Non-Aviation Plan Needed for El Toro

* Again the Orange County Board of Supervisors had the chance to do the right thing, but instead chose to attempt to strong-arm South County citizens and widen the already broad chasm concerning reuse of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

By their 3-2 vote Aug. 12 against allowing the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority to formulate a non-aviation reuse plan, the county has made it official policy to exclude those communities most impacted from the reuse planning process, in violation of federal law.

It should be incumbent upon South County cities and organizations to file suit against the County of Orange, alleging that the county is in violation of the federal Base Closure Act. [They should also] bypass county government and present a non-aviation reuse plan to the federal government and, if dialogue continues to deteriorate and all else fails, begin to give serious consideration to secession.

RICHARD W. LUBLINE

Aliso Viejo

* I am continually amazed by South County airport opponents who write letters and make ridiculous statements for the purpose of “educating” the public on technical aspects of El Toro. The Aug. 10 Orange County Voices article by George Mon, “El Toro Flight Tests Wouldn’t Work,” is a perfect example.

Mon used misinformation and suppositions to try and convince readers why the much demanded flight tests over South County would not work.

Apparently, he knows South County residents would be amazed at how quiet the new commercial aircraft have become. By the time a plane reaches their homes, the plane’s high altitude will eliminate most of the noise.

Therefore, Mon’s duty is to give South County anti-airport people an excuse why such tests would not be accurate. After all, the hyped-up noise factor and concern for quality of life is what keeps South County residents “fired up” and sending in all that money for the “cause.”

It wouldn’t be good for those putting forth the anti-airport propaganda if the people lost their strongest reason for opposing the El Toro airport.

TIFFANY YOUNG

Westminster

* I am appalled at the decision of the Orange County Board of Supervisors to not allow the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority to study non-aviation uses for El Toro.

It infuriates me that we were promised a non-aviation reuse study conducted with the same vigor as the airport study, yet nothing will be done. This was the perfect opportunity for the county to capitalize on a no-cost study.

County Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier’s tactics are even more infuriating, her actions inexcusable. Perhaps she and the supervisors need to be reminded that they work for us, their inflated salaries are paid by us, and they need to pay more attention to the average taxpayer and not to their self-serving special interests.

Spending taxpayer money to finance a publicity campaign to force an airport down our throats is irresponsible. If they intend to make the airport issue a battle between county government and the citizens they purportedly represent, they have just done so.

There will be no airport at El Toro. It is financially unfeasible, the demand is not there, it will destroy everything that Orange County has to offer.

Southern Orange County residents will not allow destruction of this beautiful, pristine, family-oriented area we came to live in, with schools that provide an excellent education.

DINO ROMAN

Lake Forest