El Toro Airport Issue Won’t Die

* Want-to-be politician Larry Agran is at it again as evidenced in the column “It’s Time for the People to Provide Vision, Activism on El Toro” (May 21). Agran deliberately misleads readers by blaming the Board of Supervisors for “no progress in fashioning a sensible conversion plan for the base.” Interpreted, that means they didn’t do what he and all those potential South County voters wanted them to do.

He also lashes out at developer George Argyros with the tired liberal rhetoric that this rich developer bought the election. Sorry, the public heard both sides of the often-debated El Toro airport issue, decided the airport was economically positive for the county as a whole, and voted for Measure A.

Maybe it’s just the lawyer in Agran who wants to argue the decision. After all, it’s not his money that will be spent for an attempt to repeal Measure A. The facts haven’t changed since we voted in Measure A, and neither will the minds of the public.

BONNIE O’NEIL

Newport Beach

* It appears that the backers of Measure A may have finally shot themselves in the foot by pushing for a “freebie,” for the U.S. government to hand over El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to poor, impoverished, cash-strapped Orange County so they may now show that they can do good and make big bucks again--but for whom?

This desperate plea should be a wake-up call for all citizens of voting age.

Do we really think the Board of Supervisors can handle the additional responsibilities of management of an international airport in Orange County even without this kind of pressure from wealthy developers? Not.

The cities next to El Toro could use our support. After all, our supervisors chose to leave them out of the planning process. Could it be because their position is to protect the people in their cities who will be directly affected? Besides, what if they happen to come up with some exciting alternative uses for that land? Let’s repeal Measure A now!

MARY SCHWARTZ

Santa Ana