Those El Toro Airport Mailers

* I realize that The Times wants to present a “balanced” report about the fight over the proposed international airport at El Toro.

However, your Feb. 8 article, “Truth Crash-Lands in El Toro Airport Fliers,” borders on the absurd.

The facts stated as “misinformation” were divided as six claims by the airport proponents and three by the opponents. While the claims supporting the airport dealt with serious fabrications, the one by Project 99 is but a small item that is in no way comparable to the misinformation spread by airport proponents.

Remember, both major pilots’ associations expressed their concerns about the safety of easterly takeoffs. Similarly, it was academic research that demonstrated how airport noise affects the learning ability and the thought process of children.

Furthermore, while the “mailers” by the pro-airport groups have the wealth of Newport Beach behind them, Project 99, for example, issues newsletters that are closer to pamphlets than to “slick mailers,” and is supported by volunteers and by $25 and $50 contributions from concerned citizens.

For the county to claim that an airport can coexist with parks, colleges and recreation facilities is offensive to any reasonable mind. After all, the political leaders of Newport Beach have been claiming, according to The Times report from Oct. 21, 1990, that “the noise from John Wayne Airport lowered property values and mars the peace of the community.”

This was not balanced journalism; you wrote a tabloid-style “he-said-she-said” rather than determining the validity of the two perspectives.

KAREN BYERS

Irvine

* As a resident of a “pro-airport” area, I have a growing suspicion of these organizations that are motivated enough to spend $100,000 in private contributions to inform us as to the best use of El Toro.

The recent pro-airport mailers are littered with evidence of misinformation. First, the assertion that John Wayne is too small to meet future demand clearly ignores the fact that this facility could nearly double the number of passengers it handles without any expansion.

Why would someone spend so much money to convince us to turn our backs on an asset that could be used to its full capacity, other than to benefit from its closure themselves?

Second, the bold statement that an airport would provide more than 140,000 good-paying jobs may be true, but the county’s own planning says that the non-aviation options would actually produce more jobs and, in my opinion, better-quality jobs.

None will benefit more from an airport at El Toro than those willing to invest this kind of money to influence our decision.

K. PENNINGTON

Santa Ana

* I am horrified with the lack of perspective from anti-El Toro airport people in South County.

They don’t want an airport close to them because they believe the resultant noise will adversely impact them.

Admitting there is and will continue to be an increasing need for more local flights, South County people have a self-serving solution. What audacity to expect Newport Beach residents to endure twice the air and traffic pollution they are already experiencing so that South County will have none.

C. DOWNS

Newport Beach

* I never seem to see a letter from a Newport Beach El Toro airport proponent that doesn’t have a line in it claiming their side is right because “the people” have voted for an airport conversion twice.

Democracies have been called “a tyranny of the majority,” and those votes by North County are perfect examples of why a majority vote does not necessarily make a just outcome. Fewer than 200 years ago, the majority of Americans were in favor of slavery.

Converting the Marine Corps base into an unnecessary international airport and depriving the local residents of life (pollution), liberty (loss of property value, increased crime) and the pursuit of happiness (noise, congestion, traffic) flies in the face of justice and fairness.

“The greatest good for the greatest number” was a slogan from the Evil Empire of Russia. It sounds very similar to the new mantra of Newport Beach residents. Of course, based upon their outrageous propaganda fliers, maybe they are saying, “Let them eat cake.”

RONALD O. DAVIES

Laguna Hills