A Whole Lot of Noise Over Airport Noise

* The residents of Huntington Beach are angry that 20-hour-a-day construction on a power plant may disturb their sleep even though this project would be good for the state, as we are in desperate need of more power-generating facilities. The residents of Newport Beach are concerned that the lifting of restrictions at John Wayne Airport will mean that their sleep will be disrupted by 24-hour-a-day flights even though they are convinced that the county is in need of more flights to maintain economic growth.

The residents of Anaheim were concerned that their quality of life would be ruined if a light-rail system should run through their neighborhoods even though this rail system may have relieved traffic congestion and lowered pollution.

Why then are the people of South County labeled selfish, hypocritical NIMBY’s because we are opposed to an international airport in our neighborhood? Who are the hypocrites here?

TERRIE and

ROGER McKINLEY

Aliso Viejo

* The Orange County Regional Airport Authority, a group that derives funding from the county and city of Newport Beach, has asked several city councils to oppose the expansion of LAX and to support construction of El Toro airport. It is inappropriate for Orange County governments to become involved in the political battle over the future of LAX. That is a multi-sided debate that needs to be understood and settled in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles operates several regional airports, including Palmdale and Ontario, to back up LAX.

Former Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Heather Somers is now employed as a consultant for El Segundo to promote shifting airport traffic to Orange County. Cities near LAX should not meddle in Orange County politics in order to construct an LAX-South here. We are not sending delegations north to meddle in L.A. business.

Pushing for the construction of El Toro, which harms many Orange County neighbors, is wrong for central and north county cities, especially since polls show that a majority of their residents now oppose the project. It is probable that Orange County voters will rezone El Toro for non-aviation use in an election next March.

Certainly, local cities pushing to limit the size of LAX is something far outside the scope of reason. That does nothing for the people of Orange County, other than limit their future travel options.

LEONARD KRANSER

Editor, El Toro Airport Web site

Dana Point

* As a resident in Corona del Mar, I think we should be ashamed of ourselves. It must be obvious that the growing high-tech industries in South County require more convenient travel and a pleasing environment. It is clearly preferable for them to turn their 4,000-acre airport into a park for their leisure time and at the same time to expand the 400-acre Orange County airport to meet their travel needs day and night.

I cannot think why we resist flattening the offices between Orange County airport and Redhill Avenue to provide the necessary space, turning the Newport Beach Golf Course into a runway extension for our neighbor’s intercontinental flights and relaxing the curfew so we can hear our South County friends flying at night.

I don’t care if El Toro becomes an international airport, but I do care about not expanding John Wayne Airport activity in any way. It is no surprise to me that South County folks feel the same about El Toro despite the fact that their noise problems would be far less than ours. What is surprising is the inability of our representatives to see that our interests are the same.

MIKE STRONG

Corona del Mar

* I think the two supervisors who oppose El Toro, along with the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, have a problem with getting the truth out to all Orange County citizens. Why else would they oppose the county spending $5 million to let all of us know the reasons El Toro airport is necessary and how it will benefit us?

Considering that airport opponents spent millions in one year for their one-sided material against the proposed airport, I think it is a responsible decision to give the citizens the other side of the issue. After all, it is a public project that will affect people in every city, not just those who are making all the noise over the noise. Don’t we deserve to know about all aspects of the airport before making our decision?

M. OLSON

Anaheim

* Re “Newport OKs Pro-Airport Funding” (March 15):

Thanks to Newport Beach Councilman Dennis D. O’Neil for one of the most hilarious and inane quotes I have ever read. “The money will fund an education and information campaign to counter the misinformation and propaganda that has polluted and manipulated the thinking of the citizens of our great Orange County.”

If we say it, it’s information; If they say it, it’s propaganda. We educate, they manipulate. Sounds exactly like every politician and religious leader in history.

ED KREBS

Laguna Beach