel tax to fund those programs.Rather than comment on the current state of each bill--which will surely cha...

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25:15

Ep #19 Banking

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2026/01/19

In our last episode (Mailbag #2), we took a variety of questions we tend to get on a regular basis. This gives us an opportunity to mention that although each episode stands on its own, we encourage people to listen/watch in order, because the concepts build on each one another. The material has many layers, people want to make an impact (no pun intended), and there is a strong tendency to cherry-pick. There's no way to do that with airports. Today's topic adds one more layer: banking--...

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21:24

Ep #18 The Mailbag #2

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2026/01/05

In our last episode (This Airport Discount), we talked about how lower property values are the uncomfortable 'bargain' we all get by living under the flight path. This time, we use the end of year as an excuse to take a break, give people some word on what we're doing in 2026, shamelessly ask for support to cover our costs. And also respond a variety of questions--and save Paula from re-typing the same answers over and over! Topics Section 8810 SeaTac Blog articleThe Airport DiscountA-We...

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25:09

Ep #17: The Airport Discount

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/12/23

In our last episode (This Will Never End), we talked about a stat most people miss: 1.6%. Although passengers have more than doubled, over the past 25 years, flights have only increased 1.6%. The airport obsesses over passengers because passengers are money. They talk far less about operations because that is the noise and pollution. This time, we talk about another cognitive disconnect: property values vs. affordability, aka 'the airport discount'. Over the years, many people concerned about...

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28:17

Ep #16: This Will Never End

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/12/08

In our last episode (The Airport Director's Dad Joke), we talked about the truth that all airports are really ongoing construction projects. They are built, from the ground up, by the express will of congress, to grow. This time, we focus on a stat most people miss: 1.6%. Although passengers have more than doubled over the past 25 years, flights have only increased 1.6%. The airport obsesses over passengers because passengers are money. They talk far less about operations because that is the ...

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26:45

Ep #15 The Airport Director's Dad Joke

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/11/29

In our last episode (A-Weighted), we talked about just one of the ways noise is misrepresented to the public. Even the way it is measured misleads decision makers (and the public) as to how bad it is–using a system that depicts flights only a few hundred feet from the runway with the same numbers as routine yard work tasks. This time we talk about a related topic, something that will sting: the main reason we keep losing. Airport communities have never really agreed on what winning means–unle...

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27:42

Ep #14: A-Weighted

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/11/06

Last week told the crazy story of Tagamet to describe something economists call perverse incentives--how people can waste so much money addressing a problem in the wrong way, you can't even get research money to figure out how to address it in the right way. In another episode, we described No Data, No Problem. How industries slow walk research for decades by saying we can't fix it until we get better research. We've received some comments telling us these ideas are too abstract. So, this wee...

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23:27

Ep #13: Tagamet

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/10/30

We open this week's episode by talking about how little information sharing there ever really is among any airport community. Even candidate forums on airport issues here are now semi-private! More broadly, we are not alone with airport expansions. But on the plus side, more and more, we're noticing other airport communities using our resources. Which is great! Traditionally, few airport communities share information--except on very broad federal legislation that never goes anywhere. To...

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22:19

Ep #12: The Westside Hilltop Survival Committee

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/10/24

Last week we talked about how the SAMP EA can say that the air quality is within standards. There was this (brief) 'golden age' of NEPA where you could get pollutants reviewed and problems fixed. It made dramatic improvements to the environment and public health. This week, we start providing some history on the Sea-Tac Communities Plan, our 'golden age' following the second runway. And how that rapidly fell apart. The STCP was passed before the dawn of what you now call DNL65. It established...

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20:40

Ep #11: No Data? No Problem.

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/10/17

Last week we answered a series of questions from the previous week. (We get many of the same questions every week.) Host JC came across the book Particles of Truth at a recent UWDEOHS seminar on community air quality projects. Researchers were enthusiastic about it and after reading it, we can understand why. Particles of Truth provides a history of resarch on PM2.5 particles -- the last addition to the list of criteria pollutants in 1997. The book discusses the challenges faced in gett...

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26:31

Ep #10: Grab Bag!

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/10/07

<a href="https://seatacnoise.info/ep-8-the-rube-goldberg-debt-experiment">Last week</a> we took the easy way out and provided a podcast version of our popular Part 150 for Dummies article. This week, even lazier, answering reader questions, in order to give the crew a chance to catch up, which is no small task Still, most of the questions we get are the same. Over and over. Each of these questions are 'teasers' for future episodes already on the schedule. <h2>SAMP Webinar&l...

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24:22

Ep #9: Part 150 For Dummies

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/10/02

Last week we learned that, since the Third Runway, the Port of Seattle's finances are the best in the state, due better management, the unique nature of how airports are financed, and the fact that the place was always too big to fail. This week we provide a podcast version of our explainer Part 150 for Dummies, proving once again that given enough time everythingbecomes a podcast. However, the Port is ending the first part of... er... the fifth Part 150 Study at the airport right now and you...

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28:50

Ep #8: The Rube Goldberg Debt Experiment

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/09/22

Last week we looked back at how the Port of Seattle's tree cutting, originally known as the Flight Corridor Safety Program, led to a short-lived public interest about the SAMP, and the development of all the Port's current community grant programs. Feedback: We hit another 'record' of podcast downloads. We address complaints about the "Bullshit Meter". We don't do it for shock value. Phrases like 'myth buster!', or 'misleading' have lost impact. One reason that myths like Second Airport refus...

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30:21

Ep #7 Everybody Loves Trees!

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/09/10

Last week we introduced the the STNI 2026 Legislative Agenda by talking about the HOK, a good study, responding to a previous environmental review, and a bad study trying to do the same thing in 2019. Housekeeping: We mention so many meetings including recent meetings of the Des Moines Aviation Committee, roundtables in New York City, Europe, KCIA, and the Part 150 - all the events you can follow by subscribing. Feedback: We hit another record with podcast downloads after our host, JC, went b...

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30:04

Ep #6 The HOK

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/09/04

Last week we finished our last setup episode describing the Port of Seattle (Ep # 5 A Very Special Purpose District. This week's episode moves onto current events, some longstanding issues with airport communities everywhere and an introduction to the STNI 2026 Legislative Agenda. Housekeeping: We mention the upcoming SAMP Draft EA, ROD and Part 150 public workshops, all the events you can follow by subscribing. Stammering: Host JC talks about why he stammers and gets so cranky, our Zero Tole...

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21:39

Ep #5 A Very Special Purpose District

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/08/27

Last week we talked about the Railroad In The Sky, the FAA, which controls the airspace. Before that we described the airport as a parking lot, or rather two parking lots, because the airport operator does not control the roads, ie. flight paths. This week we talk about the owner of the parking lot - the Port of Seattle - and describe its definition as a special purpose district under RCW 53 and how that mission is fundamentally different from other special purpose districts such as utilities...

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20:22

The Railroad In The Sky!

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/08/20

Last week we described the airport as a parking lot, or rather two parking lots, because the airport operator does not control the roads, ie. flight paths. This week we talk about those roads, what the FAA calls 'the railroad in the sky'. Why they're so easy to change for them, using the magic spell 'safety and efficiency'. And why that same spell makes it almost impossible for us. We briefly mention the three layers of roads (which are really the three areas of air traffic control) and then ...

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19:00

It's a Parking Lot!

The Airport Communities Podcast ·

2025/08/15

Last week we described the process of community engagement as a Casino. This week is the first of three episodes where we try to describe what the various players are. JC opens saying that airport communities need to figure out what they want besides "making the airplanes go somewhere else!" and go for that first, before tackling Mt. Everest. The 'real' episode opens at 2:24 by describing airports as Parking Lots. In the case of Sea-Tac two parking lots: the small one known as the airfield, a...

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22 results

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