Various Takeoffs on El Toro Conversion

* The manner in which the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station reuse issue has played out thus far may not be the best example of harmony among cities and the County of Orange (Dana Parsons’ column, Aug. 8), but it is also not the only example.

During the past five years, Orange County cities and county government have cooperated decisively on a litany of issues designed to improve government, stimulate the local economy and enhance the quality of life in our communities.

Just recently the county and our cities cooperatively developed an affordable housing guidebook that we believe will assist all of us in providing a broader range of housing opportunities so that our children can afford to live in Orange County.

We also participated with the county in a graffiti task force effort that we believe lights the way toward eliminating this blight in our neighborhoods.

Air quality improvements, growth management, enhanced transportation systems to allow us greater mobility are other areas of intense city-county cooperation successfully and effectively employed in recent years.

The Marine base conversion is not simple and will not happen overnight. What we are trying to do is educate our membership on the legal requirements and federal process for base conversion.

We believe knowledge and understanding of the legal requirements will help eliminate the trepidation and suspicion that usually accompany the unknown. Only then can we begin to debate the opportunities base closure represents.

G. SCOTT DIEHL

President, League of California Cities,

Orange County division

* I am appalled at the narrow-mindedness displayed by Laguna Hills Councilman Randal J. Bressette concerning the possibilities for the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro (“3 O.C. Cities Join to Seek a Voice on El Toro’s Future” Aug. 12). The conversion of El Toro from a military base to a civilian airport should be considered a godsend by the communities of south Orange County.

When he states the issue “certainly affects only south Orange County,” he is dead wrong. A large regional airport may serve an area with a radius of as much as 100 miles. The El Toro airfield is comparable, in size, to San Francisco International Airport.

The ramps, taxiways and runways are all stressed to handle any aircraft that is in service with the airlines. The cost of losing an opportunity like this is far greater than its land value.

No, the El Toro issue affects everyone from north San Diego County to south Los Angeles County and even to parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, as well as all of Orange County.

Lindbergh Field in San Diego is too small. LAX is becoming expensive and overcrowded. Long Beach is grossly underutilized. Ontario is too far away. John Wayne is also too small to serve the growing region. What other economically feasible choice is there?

DANIEL TRACY

Costa Mesa

* Your editorial “Rallying Around El Toro” (Aug. 16) calls for unity around the authority of the Board of Supervisors. I differ with you.

It’s more than a question of “the north-south divide in the county.” It’s a question of the interests of the people versus the moneyed interests that pay the supervisors’ campaign costs.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has an extensive record of voting the interests of the developers over the interests of the people. They have husbanded the overdevelopment of this county to the detriment of our environment and quality of life.

There is big money behind the quest for a commercial airport at El Toro, particularly from the air cargo people. You can bet your bottom dollar that the supervisors will sell us out if they have the final authority.

Our only hope is that the South County cities can convince federal authorities that they are entitled to a vote in the final determination of the fate of the base. I hope they hang in there to achieve that result.

BERNARD FELDMAN

Laguna Hills

* A study made by the Southern California Assn. of Governments has concluded that El Toro would be a fine second airport for Orange County because it wouldn’t take any passengers away from John Wayne Airport.

To me this kind of thing typifies what is wrong with government, because the conclusions of this study virtually ignore the concerns of the people.

So often our elected officials forget that they are elected to represent the people and not rule them. Politicians like to be referred to as leaders. Personally I don’t want to be led, I just want to be represented.

Yes, there are powerful forces behind the move to convert El Toro to a civilian airport. Disney would love to have a second airport.

I just don’t believe the Disney people are concerned about the quality of life in south Orange County. (Just take a look at the area around Disneyland.)

The same is true for Federal Express, United Parcel Service and the airlines. The people who want a civilian airport in El Toro can afford to live far away from the impact of that airport.

What most of us are concerned with in regard to El Toro is the constant noise, the added pollution, the inevitable traffic congestion and the spread of crime that the conversion would bring.

Secondary would be the concern for cost. Didn’t we just spend $75 million on an airport about six miles away from El Toro?

It is crystal clear, however, that the county is going to try to cram the conversion down our throats.

Yes, they are forming an “advisory committee,” but it is going to be powerless because its recommendation is not binding.

It is also clear that they are withholding the ludicrous report of the Southern California Assn. of Governments because it would unleash a firestorm of protest.

I hope we, the people of south Orange County, can foil the attempt to convert El Toro into a civilian airport.

It will financially benefit a few but it will diminish the quality of life of all of us.

KAL WULFF

Laguna Niguel

* It amazes me how central and northern cities of Orange County have gotten on the bandwagon for an El Toro commercial airport. They make no bones about their intentions either. What makes them think they can decide what’s in someone else’s back yard?

Maybe Mission Viejo needs a new sewer treatment plant, and here there is a lot of new land in Back Bay, Newport Beach. Or how about a new prison in Lake Forest or Yorba Linda? Does that make sense? Of course not!

Wake up, south Orange County, or you are going to have something to wake up about!

SCOTT KINGSMILL

Mission Viejo

* The El Toro closing presents an ideal situation for a minimum/mid-security jail. I know that residents of adjoining towns don’t want a jail in their town, yet you have people who belong in jail but were released (through no fault of Sheriff Brad Gates’) because of no room roaming all over. At least you would know where they are.

You have the land, the buildings and security to control a minimum-security jail.

You would also have inexpensive labor to clean up the contamination I’m sure the government will leave.

RED RAWLINGS

San Juan Capistrano