READERS RESPOND

John Berry’s letter (“Pro-airport column skewed facts,” Dec. 11) in

response to Heather Somers’ article about the El Toro airport also needs

some corrections of factual errors. Berry declares that Irvine and Lake

Forest have not been included in any redevelopment decision about the

airport. The opposite is true. Irvine and Lake Forest have steadfastly

refused to join the supervisors in the planning process for the El Toro

airport.

A second misrepresentation by Berry is about the Southern California

Assn. of Governments projections of future population growth and their

impact. Riverside and San Bernardino use the Ontario airport for

passengers and March Air Force Base for cargo flights. Only Orange County

exports almost all its air cargo and 12 million passengers to LAX and

Ontario airports.

Third, the so-called Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative cannot

prevent the expansion of John Wayne Airport with the increasing pressure

of a rapidly expanding population in South Orange County and the swelling

demand for air traffic. Berry states disingenuously that enlarging John

Wayne airport “is the furthest thing from the minds of South County

residents.”

This is nonsense. South County opponents of a commercial El Toro airport

such as Larry Agran, Patricia Bates and Leonard Kranser among many others

have repeatedly demanded the expansion of John Wayne. They ignore the

fact that expansion of John Wayne entails the destruction of a

residential neighborhood and a thriving commercial area.

SHIRLEY A. CONGER

Corona del Mar

El Toro column was great, but headline wasn’t

Heather Somers’ commentary regarding El Toro was the most succinct and

enlightening analysis of the issues surrounding the airports that has

been publicly presented (“Costa Mesa needs facts to support El Toro,”

Dec. 7). However, your headline was extremely inaccurate and suggests the

facts are not available.

Instead, in the commentary, Heather presented a litany of facts, which

everyone should read if they have any questions about the situation

regarding El Toro.

I am delighted that Heather is our representative to the Orange County

Regional Airport Authority, and that she and Gary Monahan know the issues

about the airports and are representing the best interests of Costa Mesa.

I can’t understand the rest of the Costa Mesa City Council’s reluctance

to support an airport at El Toro as the most economical and best use of

taxpayers’ dollars. Perhaps they should read Heather’s column carefully.

AGNES K. DUBBERLY

Costa Mesa

Disappointed in Costa Mesa council

I am disappointed the Costa Mesa City Council has not been more

pro-active in securing El Toro Airport. I would think that should be a

major responsibility considering the consequences to our city without it.

Shame on them for not thoroughly investigating this vital issue and

supplying each of us with the essential information we need to better

understand the impact it could have on us.

DAVID DORMAN

Costa Mesa

I was shocked to read in the Daily Pilot that my city, Costa Mesa, has

neglected to take a positive position on El Toro Airport. Didn’t we elect

them to protect us? If we end up with an expansion of JWA, every one of

them should be removed from office. They should have been linked arm and

arm with Newport Beach in doing everything possible to secure El Toro and

thus guarantee John Wayne would not once again be pressured to increase

flights over our heads.

KATHY SMITH

Costa Mesa

Smith’s column was a bad joke

I don’t know how to take Steve Smith’s column, (“A new NAG about El Toro

airport plan,” Nov. 27). Was it meant to be a joke or is there really a

person on this planet who is naive enough to believe eliminating John

Wayne Airport is remotely possible? If it is the former, I’m not

laughing. Living under the flight path of John Wayne, I am extremely

concerned that El Toro airport be built not only for the future financial

viability of our county, but specifically so that John Wayne will not

need to expand. That is hardly a trivial matter.

A. GALLAGHER

Costa Mesa