Letter Asks Newport to Back Off El Toro

Love thy neighbor as thyself. That’s the message in a letter being sent to 45,000 residents and business owners in Newport Beach by seven South County cities opposed to a commercial El Toro airport.

The letter implores Newport Beach not to support the proposed airport at the closing El Toro Marine Corps Air Station simply as a way of avoiding a future expansion of John Wayne Airport, which is just north of the city.

Instead, the letter asks residents and businesses to join with El Toro opponents in supporting airport expansions outside the county, including Ontario International Airport.

“We need to think about a regional airport plan that does no harm to any resident of Orange County,” writes Paul Eckles, executive director of the anti-airport El Toro Reuse Planning Authority.

“Help us tone down the political rhetoric so that we can find common solutions.”

But interviews Friday suggested that Newport Beach is not likely to budge in its strong support for the El Toro airport.

“They should bug out of our business,” said Mayor Thomas C. Edwards. “I think it’s ridiculous. It’s an attempt to interfere with the operations of our city.”

Edwards noted that Orange County residents had twice voted in favor of an airport at El Toro, which he says will bring many benefits to the county.

“We have nothing in common with them down there,” snapped Arlene Hall, 75, who lives less than a mile from John Wayne and says she puts up with deafening noise from flights.

Hall said she understands the fears of homeowners about the noise and pollution of an airport at El Toro. But she said she can’t afford to sympathize with them.

The county clearly needs more flights, she said, and she worries that if El Toro isn’t built, her neighborhood will be razed to expand John Wayne.

Eckles and others said the letter was spurred by news this week that Newport Beach officials planned to spend up to $1.5 million on two public relations firms to champion the El Toro airport plan.