The El Toro Debate

* Clearly, the residents of north Orange County live in fear of the prospects for further expansion of John Wayne Airport.

The residents of south Orange County, meanwhile, have observed the decline in the quality of life of those suffering citizens. Understandably, they are desperately opposed to conversion of El Toro to a commercial international airport.

Both of these now warring factions are quite right to defend their respective homelands.

It has been repeatedly proved that the oppressive character of major air operations is outrageously destructive to the residential environment.

It must be recognized that there is no law of nature that mandates the imposition of this mechanism of “progress” upon any of us. The true forcing function is only the projected profit that may be enjoyed by the few enthusiastic members of the financial power elite.

The time has come to give much more than superficial lip service to the prospects for saving all of Orange County from the blight that will result from international air operations in the heart of this uniquely beautiful and desirable residential region.

We must now seriously study the promising potential to utilize Ontario, the former Norton Air Force Base and March air base, all of which are infinitely better suited to these purposes.

In aggregate, they could provide for the perceived needs of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

With a skillfully designed high-speed rail network we could all enjoy deliverance from impending devastation. A unified Orange County effort could defeat the insidious attempt to divide, conquer and victimize us all.

DEL KAHAN

Newport Beach

* The anti-airport crowd has determined that 245,000 people from Dana Point to the city of Orange will be subjected to a never-ending cacophony of airplane noise.

Yet they still claim that the $3-million flight test sponsored by the county is a “waste of money.”

To spend $3 million to determine the impact of noise on 245,000 people comes to a net value of $12.25 per person. Sounds like a bargain to anyone except those who want the public to perceive that the noise will be far worse than it would be in reality.

TOM ANDERSON

Newport Beach

* One shouldn’t overlook the irony of two headlines on April 7:

The first, “Military Jets Salute Angels but Make Residents Edgy,” referred to North County. The second, “El Toro Airport Foes Launch Signature Drive,” referred to South County.

It is a shame that the majority of the Board of Supervisors is afflicted with selective hearing loss. The seeds of dividing Orange County are well in place, both politically and financially.

DENIS STANTON

Tustin

* The reuse of the existing El Toro airport as a commercial modern airport is essential.

If Orange County is forced to operate as a handicapped economy, we have only those with a lack of foresight to blame.

The airport would provide the essential facilities necessary to be competitive in the markets of the world.

Orange County would not be forever beholden to Los Angeles’ airport. In depending on LAX for international air travel, we will have to use congested freeways to get there.

An El Toro airport would provide substantial job opportunities. Our county would no longer be classified as second-class in having only one small airport. John Wayne Airport has many constraints, only one runway and an area consisting of 510 acres, compared with 4,700 acres at El Toro.

E.P. BENSON

Newport Beach

* The hype surrounding the proposed airport at El Toro has proved to me how corrupt our local government is.

First Treasurer Robert Citron took us for a ride. Now, like a group of naive citizens, we are receiving plastic trinkets with bliss.

The issue has gone beyond disgust for me. The behavior of our supervisors is despicable.

The March 28 article “Travel Budget to Push El Toro Plan Soars” is a good indication of how far someone will go in public office. Why do we elect five supervisors if two will be eliminated by a majority of supervisors on their own agenda?

The March 31 article “El Toro Switch: Bigger Airport, No Rail Link” is yet another indication of deceit.

These are only a few atrocities that we the public are aware of. I for one am wondering why the supervisors in the majority have been so set on hiding things like the letter from the Airline Pilots Assn. that suggests [the need for] rebuilding the runway system at El Toro.

Instead, the supervisors brought out information from seven retired airline professionals that coincides with their goals of putting in an airport.

SAMUEL A. LANDRY

Foothill Ranch