IRVINE : City Won’t Help Pay for Air Base Video

A divided City Council this week rejected a proposal to spend as much as $2,000 toward the production of a videotape opposing the closure of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

The action, taken on a 3-2 vote at Tuesday’s council meeting, comes less than a month after council members expressed strong opposition to the recommended base closure.

Councilman William A. (Art) Bloomer sought to allocate the money to the Coalition for a Responsible Airport Solution, an organization of local businesses, government agencies and residents that is producing the 30-minute video.

The coalition plans to send the tape to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Committee in hope that it will prompt members to spare El Toro.

But the council majority, while stressing continued opposition to the base closure, argued that a video would be too flashy and ineffective.

“I just don’t think this is the appropriate way,” said Councilwoman Paula Werner. She said committee members would be swayed by straightforward arguments, “not by a pretty, colorful, show-and-tell video.”

Bloomer and Mayor Michael Ward defended the proposal, noting that Lake Forest officials had already agreed to commit up to $10,000 to the coalition.