Airport’s war of words gets hotter

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- El Toro airport proponents went on an information

offensive Tuesday in their “battle” against a group that hopes to block

development of an airport at El Toro through a ballot initiative.

“We’re going to be here [and] we’re going to address the

misinformation,” said Orange County Regional Airport Authority Executive

Director Peggy Ducey.

Ducey and others said they want to give voters an accurate

understanding of the issue so voters can make an informed decision on the

Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative.

Proponents of the initiative, which would require a two-thirds

majority vote on any airport, jail or toxic dump construction in the

county, turned in 191,000 signatures Tuesday, more than twice the number

they needed to get the measure on the March 2000 ballot.

They argue the initiative will give residents a voice in county

planning.

But Tom Wall, executive director of the Orange County Airport

Alliance, cautioned voters not to be misled by the initiative. He called

it “bad public policy” because it would allow major decisions on land use

in the county to be made by one-third of voters.

Wall also took issue with two recent flyers distributed by the

antiairport El Toro Reuse Planning Authority and the city of Laguna

Niguel, which he said painted a false portrait of how the airport would

affect South County residents.

One flyer showed five 747 planes flying directly over a pristine,

Spanish-style house typical of Laguna. Wall said such overkill is

designed to frighten residents about how much air traffic will be flying

over their heads.

“It’s designed to confuse [and] anger the voters of Laguna Niguel,” he

said.

Supporters of the initiative shot back that the pro-airport activists

have made only vague and inconclusive arguments.

“They never said what was wrong,” said Meg Waters of the Reuse Planning

Authority. “[The El Toro proponents] only accept information supportive

of their point of view.”

Waters said the airport authority has “a lot to answer for” in terms

of its own flyers.

One showed a picture of Charles Manson next to the quote “Meet your

new neighbor,” Waters said, suggesting that if the airport is not

approved, the county would instead build a jail at El Toro.

“I’d welcome a debate with them side by side,” Waters challenged the

pro-airport group.