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A Coveted Landing Strip for Google's Founders
An anonymous reader writes "The NYT reports, "In the annals of perks enjoyed by America's corporate executives, the founders of Google may have set a new standard: an uncrowded, federally managed runway for their private jet that is only a few minutes' drive from their offices. For $1.3 million a year, Larry Page and Sergey Brin get to park their customized wide-body Boeing 767-200, as well as two other jets used by top Google executives, on Moffett Field, an airport run by NASA that is generally closed to private aircraft."
Whenever I hear stories about shit like this, I always wonder about what's getting neglected to pay for this kind of insane luxury. When that asshole from Tyco was having his multi-million dollar anniversary on that greek island complete with vodka-peeing ice sculptures and Jimmy Buffett, he was using the company's coffers as his own private piggy bank. The day Enron cratered, the biggest thing on Ken Lay's plate were the fabric swatches for the new private jet.
The whole "hard work gets you somewhere" thing is just a Horatio Alger fantasy. Yeah, playing the lottery might make you a million but it's not a sound strategy to base your life on. Ok, so people used to think "I work hard for a company, I make pension, thus I've paid my dues." But then the pension goes away when the company's new owners perform some bankruptcy jujitsu. "Ok, but I'm paying into social security, I'll get back what I'm owed." Fat chance, it'll go bankrupt before you retire, so sorry. "Then I'll open my own business and pay for everything myself." Nice try, but if the economy tanks, you're going with it. Sisyphus is busting his ass, too.
For the average white kid, sitting there and dreaming of becoming the next Bill Gates ain't gonna fucking happen. He may as well be like the black kid dreaming of becoming the next Michael Jordon. But hell, the kid dreaming of a comfortable middle-class lifestyle may as well join them, cuz with trends the way they are, that's about as unrealistic.
I'm not bitter but I play it on TV.
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that they're in negotiations to develop 1 million square feet of office space on that land as well.
Oh gee - did everyone here forget that? No - it's just corporate excess and greed of course.
Carry on slashtards.
RTFA. They still aren't opening the strip to just anyone, and it's not just about the money. Gooogle is also allowing NASA to fly scientific instruments and researchers on the plane.
Translated, that really means "Of course it's about the money, you f*cktards. NASA's got enough planes. Google's got enough money. The whole researcher thing is just there to justify the deal in the newspapers."
After all, it's still Google, and their motto is still "Don't be caught being evil."
John
The issue isn't whether or not there is an airport there and the people who live there didn't already bargin for this...
The issue is...
Why somehow bribeing nasa with 1.3million by some sort of alleged "non-evil" company is a good thing?
Why google instead of being open with nearby residents and little in sunnyvale in the landing path of their toy "jet" decide to pay off public officials that don't answer to a local constituancy instead of consulting with surrounding local governments? (oh yeah, because they would have said no because they have to get re-elected)
I have no issue with their toy "jet". I have a BIG issue on how evil google is becoming thinking they can throw their weight around and play the politico game.
FWIW many of the houses that line the landing path of Moffet field are not $1M homes, but older 1-story/2-bedroom/1-car garage "eichler" houses built in the 1940's populated by people who have retired there or live in multi-generational households because it is difficult to move because of the tax consequences of property exchange in california. The local house prices surrounding Moffet Field are fairly "affordable" by santa clara standards (~$650K vs $850K, just check out Zillow).
In my opinion, Google has decided to take advantage of this area simple BECAUSE their millionare employees don't live there. You can bet your bottom dollar if there were $1M houses there and a significant number of their employees living there they wouldn't even think about it.
As an analagous situation, there already was a big uproar in San Jose Airport about Mr Oracle (larry ellison) landing his jet after the 11pm airport curfew and just paying the small "fine". With Moffett field since it is military, there are not currently such curfews with military bases (they'd be just paying the fine to themselves anyhow).
However, I'll bet this situation won't last long. With the US govt having designs on re-development of Moffet and getting some $$$, they'll eventually need to talk to the local govt's.
But somehow google can do no wrong? I don't get it.
For those that don't remember, Google is already in the habit of screwing over the local govts. The are leasing facilities in Moffet which are exempt from local govt taxes, yet using all the local roads and surrounding infrastructure just to save their precious $$ for their toy planes and lining Larry and Sergey's pockets.
Google is just in it for the money folks. Get over it. Despite what they say, they are just evil. They don't deserve a break. Today they are bribing Nasa, and stomping on the little people. Tommorrow, who knows?
Some people are a waste of gravity...