Feedback

I’m glad Supervisor Tom Wilson pulled Steve Smith’s head out of the

closet, now I’d like to pull Steve’s head out of the sand (“Tom Wilson

has pulled me out of the closet,” Feb. 5). Wouldn’t it be nice if I could

say “I don’t want an airport, and Tom Wilson says he doesn’t want an

airport” and magic -- the airports disappear, and we all live happily

ever after?

It doesn’t work that way, Steve. But, let me tell you what I am going to

do, and I urge all residents in the John Wayne corridor to do the same --

I am going to file my questions with the Orange County Board of

Supervisors regarding alternatives F and G of the environmental impact

report for regional airport planning by the Feb. 22 deadline.

Here are some of my questions:

1. The runways were repaved and strengthened recently; what is the

largest type of aircraft that the new runways can now handle?

2. The air traffic control tower is being rebuilt to accept more

equipment. Will you move the control tower as well (hint to readers, the

tower has to move in order to build that extra runway under alternative

G).

3. I have heard rumors that the lease of land at the Newport Beach Public

Golf Course is not being renewed. Is the lease being renewed? (Hint again

readers, they have to use land over the golf course to expand the runway

under alternative G)

4) How many tanks of fuel have to be trucked into John Wayne Airport to

accept 15 million annual passengers. How many are being trucked to John

Wayne now, folks? How dangerous is that? We don’t have a pipeline from

Norwalk to John Wayne.

5) Why do you have a joint interest in a development on Birch Street? I

thought you wanted to get out of the real estate business. Why does the

building look like a miniature John Wayne terminal building? Why is that

the only structure that is not condemned in alternative G?

You see, Steve, regional airport planning will go on whether you or I or

Tom Wilson wish it would all go away. Finally, I am going to vote no on

Measure F. Why? Because if you bulldoze a 4,700-acre airport, and replace

it with development the size of the city of Santa Ana, you will

absolutely increase air traffic demand for the future. Then, those in the

John Wayne corridor, like it or not, best plan or not, will bear the

burden of the air travel demand.

ANN WATT

Santa Ana Heights

It is interesting that Steve Smith came out of the closet recently. The

only problem is that he was in there too long.

There was a time when Orange County had two two-lane freeways and it was

no problem getting anywhere. John Wayne was a sleepy little airport and

South County was mostly orange groves where my wife and I took the kids

for pictures.

Smith and Supervisor Tom Wilson weren’t here to stop the growth of John

Wayne to 8 million passengers per year. They were not here to stop the

freeway construction that only created bigger parking lots. They were not

here to prevent 500,000 people from moving into South County. I’m only

guessing that the word “infrastructure” was not in the dictionary at the

time Smith went into the closet.

How are Smith and Wilson going to prevent John Wayne expansion in 20

years when an additional 500,000 people in South County get tired of

spending three and a half hours on the freeway getting to LAX?

JOSEPH E. STASCH

Newport Beach

Steve Smith’s article is well meaning, but very naive. “Local” control by

Orange County voters will not prevent the expansion of John Wayne Airport

if El Toro is not built.

There are two things Orange County residents want:

1. Convenient access to a local international airport.

2. No personal disadvantages from that airport.

Looking at all of Orange County, most of the population would not be

adversely affected by a John Wayne expansion, and, therefore, would

support it for the convenience it would bring them. I personally would

like to see things remain just as they are with neither airport expansion

approved. However, if this is not a viable option, an El Toro airport

with restrictions is the most logical and fairest solution since most of

the population and business growth creating the need for additional

airport facilities is originating in South County.

LARRY MILLER

Newport Beach