During an interview following his win against Debbie Halvorson in the Illinois Second Congressional District Democratic Primary, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. stated his desire to start the Peotone airport project as quickly as possible in order to create jobs. Jackson made reference to the area of the proposed airport using the word "tumbleweed", video below:
The next day, STAND (Shut This Airport Nightmare Down) President George Ochsenfeld had the following reaction: "Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., we are not tumbleweed, we are human beings. Our homes and community are dear to us. Our farmland is some of the finest in the world. Why would you tell ABC's Paul Meincke on election night that the site of your proposed airport currently contains nothing but tumbleweed? We demand an apology."
