The True Cost of a New Airport

The op-ed column by James F. Grier (“With No International Airport, O.C. as World Player Won’t Fly,” July 7) was a refreshing change from the main truth airport conversion proponents have been dodging.

The airport won’t be free. In fact, it may cost more than the $2.5 billion airport opponents had maintained. That Orange County pays for it comes next?

The continued dogmatic espousals of “We need it for our future” and “It will all be paid for by private bonds” from the proponents has had the effect of the Pied Piper of Hamlin to many residents. Devoid of substance, the proponents have been ignoring the core issues: How much in Orange County tax monies will it take to pay for this project and what is the real payback? How many high-paying jobs will an airport create? To whose real advantage is an international airport, versus other uses? Is Orange County’s financial health strong enough to handle billions more in debt now or in the foreseeable future?

John Wayne Airport, contrary to its glowing reports of $7 million in profits per year, would be closed tomorrow if not for the bonds and interest paid by Orange County taxpayers annually.

Orange County taxpayers actually subsidize that “profit” several times over.

If the need for an international airport is so great for Orange County’s future, why not make it a pay-per-use airport instead of funding it with billions of dollars in liability to county taxpayers? Only because then it doesn’t fly.

DEREK QUINN

Laguna Niguel

* Why do so many people move to Orange County? It is to get away from the things Grier is suggesting Orange County needs.

ROBERT SHACKFORD

South Laguna

* During a recent visit to San Diego I learned a new word: to losangelize. It was used by San Diegans to describe the worst calamity that could befall their city.

Yet, the losangelizing of Orange County seems to be the goal and the gist of the convoluted article by James F. Grier.

At a time when social scientists, urban planners, politicians and the public at large recognize and deplore the uncontrollable evils of urban sprawl, while Los Angeles itself shows signs of coming apart at its seams, Grier advocates the melding together of four or five cities to create another megalopolis, right here in Orange County. This, he claims, is necessary to justify the need for an international airport.

Without even considering any of the other factors involved, this nightmarish threat alone should be enough to turn any rational resident of Orange County against the conversion of El Toro to an international airport.

LIDA M. BATES

Laguna Hills