February 2010 construction update for the International Terminal

[Midtownatl]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

I always felt it was a crime to his family name that they tacked on to it like they did when "renaming" the airport a few years ago. .

As I see it, the Jackson administration was right to honor Mayor Hartsfield by renaming the airport to honor him. Mayor Hartsfiled valued aviation and was instrumental in creating a small airport decades ago. I also think that it was proper to honor Mayor Jackson for the role he played in converting the airport from a "municipal" one as it was in 1977 to an "international" one just a few years later. The airport, as we know it today, was a result of Mayor Jackson's efforts. I have difficulty seeing the "crime" in honoring both great men for what they did for aviation in this city.

[Atlantasfinest]

Originally Posted by Midtownatl

As I see it, the Jackson administration was right to honor Mayor Hartsfield by renaming the airport to honor him. Mayor Hartsfiled valued aviation and was instrumental in creating a small airport decades ago. I also think that it was proper to honor Mayor Jackson for the role he played in converting the airport from a "municipal" one as it was in 1977 to an "international" one just a few years later. The airport, as we know it today, was a result of Mayor Jackson's efforts. I have difficulty seeing the "crime" in honoring both great men for what they did for aviation in this city.

Exactly...funny how the commentary from the "experienced" posters here try to demean the accomplishments of Maynard Jackson who put the airport and Atlanta in the position it is today ON THE MAP. Nothing wrong with his name being on the Airport so you guys should seriously get over yourselves with the demeaning comments on noted Atlanta figures who have done more in their lifetime than you will EVER accomplish.

On another note I fly frequently International twice per month (Just came in from Rio De Janeiro this morning for Carnival) and It's definitely irritating to clear customs and get your bag to then have to go through TSA AGAIN for screening! It makes sense for people who are connecting for to domestic flights to go through TSA again but for final destination passengers whose final stop is Atlanta it makes NO SENSE and is small inconvenience but I'd rather go through that screening than having to connect in Miami or Houston...A Non-Stop flight is better than a one or two any day. Can't wait for the MAYNARD JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to open in 2011!

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by Atlantasfinest

Exactly...funny how the commentary from the "experienced" posters here try to demean the accomplishments of Maynard Jackson who put the airport and Atlanta in the position it is today ON THE MAP. Nothing wrong with his name being on the Airport so you guys should seriously get over yourselves with the demeaning comments on noted Atlanta figures who have done more in their lifetime than you will EVER accomplish.

No one has said that Maynard Jackson did not contribute to the City of Atlanta. The point is that once the airport was named to supposedly honor someone, it was just plain tacky to come in approximately two decades later and "hyphenate" it by tacking on another name. There are plenty of other ways (statues, memorials, new facilities, etc) to commemorate someone than to take an existing facility that was already named after someone and altering it such as they did. Period. The new terminal being named after Jackson is appropriate - he did a good deal internationally after all, and it's a new facility. The visitors still won't know who he was by a name, but a plaque or statue in the terminal to commemorate him as well - fine. We NEED the new terminal and being a new facility, it's open for naming. But to have come in years later and altered/renamed the airport as they did so suddenly with no public feedback - sorry, I stick to my "tacky" feeling over that one.

[Kansaichick]

Ah, the different opinions. I also share the opinion that the name change is "tacky."

I totally respect Maynard Jackson and many other leaders who significantly contributed in to making Atlanta what she is today. All I am saying is this: you don't name a child Jane Doe Smith, have her go by Jane, and then 20 years later, tell her that is now going to be called Jane Anne Doe Smith and that she must respond to Jane Anne.

Instead, they should have found something significant that can TOTALLY be claimed as a tribute to Maynard Jackson. But as previously mentioned, at the end of the day, no one is going to even KNOW the name of the airport or care to know the details.

[Midtownatl]

Originally Posted by Kansaichick

Ah, the different opinions. I also share the opinion that the name change is "tacky."

I totally respect Maynard Jackson and many other leaders who significantly contributed in to making Atlanta what she is today. All I am saying is this: you don't name a child Jane Doe Smith, have her go by Jane, and then 20 years later, tell her that is now going to be called Jane Anne Doe Smith and that she must respond to Jane Anne.

This is, with all due respect, ahistorical. The airport has had many names over the past century. For years it was called "Candler" in honor of Mayor Candler until Mayor Hartsfield renamed it "Atlanta Municipal Airport." So, apparently Mayor Hartsfield himself did not believe that removing a person's name from an airport was wrong; it's unlikely he would think that adding a person's name is wrong. It's an airport, for goodness sake. It belongs to the city, not one person or family.

But above all that, it's not just about what Mayor Jackson did for the City. It's about what he did for the *Airport.* Under his leadership, instilling a vision inspired by the great Mayor Ivan Allen years before him, it went from a minor municipal airport to an international powerhouse. A statue alone would not do justice to that fact.

[Atlantasfinest]

Originally Posted by Midtownatl

This is, with all due respect, ahistorical. The airport has had many names over the past century. For years it was called "Candler" in honor of Mayor Candler until Mayor Hartsfield renamed it "Atlanta Municipal Airport." So, apparently Mayor Hartsfield himself did not believe that removing a person's name from an airport was wrong; it's unlikely he would think that adding a person's name is wrong. It's an airport, for goodness sake. It belongs to the city, not one person or family.

But above all that, it's not just about what Mayor Jackson did for the City. It's about what he did for the *Airport.* Under his leadership, instilling a vision inspired by the great Mayor Ivan Allen years before him, it went from a minor municipal airport to an international powerhouse. A statue alone would not do justice to that fact.

Thank You Midtownatl...Case Closed!

On another note in my hometown of Los Angeles, California Mayor Tom Bradly (1st & only African-American of Los Angeles and my Fraternity Brother :] ) who steered the city for 20 years (longest tenured Mayor ever in Los Angeles) had The Los Angeles International Terminal renamed in his honor for some of the same reasons Maynard Jackson did.

http://www.lax-airport.net/tom-bradl...-terminal.html

Shoot even Bob Hope has a Airport named after him in Burbank (Surburban Los Angeles)

http://www.burbankairport.com/

[Kansaichick]

Originally Posted by Midtownatl

This is, with all due respect, ahistorical. The airport has had many names over the past century. For years it was called "Candler" in honor of Mayor Candler until Mayor Hartsfield renamed it "Atlanta Municipal Airport."

But above all that, it's not just about what Mayor Jackson did for the City. It's about what he did for the *Airport.* Under his leadership, instilling a vision inspired by the great Mayor Ivan Allen years before him, it went from a minor municipal airport to an international powerhouse. A statue alone would not do justice to that fact.

Sorry guys, been away all day and just getting to my emails. I knew about the Atlanta Municipal Airport thing but didn't know about the Candler Airport. I thought it was always named after Hartsfield when they dropped the "Municipal airport." Based on this tidbit of info, I take back the "tackyness" comment because if this is what has occurred in the past, then why not change it again? I definitely respect Maynard Jackson for what all he did with the airport and our city but originally didn't support the name change, based on the premise that it's only carried one person's name.

So now, based on that specific tidbit of info you provided, my viewpoint on this matter is changing. Well done. I love learning something new so I truly do appreciate you enlightening me in a very positive way. Thanks again!