More on El Toro Debate

* Recently Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) stated that “privatization” of El Toro is a realistic option, and one that could keep the community from being torn asunder.

An airport is an airport is an airport regardless of whether it is privately or publicly owned.

I can assure you that my ears and nose will not be able to tell the difference between a plane that has taken off from a publicly owned airport and a plane that has taken off from a privately owned airport.

It’s the same plane, isn’t it?

WANDA J. ERRICO

San Clemente

* My hat is off to Sam Whitney of Fullerton for his Aug. 13 letter regarding the El Toro debate.

We do have an obligation to preserve the only things we can’t create: clean air, water and wildlife.

The county is running commercials on TV about this ideal existence. Their scenario fails to include the noise, air and water pollution of these so-called “greenbelts” surrounding the runways of an international airport.

The end of quiet peace in the air was certainly one of the greatest losses of the 20th century.

Let us not lose sight that the achievements in aerospace can exist without destroying the habitats of humankind. Let us not accept the “warped perceptions” presented in slick graphics from the county.

MARY SCHWARTZ

Santa Ana

* El Toro airport foes have sunk to a new low.

They have ruined the plans of some three dozen parties who had booked receptions at the officers’ club at El Toro, caused the layoffs of 30 people, prohibited golfers from having a beer after their rounds, and are creating havoc for the people trying to operate the pool because they can’t store needed chemicals (Aug. 15).

For the life of me, I don’t know what champagne and beer have to do with an airport.

I’m 59 and will probably not live long enough to see a second airport in the area, so for me it’s a moot point.

Airport opponents have threatened to secede from the county and I wish they would.

Their mean-spirited, take-no-prisoners attitude is giving the rest of us a bad name.

JACKIE WARNER

Orange

* I applaud recent letters and articles on cooperation in the El Toro issue.

The time of pitting north vs. south Orange County must come to an end. We must work together to resolve our mutual transportation issues.

Newport Beach residents can go a long way toward resolving theirs by endorsing the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative.

This initiative is the first critical step toward stopping expansion of John Wayne Airport.

Even if El Toro becomes an airport, it will be several years down the road, and the 2005 lifting of restrictions on John Wayne is just around the corner.

Once this measure is in place, we can work on a regional air transportation solution maximizing accessibility and minimizing impact on residents, Newport and South County alike.

JOHN BERRY

Aliso Viejo

* The anti-airport people need to explain to the people of Orange County, who have voted in favor of El Toro on two separate occasions, an alternative that will be better for the long-term solution to Orange County’s transportation.

John Wayne Airport has the shortest commercial runway in the country. The airport’s total land size is just 470 acres, with developed property on all sides.

El Toro encompasses over 18,000 acres with the airport and open areas surrounding it. You could put 39 John Wayne airports inside those boundaries. It only makes sense to utilize this gift to Orange County to serve our future.

The air transportation solution is not expansion of John Wayne, because there is not enough land.

It is not high-speed rail to a distant airport. High-speed rail does not exist, is not economically feasible, and would not be practical for residents coming from all over Orange County.

It is not driving the freeway to LAX or Ontario. The freeways are clogged for most of the day and that will only get worse in the years to come.

South County residents must consider the very long-term needs of all of Orange County residents, and either provide a better alternative than El Toro or get involved in the planning process in a positive way to make El Toro airport the best possible solution.

DAVE BENT

Newport Beach

* As a retired airline executive and new part-time resident of Leisure World, I have followed the El Toro controversy with great interest.

The decision on airport development will ultimately be made, as it should be, in the political arena. But a sensible solution will not be found in the rumors, rhetoric, posturing and perceptions which have dominated the debate so far.

The Federal Aviation Administration and scheduled airlines are the most reliable source of real-world facts about noise, safety, capacity and air service. Their input so far appears to be uninvited and minimal.

As an alternative to transferring airline service from John Wayne to El Toro, a shift of general aviation, smaller, quieter aircraft, to El Toro might merit serious consideration.

Given the high volume of general aviation activity at John Wayne, shifting these operations to El Toro would liberate substantial air space and land to boost both runway and terminal capacity and to enhance safety at John Wayne.

Such a move would be far less expensive than creating new terminals, giant parking lots and other infrastructure at El Toro.

It offers the additional advantage of maximizing the El Toro site for commercial, recreational, or other acceptable development.

In the inherent conflict between “noise” and “economic development”--a struggle which has characterized airport expansion since the Wright brothers borrowed some of the beach at Kitty Hawk to test their new creation--the decision will not satisfy everyone.

But if it is grounded in fact, not fiction, it will stand the test of reasonableness.

PETER D. BRENNAN

Laguna Woods

* For decades, those of us around John Wayne Airport have accepted the negative results associated with meeting the entire county’s air traffic demands.

Now studies and subsequent reports state air transportation needs for Orange County will double within the next 10 to 20 years.

Other airports in our region claim they will not be able to keep up with their expected increases and urge Orange County to find its own solution.

We have the answer--El Toro Airport. It is 10 times the size of John Wayne and located farther from residents and schools than John Wayne.

It makes sense to the majority of people, but many in South County cities have the audacity to suggest the answer is to expand John Wayne Airport even more.

In other words, they want to keep their community completely quiet, even though they bought their homes knowing El Toro military jets were twice as loud.

They want to heap double or triple the noise, pollution, and traffic onto Newport Beach residents.

I have a message for them: “Quit expecting other communities to accommodate you, whether it is L.A. County, San Diego County, or neighboring Newport Beach. Accept responsibility for the situation you helped to create and don’t try to shove it onto others.”

Newport Beach isn’t asking to close or even downsize John Wayne. Instead, it is saying it is time for South County residents to help by sharing the large volume of anticipated air traffic.

We do not want or expect those around El Toro to have flights 24 hours a day or to endure any more noise than we have.

A logical and fair solution is to alter their uncompromising position of “no airport,” stop using all their money and sphere-of-influence arguments to stop airport plans, and instead direct efforts to negotiate for an airport with reasonable restrictions.

LARRY ROOT

Newport Beach

* I attended a meeting in Newport Beach concerning airport issues.

The talk centered on how awful it is to live with an airport, how an expansion of John Wayne Airport will destroy Newport Beach and how vital it is that Newport fight to put an airport at El Toro.

If an airport in Newport is horrible to live with, then an even larger airport in another densely populated area will be unbearable.

The Newport Beach officials actually said they need to vote against the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative so that they could make sure an airport went in at El Toro.

This, in fact, would be shooting themselves in the foot.

One Newport Beach woman asked what guarantees there would be against expansion at John Wayne if the initiative failed. The question was not answered.

The only solution is to work together as a united county, saying no to expansion of John Wayne Airport, no to an airport at El Toro, and yes to a safe and healthy Orange County for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.

GAIL BRUNELL

Laguna Niguel