Measure F, Politics and Religion

* Re “Battle Over Airport Takes a Religious Turn,” Feb. 22:

We must disagree with Pastor John Steward and a number of our friends in the Clergy for Wholesome Communities in regard to the airport. We think their sense of neighborhood is too small.

If Measure F passes and El Toro is not built, then the John Wayne Airport runway may be expanded to property next to our church and synagogue at 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach.

This would change the present nuisance “of jet noise during worship” to “impossible to worship.” We are not feeling very loved by their remarks.

We affirm the right of clergy to talk about loving our neighbors, as we love ourselves. But please, remember how big your neighborhood really is.

THE REV. DENNIS W. SHORT

Harbor Christian Church

Newport Beach

RABBI DAVID ROSENBERG

Temple Isaiah

Newport Beach

* Your Feb. 22 article about ministers appearing at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 15 to oppose the conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to a commercial airport described the clergy’s position in detail but omitted relevant comments from three citizens present at the meeting.

The ministers’ position against the airport and preferring air transport to be carried by John Wayne, Los Angeles International and Ontario airports was described as “immoral” and “unethical” by the speakers. Dumping one’s air transport problems on surrounding communities is neither moral nor ethical in a civil society.

The ministers apparently have not considered the larger effects of preventing the commercial airport at El Toro: increased noise and air pollution from surface traffic of cargo and passengers to other communities, increased development on the El Toro base and the buffer zone surrounding the base, and higher taxes for all Orange County residents to pay for the purchase of the base, the cost of cleanup on the base ($2.3 million) and the cost of building and maintaining the park and golf course on the base.

SHIRLEY A. CONGER

Corona del Mar

* I thought it was rather humorous that Bruce Nestande of Citizens for Jobs and the Economy interpreted the clergy’s involvement in Measure F as implying that people were ungodly if they supported the El Toro airport.

Nestande and others clearly miss the point entirely. What the clergy is offering is for people to take an honest look inside their own hearts.

If you knew that jumbo jets were going to take off and land directly over your home and were still in favor of the airport and don’t care if other peoples’ lives are devastated as long as it’s not yours, then that’s something you need to take a serious look at.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea if Supervisors Charles V. Smith, Cynthia Coad and Jim Silva did the same.

BILL PURCELL

Irvine

* The anti-El Toro airport folks conceived Measure F for the primary purpose of preventing an international airport at El Toro.

Their argument is a quality-of-life argument. I agree with them that an airport with flights coming and going 24 hours a day should not be placed in a populated area.

However, if Measure F passes and the El Toro airport is converted to some other use, problems will arise in several years.

There will be an increased demand for air service, undoubtedly a lot of it from South County, and pressure will be exerted to expand John Wayne Airport. Then flights will be coming and going from John Wayne 24 hours a day.

Further, the flights will not only run over the Back Bay in Newport Beach but spread out to fly over all of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, as well as over Tustin. What about the quality of life of the people living in these areas?

The burden of increased air traffic should be shared among the citizens of Orange County, instead of dumping it on one segment of the population or burdening others with it--such as the people living around Los Angeles International Airport.

There is no credible evidence that the demand for air service will increase from 8 million passengers to reach 34 million passengers by 2020. More reasonable estimates indicate a doubling to 15 million to 16 million passengers.

A reasonable solution is for John Wayne Airport to deal with 8 million passengers per year and to use the El Toro airport in the same manner: only domestic flights and no flights after 10 p.m. or before 7 a.m.

HANS BODE

Newport Beach

* El Toro air base and the surrounding buffer zone contain 18,450 acres. John Wayne Airport has no buffer zone and thousands of residents affected. John Wayne has 470 acres; El Toro, with 4,700 acres, is 10 times larger.

One of the best arguments for an airport at El Toro is that it already exists. Why take such a very valuable asset and throw it away?

The need for airport facilities will continue to grow. Even if John Wayne were to expand, another airport would still be needed in 10 to 15 years, and there would be nowhere to put it. Driving to John Wayne or Los Angeles International Airport would become a nightmare for everyone in Orange County.

The people in south Orange County have lived for many years with the Marine base without complaint because of the huge buffer zone surrounding it.

Converting a “gift airport” into something else makes no sense, economic or otherwise.

GORDON HUNTER

Newport Beach

* I am disappointed in The Times’ Orange County edition article “Unions Go to Work to Stop Measure F,” (Feb. 20).

Again, The Times shows its bias with the El Toro Airport issue. You fail to recognize the real issue in favor of an eye-catching headline to stir opposition to Measure F.

The article should have addressed how three of the five Orange County supervisors built a deal with the labor unions to “buy” their vote. The whole union deal is highly suspect.

It is time that The Times start doing some real reporting on this whole issue of the El Toro airport. You have an excellent opportunity to uncover a corrupt process that is parallel in magnitude to the Orange County bankruptcy.

MICHAEL ULLMAN

Irvine

* I am a native and 45-year resident of Costa Mesa. I am alarmed that Measure F appears on the ballot under the disguise of a very positive vote for our community.

I would like to say what the real issue is. A “yes” vote on F is a vote in opposition to the construction of the El Toro airport and a vote in favor of the expansion of John Wayne Airport in 2005.

The expansion of John Wayne Airport will impact 258 schools. There is no buffer zone surrounding John Wayne Airport. The El Toro air base and surrounding no-home buffer zone contains 18,450 acres and only affects six schools.

Please don’t allow the minority to pull the wool over our eyes. Hold South County responsible to the majority decision that they share in providing the community services that we all use and enjoy.

KATHRYN J. ANDERSON

Costa Mesa