Example 1

Dear For months we have been calling Houston Airport Systems with complaints of excessive noise that is creating an absolutely intolerable situation for our neighborhood. We have lived here for many years as good neighbors and have not complained about any airport operations.  However, since the opening of the new runway in Fall 2003, we are awakened at all hours and cannot utilize our homes in the ordinary manner that is inherent in any property ownership. Each day brings disruption to conversations, shaking of windows, waking families from sleep, interrupting telephone calls, and unreasonably interfering with the ordinary expectation of the use of a homeowner's property. Frankly, though airport personnel have been kind and considerate, little improvement in the situation has resulted. The use of our property without compensation and the infringement upon our property rights would not be tolerated by any one of you in your neighborhoods and violates our right to utilize our property in an ordinary and reasonable manner. The actions by the FAA and HAS are tantamount to an unconstitutional taking of property; they are inherently unfair and require immediate action by our elected officials. Please assist us in addressing these issues immediately by acting to prevent the usage of airport property that unfairly infringes on other individuals' property rights, or, alternatively, please make the appropriate arrangements to compensate those of us whose property you are using. Sincerely

Example 2

Since November 1, 2003, we are awakened at all hours. We cannot utilize our homes in the ordinary manner inherent in property ownership.  Each day brings disruption to conversations, shaking of windows; waking families from sleep, interruption of telephone calls, and unreasonably interference with the ordinary expectation of the use of a homeowner's property. We have been calling the Houston Airport Systems with complaints of excessive noise that creates an intolerable situation for our neighborhood. We have pleaded with our elected officials and appointed officials for an equitable resolution to this issue caused by the opening of the new runway at Bush Intercontinental Airport. There has been no improvement in the situation in spite of our pleas. We see no substantial effort on the part of the Houston Airport System, the FAA, or our elected officials to satisfactorily resolve the issues that neighborhoods affected by the opening of runway 8L 26R have complained about other than lip service. Our elected and appointed officials (with some exceptions) at the local, state and federal level have either ignored our pleas or blamed the federal government and commerce. The federal government and our local governments have the authority to assist in this matter yet have refused to do it, citing it is not their job or they have no jurisdiction in the matter. Yet, homes and subdivisions continue to be built in the noise impact zone of this new runway. Notwithstanding that the following situations exist: The 2000 Department of Transportation Federal Noise Abatement Policy and the Local Government Code, State of Texas provide authority to local governments to establish land use management programs that are compatible with airport noise; Our legislators, whom we elect to represent all of us not just a few, have funding authority over the City of Houston and regulatory power of municipalities and county governments that continue to issue building permits in noise impact zones and can in fact enact laws that require noise abatement policies be enacted; The City of Houston can in fact develop and present a noise abatement program that would alleviate much of the aggravation that we experience; and, That permanent noise and pollution testing can be implemented that would provide the federal government and local governments with information that would enable them to fix this problem, if they so desired. The use of our property without compensation and the infringement upon our property rights would not be tolerated by any one of you in your neighborhoods. The actions by the FAA and HAS are tantamount to an unconstitutional taking of property with due process; they are inherently unfair and require immediate action by you and other elected officials in the area. We ask that action to address this issue be taken immediately. Minimally these actions should be to stop the usage of airport property that unfairly infringes on other individual property rights; or, in the alternative, you must make the appropriate arrangements to justly compensate those of us whose property you are using. The actions of the Houston Airport System, and the FAA, violate my rights and prevent me the utilization of my property in an ordinary and reasonable manner. Elected official, your immediate attention to this matter is requested.