Taking Sides on El Toro Reuse Plans

* On April 29, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote to Navy Secretary John H. Dalton, urging him to give full and equal consideration to both the aviation and non-aviation plans for El Toro. In her letter, Feinstein recognizes the need for the public to have a choice on the future. Our federal leaders acknowledge that equal consideration must be given to both the aviation and non-aviation plans.

We think it is time our county leaders do the same. This would be a significant step forward for the growing majority of people in Orange County who believe that we do not need a second airport in the heart of our community.

The reason that the Millennium Plan was so well-received in Washington is because it provides better economic and lifestyle benefits to the citizens of Orange County. The Millennium Plan will put approximately $12 billion into our economy every year, provide up to 112,000 jobs and add world-class cultural, recreational and entertainment resources that everyone can enjoy.

In most people’s minds, the Orange County bankruptcy is the most disastrous chapter in our history. However, the bankruptcy pales by comparison to the financial and environmental consequences of wedging a second airport into the heart of Orange County while passing up the opportunity of a lifetime to create a landmark centerpiece for our future.

DAVE CHRISTENSEN

Board Member

El Toro Reuse Planning Authority

* I was particularly amused by the naive letter from Dave Schlenker of Laguna Hills (May 17). Although seeming to agree that we need the El Toro airport if Orange County grows, he suggests that we don’t need more growth: “Maybe we happen to like things as they are.”

We would all like to keep things “as they are,” or preferably as they used to be, “with less congestion, noise, smog and crime.” (I figure the 1970s would be a good era to return to. Would Mr. Schlenker agree?)

The problem is that those people who own all that undeveloped property in South County are not going to let anyone tell them that they cannot develop their property, build houses and apartments and condos and stores and businesses and factories. We can’t stop immigration. We cannot stop growth, we cannot “keep things as they are.” Growth is going to happen with or without El Toro. The only difference is that it will be a lot better for all of us with an El Toro airport than without.

JERRY PARKS

Newport Beach

* As far back as 1993, airport proponents, dominated by entrenched political power brokers with their own selfish agenda and supported by an obedient county government, have rigged the El Toro planning process on two fronts. An international airport was arbitrarily selected and falsely promoted as the highest and best use before a creditable analysis was ever done to validate that assumption. But more important, airport proponents have consistently and cynically suppressed any meaningful consideration of a non-airport alternative, starting with Measure A in 1994 and ending with the imposition of the onerous “fatal flaw” provision to the ETRPA Plan.

Why are airport proponents so unwilling to compare the two alternatives? Because they are very cognizant of the fact that a creditable and viable non-airport alternative will torpedo their dubious airport plan. Well, folks, that torpedo has just been launched. It’s called the Millennium Plan.

At last the people of Orange County (north and south) have now the opportunity to make an intelligent choice. A choice they should be able to express in the voting booth. It must be the people’s choice. Will the current Board of Supervisors be willing to put both alternatives on the ballot? Very unlikely, unless voters in the 2nd District (Costa Mesa-Huntington Beach) and the 4th District (Anaheim and Orange) elect new supervisors that are not beholden to the entrenched political power structure. Candidates in both supervisorial districts must indicate their preference on this crucial ballot issue.

PAUL WILLEMS

Laguna Niguel

* There is a lot of fear, sometimes bordering on hysteria, among the South County locals that they’re losing control of their rigidly controlled and planned environment. I understand that, having lived in Mission Viejo, and still owning a house there. However, the need for this airport is clear and pressing, and its negative impact on the area has been exaggerated beyond belief. Letters in The Times have attacked the airport plan as the brainchild and legacy of George Argyros, neglecting the facts that for 20 years one commission after another has recommended joint use or conversion of MCAS El Toro to civilian use, and that the idea was approved by voters in the county not once, but twice.

The citizens of South County have almost a mob mentality, feeding each other fears of loss of their “lifestyle” to this airport. I have news for them: El Toro was an airport long before you moved in, and no one ever said it was going to be otherwise. Your precious insular lifestyle is going to be affected hardly at all by a well-planned airport. If anything, it will be improved by having the ability to travel without the inconvenience of a freeway trip to LAX. A commercial airport will be much less noisy than the peak times at the current military airport, but admittedly will probably have a more constant noise level somewhat higher than now.

PAUL RYAN

Brea

* Right now, I do not know which side to believe. I don’t think either side is telling us the truth about the airport. Therefore I think it is important that we consider the ETRPA Millennium Plan as well as all of the other plans.

KEVIN BROOKS

Rancho Santa Margarita

* From time to time, I see a letter from an airport opponent voicing concern that a commercial airport at El Toro will negatively impact the ability of children to learn. One went so far as to state that “study at home will be difficult. Family life will be disrupted. Perhaps [children] will not even be able to sleep at night.” Am I correct in assuming that the letter writer, and those who share his opinion, do not use John Wayne Airport out of consideration for the children living under that flight path (which does not have nearly the buffer zone that surrounds El Toro)?

LYNN WALLACE

Costa Mesa