On November 4, 2025, guest host Marshall Dawson fills in for Kim Monson to explore government overreach in local transportation policy with aviation advocate Tara Menza, transportation expert Randall O’Toole, and attorney Jon Boesen discussing the importance of timely legal consultation.

Start listening at 29:22 – Hour 1

Tara Menza, a member of Longmont’s Airport Advisory Board, breaks down the controversy surrounding proposed landing fees at Vance Brand Airport. The proposal originated from noise complaints by a handful of residents but shifted to a funding justification after pilots pushed back. Menza, whose husband is a retired Navy combat aviator with nearly 400 carrier landings, explains that airports receiving federal Aviation Improvement Program grants are bound by assurances requiring them to remain open to all types of aeronautical activity.

The city council’s handling of the issue drew criticism when board members discovered they received different budget information than what was presented to the council. Staff admitted the numbers differed because the groups “asked different questions.” Menza pointed out the airport advisory board had never seen a full budget until October, and the city manager arbitrarily required a 90-day reserve for the airport while other city entities only need 60 days.

“But basically, yes, the airport board did not get the same information the city council got, which I found extremely frustrating. And it looked like they were trying to pull a fast one on the airport board.”

Tara Menza, Longmont Airport Advisory Board Member

Start listening at 74:00 – Hour 2

Randall O’Toole, known as “the anti-planner,” exposes the massive waste in Denver’s FasTracks program. RTD claims it will only take $1.6 billion to finish three trains daily between Longmont and Denver, but the cost per rider would reach $135, with taxpayers subsidizing roughly $130 of each fare. When Fast Tracks passed in 2004, transit carried 4.8 percent of Denver commuters. After spending $5 billion on six new rail lines, transit still carried just 4.8 percent in 2019, meaning all that money failed to take a single car off the road.

O’Toole recounted debating former RTD CEO Cal Marcella, who promised “absolutely no chance” of cost overruns. As soon as the measure passed, RTD discovered 50 to 100 percent cost overruns on almost every line. The transportation expert noted that subsidies to transit average over $2 per passenger mile since the pandemic, while driving subsidies amount to about a penny per passenger mile. He revealed that even among Denver residents without cars, twice as many drive alone to work as take transit.

“I would point out that it would be cheaper to give every low-income person who was riding transit a new car every three years than it would be to run just one of the fast-track lines.”

Randall O’Toole, Transportation Policy Expert

Start listening at 66:12 – Hour 2

Jon Boesen of Boesen Law emphasizes that time is of the essence when dealing with injuries. Many people have a natural inclination to wait and see how things develop before seeking legal advice, but every case has different statutes of limitations, notice requirements, and steps that must be taken immediately. For workers injured on the job, failure to properly notify employers and specifically describe what body parts were injured can be devastating for the claim.

Boesen shared observations from a recent trip to New York, where he spoke with residents about the upcoming mayoral race. He found many voters hearing promises of free services and taxing billionaires without considering the consequences, reflecting a broader pattern of insufficient civic education.

“Well, I tell folks, and I’ve said this before on Kim’s show, time is of the essence.”

Jon Boesen, Attorney at Boesen Law