good points about Maddox, Hope. In fact, I wonder if Maddox’s persistent “interest” in the airport was the cause of the very abrupt and mysterious resignation of former Airport Director Sunil Harman in 2013. I’d listened to Sunil on Preston Scott’s Morning Show speak glowingly of the great career opportunity that the Tally Airport was for him, and Sunil had an impressive resume as Assistant Directors at O’Hare Intnl. in Chicago and Hartsfield-Jackson Intnl. in Atlanta. Sunil seemed genuinely enthusiastic and had plans to truly transform Tally Airport in to an International Airport – and then he abrupty resigned months later. Wonder if Maddox issued Sunil some “requests” or was involved in other Airport issues that Sunil perceived as corruption or coercion?
Story states: “Harman submitted his resignation on June 27, 2013 to take the Airport Director position in Okaloosa County. There was no reason given for his departure.
Harman had been widely credited for what some have called major improvements at the Tallahassee Regional Airport.”
Story: http://tallahasseereports.com/2013/07/03/breaking-news-sunil-harman-city-airport-director-resigns/

Agreed for the most part, Phil. I’ve been saying for years that COT government should make it a #1 priority to attract more diversified PRIVATE SECTOR businesses and corporations to Tallahassee. This area desperately needs more commerce and well-paying job opportunities other than just the state government and universities.

But of course instead of doing any of that, for over a decade our COT and “mayor” spent most of their time trying to enrich themselves in pay-for-play schemes and cronyism, enough so that the FBI finally put some investigators on it. So sometimes it seems the only thing Tally is known for or is nationally mentioned is our COT corruption – or our infamous violent crime rate.

All that said, you’re correct we should be glad we’re not a major FL metro area – a drive through metro Orlando and across I-4 to Tampa is a good example of what decades of “growth” does to the quality of life. Along with the good comes a lot of downsides.

Wow, another string of shootings around FAMU (Florida Assault & Murder University):
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2019/04/06/four-people-shot-famu-tallahassee-injured-early-morning-shooting-gun-violence/3385790002/

TLH fares almost 70% HIGHER than national average:
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/money/2018/01/10/tallahassee-airport-fares-68-percent-higher-than-national-average/1020111001/

It’s the brothers.
Meanwhile, I’m guessing Greenville’s “Drag Queens Story Hour” with YOUNG CHILDREN was left off the tour:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47203976

News Maven and Hope:
Also – Look at the extensive petroleum discharges and contamination at the COT Airport – at two locations on the Airport property; (go to the Public database OCULUS FDEP), and also the COT Fleet Fueling Facility, COT Hopkins Power Plant, etc. Plenty of associated environmental issues aside from just the purchase price of fuel…; which is bought in bulk (so why not lower prices….?)

I guess our problem is geography. Location, location. too far away from Florida’s population centers and no port close by. Beaches too far. Only I-10. 319, 27, and 90 are good but not interstates.

Just be thankful we don’t have the pop growth rates of other florida cities or we would be in deep doo-doo.

I think we should be grateful for what we have and what we are. We are the capital of the third largest state, we have two fine universities and several colleges. We have good weather, an educated workforce and a pretty good standard of living. We have a town where you can walk the streets at night in safety. Where you can talk to total strangers and they engage in conversation. Where your kids can grow up in a good safe town.

I think we should stop looking for the greener grass on the other side of the fence and just take what we have and improve on it. We don’t have a river (and Cascades is not our riverfront) we don’t have mountains, we don’t have beaches close by, but are easily accessible. We sure could use more tourists, and more retirees. Let’s work on those and try to attract more of both. Continue to build our education system and our workforce. Let’s try to reduce crime, especially gun violence and drugs.

Very interesting… Do tell… I think you are onto something very very significant

Hope, let me point you in an inquisitive direction:
TLH v. GSP Airports
Current Jet Fuel Prices/Gallon
Full Service 100LL
TLH: $6.62
GSP: $5.63
Full Service Jet A
TLH: $6.45
GSP: $5.25
This compares the Million Air FBO to Cerulean Aviation FBO at Greenville.
Source: GlobalAir.com
Ask yourself: Why is our AvGas so much more expensive? Then look into who has the exclusive contract, and how they are “connected.”