El Toro Airport Battle Isn’t Over Yet

The battle over the conversion of the El Toro Marine Base is just starting! Many newspaper writers and political leaders are acting like the game is over. Nothing is further from the truth!

The pro-airport supporters are ahead in the El Toro battle because of years of preparation by the people of Newport Beach.

Newport Beach homeowners are working against the clock. After the restrictions are removed from John Wayne Airport in 2005, and with technology improvements, the need for a second airport in Orange County will be gone, and Newport Beach will be stuck with planes flying overhead.

Opponents of an El Toro commercial airport have been in a reactive mode ever since Measure A was placed on the ballot. But we have learned a lesson or two from the recent election, and now is the time to change our strategies.

First, El Toro Marine Base is federal land and is a federal issue. Voters should call and write their congressman to serve as advocates with the Defense Department and other agencies. Second, the cities of Irvine and Lake Forest must challenge the legality of all aspects of Measure A. Fellow South County cities must solidify with Irvine and Lake Forest to create the biggest impact!

Third, we must place on the ballot a Measure B that calls for the elimination of all restrictions on John Wayne Airport immediately and that it continue as the county’s primary airport.

The pro-airport information indicates that an unrestricted John Wayne Airport can handle the county’s airport needs at least to 2010 and without the cost to remodel El Toro. Wall Street has indicated that it is not interested in El Toro’s revenue bonds with the John Wayne Airport in operation.

Let’s bring this message to Orange County voters!

GARY KINGSBURY

Irvine

* Regarding the reuse of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station land, Supervisor (Roger R.) Stanton’s proposal to build a county jail on a large chunk of the land shouldn’t come as a surprise now that the county has truncated consideration of the adjacent communities under the guise of a Measure A mandate.

Though the distance to existing residences may mitigate a large amount of concern with a jail, the existence of a jail may preclude other uses for the balance of the land.

Would a large park or college be compatible with a jail? An adjoining transportation center would surely help escapees! How is a jail coincident with the intent of Measure A that the remaining 2,700 acres be airport-related uses?

With Irvine and Lake Forest out of the planning core, the county can now use the land as a “dump”: i.e., a place to dump everything that no other community or supervisorial district in the county desires in its midst.

DAVID MELVOLD

Irvine