READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: The ongoing debate about whether to convert the former El Toro

Marine base into a commercial airport.

I applaud the Costa Mesa City Council’s endorsement of El Toro airport

(“Council endorses airport proposal,” Dec. 21). I believe a scaled-down

version is adequate for our county’s air traffic needs at this time.

There is a lot of land at that base (4,700 acres), and if the need arises

in the future let another generation decide whether to expand.

The most important factor is that it be built. We cannot continue to

depend upon other counties for the majority of our air traffic needs

because those communities are becoming adamant against expansion. It is

embarrassing that they have had to plead with us to take care of our own

responsibility. We certainly know the 470 acres at John Wayne Airport is

insufficient for our entire county. Therefore, the logical conclusion is

to build another airport at a much larger site that already has four

existing runways and an infrastructure system in place.

MARY JANE EVANS

Costa Mesa

According to the county environmental impact report just released, if El

Toro airport is not built, one alternative plan at John Wayne calls for

25 million annual passengers (“El Toro report released,” Dec. 24). Can

you imagine the chaos that would create for our community? Then you also

have to consider the traffic number jump of 456,040 average daily trips a

year.

There are homes within blocks of John Wayne Airport and a school is one

block away. They will be torn down to make room, or worse yet, be stuck

with their backyard neighbor being an airstrip with jets landing night

and day. That type of expansion at John Wayne is a recipe for disaster.

Anybody out there still not understanding why we must make sure that the

proposed El Toro airport happen?

K.P. MOVER

Newport Beach

We recently attended a meeting of the Airport Working Group of Orange

County. We feel that everyone in the John Wayne Airport corridor should

be supporting their purpose, which is alerting us to the air traffic

needs within our county. Our county has grown to such an extent that John

Wayne Airport cannot accommodate the air traffic needed. Consequently,

passenger and commercial revenues, and jobs are lost by our county.

El Toro air base and its surrounding no-home buffer zone contains 18,450

acres. The base already has four good runways in place, approved by the

Federal Aviation Administration, and plenty of room for service

buildings, parking and expansion. John Wayne Airport cannot expand

without the necessity of purchasing expensive land for the building of

new runways and service areas, requiring the displacement of numerous

homes and businesses, surface streets, and perhaps even changing existing

freeways. This does not make economic sense, let alone common sense. It

seems wise, also, for El Toro to be maintained as an airport in any

event, in the case of U.S. military involvement.

Judgment should be made soon on the basis of practicality. County revenue

potential and possible tax increases for residents.

GEORGE AND RUTH BRINCK

Costa Mesa

I attended an information meeting in Costa Mesa that opened my eyes

regarding the El Toro debate. There is no question in my mind that people

affected by John Wayne Airport are not getting enough facts on the

possible expansion of that airport. In fact, I learned more at that one

meeting than in all the years this subject has been around. I heard facts

as to how my life would be negatively affected without El Toro airport.

Why hasn’t the media and/or my City Council been actively getting this

information to me? Why was it necessary to learn vital information from a

volunteer organization like the Airport Working Group?

I was pleased when the Daily Pilot began running a column on the airport

issue from the perspective of how it affects me. It was in plain,

understandable language that allowed me to better understand the specific

issue. What happened to it? One week and gone. Looks to me as if those

anti-El Toro airport letter writers from South County forced you to

cancel it. I sure do hope I am wrong.

Isn’t the Pilot our paper? We’ll still be here when the airport issue is

resolved, but they sure will not. Wouldn’t it be a lot smarter for the

Daily Pilot to be considerate of its subscribers’ community than cater to

the demands of people in opposition to us? It is not a subject on which

one can stay neutral. At least not in an area that is greatly impacted by

airport issues. Please, Pilot, be fair to the ones who support you. Give

us information we need, based on how the issue affects us, before we lose

El Toro and are stuck with a giant expansion of John Wayne.

JAN DAVIDSON

Costa Mesa

I am one of those “undecideds,” not knowing how to regard the activity on

both sides of the El Toro airport controversy.

One matter that does cause concern, however, is the millions of dollars

being spent by the Newport council on the “pro” side of the argument.

Now as a 20-year citizen in Newport Beach I would question that

expenditure when I have been told that the great fear of Newporters is

that John Wayne might expand to allow additional flights. It is my

understanding that if the Orange County Supervisors vote “no more

flights” that there will be no more flights.

The better solution would seem to be to spend that money to see the right

supervisors are elected so that no more flights are allowed. Problem

solved. I, like many others, do not buy the argument we need the airport

because of demand. As a business owner and property owner in this county,

I know that argument is ridiculous. There has to be a more reasonable

reason for the airport, if it is to be justified at all.

RICHARD J. SPEHN

Corona del Mar