What to Do With El Toro?

Re your editorial “Officials Shouldn’t Rush to Judgment on Musick,” Oct. 27:

There are so many suggestions for the use of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station after it closes down. The idea that we should expand the James A. Musick jail in the territory of El Toro should not be looked at as a good choice.

We do need larger jails built with more security. What we don’t need is having them built in the middle of society. El Toro is a well-populated city in Orange County which is growing very rapidly.

If a jail was to be built on the old Marine air base, it could put people near the jail at risk. If a larger jail is wanted, it should be located away from residential areas.

With all the open land, there should be residential and commercial areas [at El Toro]. The huge piece of property can be used to house many new Orange County residents looking for a place to live. The land could also be used to make money with many businesses.

BRIAN LIEBMAN

Laguna Niguel

* An Oct. 27 letter from Briant Patterson of Monarch Bay complains that “they” now want “to put an international and cargo airport in El Toro . . . abandoning the beautiful new John Wayne Airport.”

First, I am not aware of plans to abandon John Wayne Airport for passengers.

Second, John Wayne Airport cannot handle large cargo planes, and the growth of the economy of Orange County every year means thousands more tons of cargo that clutter the freeways to LAX. Third, the “few of Orange County’s wealthy,” who he says want El Toro, are no more selfish than the residents of South County who don’t and who apparently have no vision beyond their frontyards and are unable to consider the long-term future of the entire county.

IRVIN C. CHAPMAN

Costa Mesa

* Opponents to the proposed airport are just as interested in devising a plan that will be of economic benefit to Orange County as any of its advocates. The difference between the opponents and the proponents is that the opponents are interested in developing a plan that will injure nobody while the proponents couldn’t care less about who they hurt! Hang in there, good guys! Perhaps good will once again triumph over bad!

HERBERT HEYES

Laguna Hills