That stuck out to me also. Reading it again, though, the pilot is talking to NorCal, not the local ATC, at this point. I think the NorCal person is being sarcas

That stuck out to me also. Reading it again, though, the pilot is talking to NorCal, not the local ATC, at this point. I think the NorCal person is being sarcastic rather than stating a policy: "That’s great. Apparently, aircraft on the ground have priority over aircraft in the air." (basically taking a swipe at the priorities of the local ATC, who both of them seem pretty pissed at)