The outrage concerning the third runway's overuse has not died down.

Anguished homeowners are still writing letters to the editor. Savvy residents have moved past the anger stage and are into the organizing stage.

As I listened to the Port of Seattle's explanation during the emergency Highline Forum meeting on Jan. 8, it was easy to believe all the scandalous stories that surfaced after a state audit revealed the Port allegedly squandered $100 million of the taxpayers' money.

In the wake of the scandal, airport director Mark Reis, who presented the Port's case at the forum, was reprimanded. The runway project manager resigned before he could be fired.

Despite those actions, the Port's new CEO and reformist commissioners haven't succeeded in changing the corporate culture.

"Arrogant" is the best word to describe the Port's explanation to its forum partners.

No apologies.

The best defense is a good offense.

The public's perception was some kind of mass hallucination.

All the political leaders in the surrounding cities as well as the permitting agencies were wrong when they thought the Port said the runway was needed primarily for arrivals during bad weather. I got it wrong in my coverage for the past eight years.

Even the Tories in the surrounding cities, who backed the runway, misunderstood when the friendly Port public information officer toured them around the airport. They mistakenly thought he told them it would be used to prevent delays when visibility was obscured. (He has since dropped his alias, reverted back to his real name and moved on to another agency.)

Reis quoted the runway's final Environmental Impact Statement:

"Its primary purpose would be to enable two separate arrival streams to Sea-Tac during poor and good (emphasis added) weather, thus increasing the efficient operating capability of the Airport during peak periods."

Oh, by the way, the first runway will be shut down for six months this summer if the Port can obtain funding and the second runway may also be repaved next year if federal stimulus money comes through.

Gotcha!

The Port must have two distinct divisions-the public relations wing that soothes the community and the operating department that does what it wants. Does the right hand even talk to the left hand?

Also, after two decades of dealing with the Port on the third runway, guess what?

They are not in charge. It's the Federal Aviation Administration that decides how the runway is used, Reis declared.

Now, we can attempt to hold our neighbor, the Port, accountable. We can even try to vote out objectionable Port commissioners.

But how do you hold an agency headquartered in the other Washington accountable? Vote against President Obama in four years?

Besides, the day the third runway opened, two other runways were dedicated. The FAA pushes pouring concrete--not finding other solutions.

During a public comment session, residents under and adjacent to the new flight path detailed horror stories about how their lives have changed following the runway's implementation.

Many more were not able to testify because the mid-day meeting time made it difficult for working people to attend.

Remember, a lengthy FAA study was completed that projected noise effects from the third runway. These homes were supposed to be completely insulated from the noise. Homes not insulated were supposedly outside the noise area.

Based on testimony, the study grossly underestimated the new noise levels and contours.

So, when might these suffering residents receive relief?

The next FAA study won't even begin until November. Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler noted it might take up to five years before more insulation is available. My experience is that when a public official predicts governmental action may take up to five years, it will take 10 years.

So what is our recourse?

Apparently, there is no money, energy or political will among the neighboring cities to reignite the legal battle.

We could work with the Port and FAA and hope they to do the right thing. (Ha, Ha, Ha. Yeah, right!)

Citizens could organize and take action. Just like Normandy Parkers with their backyard streams, it's a bad idea to mess with Glen Acres golf course condo owners and their property values.

But, in the end, maybe the best we can hope for is a little bad karma fallout from the state audit scandal.