Crisis in the Wetstraat (Lawstreet)

[woodface]

About a year ago the courier company DHL let the government know that they wanted to expand. The only was to do this was by being allowed to have more night flights from Zaventem. Today was the deadline for the government to come to a decision. If they can't meet DHL's demands, the company will move to Germany and a lot of jobs will be lost here.

Our prime-minister Verhofstadt promised that by september 1 he would have a solution for not only this problem but also the division of electoral district Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde and a solution to budgetary problems. September 21 and he still has nothing. Granted, he came forth with a proposal but that's hardly a solution. While the federal government has somewhat come to an agreement, the districts do not. Brussels does not want any more night flights while Flanders isn't happy that they will take the brunt of the expansion. The proposal allows Brussels to only have to heighten his night flights to 7% starting from 2010. Flanders isn't happy with that and demands that it is spread more equally even during daytime. (I must admit that I agree with Leterme who is at the head of the Flemish district.)

One could argue of course that Brussels and Flanders should just accept the proposal but I don't think this is the problem. Neither of them seems to be working against each other, they want a solution but compromises will have to be made. The problem is that Verhofstadt has let this drag so long. These talks should have started ages ago and not have been left to the last minute. Most people working for DHL seem to have lost all hopes about the government coming to a timely solution. I think they might be right.

To add to the mess, 70 families living around the airport have sued DHL for the night noises (they have done the same with another company there and the airport itself). I'm sorry but are they dense? If you buy a house near an airport you know you will have noise from the airplanes. You know this will go on 24/7. It's not like they build the airport there yesterday. This is just stupid.

Of course, to make matters worse. The prime minister got himself into a car accident. Nothing life threatening but it almost seems like too much of a coincidence. But I you'd have to be crazy to do this on purpose.

Wonder what will happen tomorrow.