El Toro Reuse Alternatives

Re El Toro reuse and the Millennium Plan:

The people’s choice has arrived. Yes, it is the Millennium Plan from the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, Project 99 and TRP, and this plan far exceeds the best use of El Toro in 1999. It’s better than an airport and a lot less noise than commercial jets.

The Millennium Plan was put together for less than a million dollars--heck, that’s less than the salaries of the county planning staff (for one year) working on the airport reuse.

The county and pro-airport groups continue to hold onto the vote of the people as the choice for reuse. In reviewing both Measure A and Measure S, the only choice suggested at El Toro was an international airport, with “prison facility or homeless camp” suggested as alternative choices.

The documents of both county elections expound the airport as “cost-free” to taxpayers; one claim is that it won’t cost us a cent! Wait a minute: The first request for county funds came in at about $13 million; then there was some mix-up, so another $7 million was approved; and now it seems that Courtney Wiercioch, the county airport planning manager, is back for an additional $10 million for 1998. So far, the county has only received reimbursement of $3 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for the planning process. By the end of the year, it will have cost taxpayers $27 million.

In a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor William G. Steiner showed his true colors; he doesn’t like competition. Steiner, whose district includes Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center, expressed his concern as to what it could mean for these facilities if the millennium plan is put through. Perhaps what Supervisor Steiner is more worried about is his long-term employment after leaving the board this year. Steiner’s crony ex-Supervisor Don Saltarelli, as you recall, is a consultant ($180,000 per year) paid by Newport Beach to push the 38-million-passenger airport at El Toro. Not a bad increase in salary from his $85,000 a year as county supervisor.

It’s time the people of Orange County rethink the reuse of El Toro and the benefit the Millennium Plan has for us all in North County and South County.

DAVE KIRKEY

Coto de Caza

* Does it seem the least bit hypocritical and self-serving that Steiner is against Irvine “competing” with Anaheim for entertainment revenue but does not seem to feel the same way about El Toro “competing” with John Wayne? What’s good for the goose is not good for the gander by those standards.

This is another sad example of how to play divide and conquer with north and south Orange County over El Toro. More diversified entertainment income for the county was the major theme, not a competing professional baseball team/park.

DEREK QUINN

Laguna Niguel

* Regarding Steiner’s comments that the alternate nonaviation plan for El Toro might compete with existing Orange County venues: Does he think an international airport at the El Toro site would be without competition?

LAX has huge expansion plans; Ontario is expanding and building a new terminal; Long Beach is underutilized and is closer to Anaheim and other western Orange County cities; and March Air Force Base has the best existing facilities for heavy nonstop international flights (and residents want an international airport there).

ALAN BARLOW

Rancho Santa Margarita

* It’s now time for the people of the county to bury their hatchets and come together on the El Toro issue.

Our Monday morning forum group, headed by Lee Hohler, increased its knowledge of the facts immensely when Tom Naughton, leader of the Airport Working Group, addressed us on the El Toro Master Developed Program. The county should be commended for the excellent job it’s doing, so aptly described by Naughton.

It’s easy to understand the critical role the El Toro development will play in Orange County’s future. Naughton informed us of the proposed land uses potentially being recommended by the county.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the anti- and pro-airport groups joined and placed all their energies behind a win-win strategy that provided a whole lot of benefits for everyone?

Let’s stay informed and get behind the county board and its outstanding staff and help make miracles happen. Revenue and benefits, flowing from a combined nonaviation/aviation usage, could be the very heartbeat that sets into motion the means to meet Orange County’s ever-expanding needs.

VICTOR H. JASHINSKI

Newport Beach

* The nonaviation reuse plan sounds like a far better future for Orange County than an airport at El Toro. And if El Toro Village was designed to use mostly solar power, it would be a giant step for the rest of mankind too.

Imagine a technology that gathers solar power from outer space. Imagine a planet rid of carbon fuels and plutonium poison. Following in God’s footsteps is both good science and common sense.

Let’s go for it, Orange County--the world’s first solar-powered city.

BARBARA BURBY

Garden Grove