Noise demonstration.

[AirboatRN]

Was anyone able to attend the Alachua County noise demonstration yesterday? Are the results going to be published somewhere? Was it video-taped? Were any news stations notified and present? What I'm hoping is that some of the public was there and that it may have inspired more people to become interested in airboating rather than interested in quelling the noise. Hopefully their little demonstration will backfire.

 

[WallyGator]

tv 20 wcjb chek there web site. been playing it all am.
no good press for us.

 

[jim]

Here is the url for the article:

http://www.wcjb.com/news.asp?id=12899

Here is the bad press:

Boaters say noise comes with the territory.
"We all just keep saying if you don't want to live by it don't move there," says Tim Rodgers who takes his family out on his airboat.

The press will cut that attitude to pieces. It's already started.

The Sheriff took this opportunity to make himself look good and airboaters look bad and some airboaters helped him do that. No way is anyone going to jam loud airboats down these peoples throats. It won't happen folks.

Jim

 

[AirboatRN]

I read the story on thier website.

http://www.wcjb.com/news.asp?id=12899

Who is Tim Rodgers? I don't think that he is at all representative of a responsible airboater, or even a concerned citizen! He is NOT a person that we want as a spokesperson, for sure.
Definitely a biased story, and a biased demonstration.
Here's the address to send comments to WCBJ.

comments@wcjb.com

 

[Croc1]

somebody should have cut the sheriffs exhaust and wired it WOT so everybody could see how bias he was :twisted:

 

[Muddyduck]

Thanks for the email contact AirboatRN. I sent one and got a response the same day from Randy Wood, Ass. News Director. I just asked him to be opened minded when reporting on this situation, and not take the ignorant rants of one guy as the sentiment of all airboaters. There is room for compromise on the noise issue. And the best we can hope for is a comprormise. The old days of straight pipes are gone, gotta change with the times. Anyway, Randy is a motor head himself, so maybe he will get an opportunity to show us in a little better light.

 

[AirboatRN]

You are the Bomb, Muddy! Good job and thanks. I'm glad to hear that Randy Wood was interested enough to respond so quickly. He might be someone we should keep in contact with so we can update him and get some good publicity, huh? I am in total agreement with you on the noise issue.... no problem being considerate, and complying with the existing laws. The problem is that the lawmakers usually aren't airboaters. They are just doing what they think the general voting public (and the palm-greasers) want. We need to speak up! Diplomatically, of course.

 

[Daddy Dave]

Mr. Randy White
Assistant News Director
WCJB - TV
Gainesville, FL

Mr. White,

I have reviewed the text of your news report regarding this week's "Airboat Noise Demonstration" outside the Alachua County Governmental Center.

I understand this demonstration involved a whole flock of elected politicians and one particular public servant whose desire appeared to be to stage a press event to raise awareness of his own personal position of a controversial matter.

In my opinion, Sheriff Oelrich should / could have exercised better judgment in his action. He knew -- or should have known -- that no airboat would ever normally fire up in any downtown area, much less run at wide open throttle. By this knowledge, the demonstration was slanted to give an unrealistic impression to those who will soon vote on this issue and who were not experienced in airboat operation.

Florida Airboat Association - FAA - was on record before this press event asking only for a realistic and balanced portrayal of actual sounds generated from normal and ordinary airboat activities. FAA officials offered to volunteer their boats and experienced operators for this purpose. Instead, Alachua's head law enforcement public servant chose two airboats that were not equipped with typical mufflers -- thus further slanting the outcome.

It is often said that only one opportunity exists to set a first impression. Seems like Alachua's Sheriff had a predetermined conclusion regarding airboats in mind for Alachua County Commissioners, maybe because he is a lakefront property owner. And a result, several Alachua Commissioners, including its Chairperson made negative comments about airboats.

What we would hope in any future news coverage of such an event involving airboats, simple research be done before airing to identify legitimate objections and the presence of alternative views so that your viewers might have both sides to ponder.

Thank You for taking the time to review my comments.

Respectfully Yours,

Capt. Dave Markett

 

[AirboatRN]

Well said, Captain! All valid points. I'm sure glad you're on our team, because you certainly have a way with words. Have you ever thought about getting into politics? We could use a representative that has some common sense. And an airboat, too!

 

[Daddy Dave]

I mis-identified Randy Wood as Randy White in my letter to him. I regret that error and no insult was intended. Geeeeez - it's a biatch to get dumber by the day.