Reuse Question Sparks Heated Response From Times Readers

Thousands of Orange County residents who wrote and phoned The Times came out overwhelmingly against a new civilian airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Citing concerns over costs, traffic, noise, pollution and overdevelopment readers responding “no” to the airport question outnumbered the “yes” faction by almost a 5-to-1 ratio.

Asked by The Times, “Should El Toro become an international airport?,” 3,397 (82%) said no. 725 (18%) said yes. Voting took place Wednesday and Thursday, with both sides in the unscientific survey responding via letter, telephone, fax and computer e-mail.

Brenda Crawford 55, of Mission Viejo, expressed reservations over people who live in neighborhoods outside South County wielding influence and control over the region of the count most directly affected by a proposed airport.

“We are very concerned that people who don’t live in this area . . . will make a decision whether we will have an international airport here with aircraft flying over our homes 24 hours a day.” Crawford said.

“It’s the North County that is pushing for this.”

Many callers expressed outrage over the fiscal implications in a recently bankrupt county.

Orange County voters have responded to the issue of an El Toro airport twice at the ballot box, endorsing it both times. In 1994, they narrowly approved Measure A, which supported the airport, and in March, they soundly defeated Measure S (59.6% to 40.4%), which sought to repeal Measure A.

Supporters noted the airport’s financial benefits.

“It will promote jobs and give the economy the uplift we need,” said Stephen Durrett, 46, of Santa Ana.