Debate on Airport at El Toro Rages

I believe the proponents of Measure S, which seeks to repeal the initiative for development of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a passenger and air cargo airport, are self-serving and shortsighted. In no way does it indicate responsible planning or protection to taxpayers.

At present, John Wayne Airport is satisfactory but will shortly be too small to serve all of Orange County’s needs. It will reach its legal annual limit of 8.4 million passengers later this year or next year and it has only one 5,700-foot runway. There is no room for expansion.

El Toro has four large existing runways and is surrounded by an 18,000-acre noise buffer and safety zone. The development of this airport would be able to provide direct cross-country and international flights and thus meet the county’s air transportation and passenger and cargo needs well into the next century. This new airport will also replace the jobs lost by the closing down of the air station; it is projected that 53,000 new jobs would be developed in Orange County.

If Measure S is adopted, it could lead to a loss of $170 million in new annual tax revenues for Orange County cities and schools that would be generated by a commercial airport at El Toro. It will result in the loss of 53,000 new jobs and it will result in the loss of $1.5 billion in annual air cargo revenues.

There is increasing population growth in south Orange County. These increased population needs require a new airport. It is important for the integrity of the entire county that this new airport be developed at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station location.

BRIAN M. CHESNIE, M.D.

Newport Beach

Recently I received a mail piece from Buck Johns and George Argyros trying to convince me that commercial aircraft were going to take off on an uphill grade, with a tail wind over mountains. Yeah, right! FAA regulations dictate that commercial aircraft take off on a downhill or flat grade, with a head wind and specific restrictions on flight path obstructions. What that means is that the majority of the time the planes will take off toward the ocean, period. Next they tried to convince me that if I did not bless their airport that I would get a federal prison near my house. Buck and George know, just like I know, that the issue of the federal prison has nothing to do with whether or not a commercial airport is built. [They] should have checked the newspaper articles; on Feb. 29, the federal government stated, “there will be no prison at El Toro.” Orange County taxpayers, watch out for these two; they’ll do anything to sell you their airport.

GEORGE M. GALLAGHER

Irvine

If anyone seriously questions whether a commercial airport at El Toro is financially feasible for the county, the answer is found by observing which groups are urging a “no” vote on Measure S. The long list includes Orange County Taxpayers Assn., Orange County Business Council, Orange County Central Labor Council, Orange County Building Industry Assn., most Chambers of Commerce (including Irvine), and most of our elected officials such as state Sen. Rob Hurtt, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle, and most local mayors and council members. On the other hand, Measure S is supported by a few special-interest groups in South County. Common sense says Orange County’s economy would be better served with the additional airport and a “no” on S.

BOB OLSON

Anaheim

Recently there has been much discussion regarding the residents of Leisure World’s support for Measure S. Opponents of Measure S have stated that Leisure World is the sponsor of this initiative. This is simply a lie. In order to qualify the initiative for the March ballot, over 106,000 signatures were gathered from all over Orange County. We currently have approximately 4,000 volunteers, 75% of whom live outside of Leisure World.

Our opponents have also portrayed Leisure World residents as “a small group of elitists” and people who “don’t care about the future.” Because these people are over 55 years of age, does this mean they should no longer have a voice in issues that influence their lives? To attack these people is the crassest form of discrimination. Since when do people stop being of value to society because of their age?

In my position as campaign coordinator for Measure S, I have worked with these people for almost a year and I would like to set the record straight.

This “small group” numbers in the thousands, and they come from all walks of life. To name just a few of their current or previous occupations: educators, artisans, scientists, business owners, writers, law enforcement personnel, judicial officers, engineers and secretaries.

Some of them are retired chief executive officers who still own the majority of stock in their corporations, some of which are international corporations. These people care about the future.

As to their activism: Being a civic or political activist is not a new experience for most of these people. They have not taken up a cause, Measure S, just because their community would be negatively impacted by a commercial and cargo airport at the El Toro base. Many have been activists since they were in their 20s and 30s and are very experienced in righting political wrongs.

LINDA TURNER

El Toro