With the potential privatization of St. Louis Lambert International Airport still 鈥渦p in the air,鈥� as host Don Marsh put it on Monday鈥檚 St. Louis on the Air, 漏 2024 外网天堂鈥檚 Melody Walker joined the show to offer analysis of the latest developments.
鈥淧rivatization is one of the most polarizing words I think we鈥檝e had in quite a while here in St. Louis, and it鈥檚 a little bit of a misnomer,鈥� said Walker, who is the station鈥檚 economic development reporter. 鈥淚 think when people hear 鈥榩rivatization,鈥� we think, 鈥榃e鈥檙e going to sell the airport off to some private company.鈥� Well, that鈥檚 not what鈥檚 happening.鈥�
She emphasized that the city 鈥渨ill always own the airport鈥� regardless of the outcome of the current effort. But the city might 鈥渆nter into a partnership with a private company鈥� to operate it through a Federal Aviation Administration program that former Mayor Francis Slay applied for during his last month in office.
Walker has been following the story for months 鈥� from with a consulting team to explore privatization, to the exploration itself, to . As she has reported, some of the criticism concerns Slay鈥檚 connection to one of the companies vying to become the private partner.
When Marsh asked about the substantial costs involved in exploring privatization, Walker who recently obtained documents via a Freedom of Information Act request.
鈥淗e says it adds up to about $800,000 a month, and the city is not paying this 鈥� Rex Sinquefield has stepped in actually at the request of Mayor Slay and has agreed to pay all these fees for these consultants up until a deal is made,鈥� Walker explained. 鈥淎nd if a deal goes through 鈥� and if they strike a good deal 鈥� everybody will get paid, and then the money will then be paid back to Mr. Sinquefield by the city from the money they make on the deal.鈥�
Listen to the full conversation:
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