Council Unanimous Against Measure F in Pro-Airport Vote

The City Council unanimously opposed the anti-El Toro airport initiative, Measure F, after listening to 10 opponents and proponents speak during a town hall meeting about the proposed airport.

Measure F, also known as the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, would require approval by two-thirds of voters countywide before airports, large jails near homes and hazardous-waste landfills could be built.

“I don’t think the majority of the public is well-read enough,” Councilwoman Pat Bortle said at the Tuesday night meeting. “We cannot have a majority of voters vote on situations like this because they don’t read the fine print.”

During the public discussion, opponents of the airport said having an international airport in the county would degenerate the quality of life and increase traffic and pollution. It would also pose a safety risk, they said.

Villa Park resident Tom Malloy said he grew up in Los Angeles and witnessed the deterioration of the neighborhoods that surround Los Angeles International Airport.

“These things are like cancer,” Malloy said at the meeting. “Once they start, they just keep going.”

Airport supporters said the projected population increase underscores the need for a new airport.

“[El Toro] is an economic boon to Orange County. It’s just selfish to turn it down,” said Bill Dougherty, a Villa Park resident and retired El Toro Marine Corps Air Station colonel.

Councilman Richard Freschi said he disapproves of the airport opponents’ “not in my backyard” approach.

“It just seems to me we are not being fair to our grandchildren by denying the airport because it is in our backyard,” he said.

Although Bortle voted in favor of opposing Measure F, she said she was still undecided.

She said she was leaning toward opposing the airport until she began talking to Mayor Robert E. McGowan, a retired United Airlines pilot who is in support of the airport.

“I’m at the point, and I know this may sound weak, but when Bob McGowan talks, I listen,” she said.

Although McGowan and the other council members agreed they don’t support the proposed plan completely, they do believe it will be beneficial to have an international airport.

“I think there are problems, but there are people in the county that are capable of dealing with it,” Councilman Russell Patterson said. “We owe it to the descendants to have the airport.”

Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.