SOUNDS FROM THE SOUTH

AT ISSUE: A possible compromise between Newport Beach and South County

that would kill El Toro and also prevent expansion of John Wayne Airport.

I was encouraged by Tom Edward’s willingness to meet with South County

cities and attempt to put a pact together to protect both Newport Beach

and South County -- it makes a lot of sense.

Nobody really wants to expand John Wayne. Sure, during the heat of

battle both sides made a lot of comments about John Wayne today and after

2005, but an agreement that all of us can live with will save everyone a

lot of money, even the county.

I was not surprised by Bruce Nestande’s comments. I would expect him

to get nervous over any idea of a plan that didn’t include an airport at

El Toro -- his employer [George Argyros] has been the single biggest deep

pocket for an international airport at El Toro. Let’s get Plan B on the

table as fast as we can, in doing so we can save the county (and other

groups) millions and millions of dollars fighting the issue. Once this

issue is put to bed we can all go back to the quality of life we all

enjoy in Orange County.

DAVE KIRKEY

Coto de Caza

I am in agreement with Tom Edwards that Newport Beach and South County

should enter into an agreement to settle the El Toro/John Wayne issue

with each other. Building an airport at El Toro will permanently divide

the residents of Newport Beach and South County.

Working out an agreement that benefits all of us will help to rebuild

this relationship. The tactic of destroying one area to benefit another

is creating nothing but incredible dissension between Newport Beach and

South County.

South County needs to work with Newport Beach on John Wayne

restrictions as well as preventing El Toro from destroying our

communities. It is time for all of us to work together and resolve this

issue and not let special interests dictate how we resolve future

aviation requirements in Orange County.

MIKE BARON

Aliso Viejo

As an 18-year resident of the community most negatively impacted by a

commercial airport at El Toro, I would move the negotiations between John

Wayne afflicted residents and South County opponents of El Toro a big

step further: Discontinue all commercial airline operations at John Wayne

with the understanding that all efforts to move John Wayne to El Toro

cease and desist forever. The 18,500 residents of Laguna Woods will

gladly support the shutdown commercial air traffic at John Wayne (it’s a

lousy airport) and the inconvenience of flying out of LAX, Long Beach,

Burbank and Ontario if Newport Beach will promise to drop its obsessive

and discredited effort to convert El Toro to a commercial airport. Future

aviation demand can be handled at March Inland Airport which has the

longest runway in California at 13,300 feet, is fully operational, has

jet fuel and no conflict with the flight patterns of other airports in

the region and wants to become the international commercial-cargo airport

of the future for Orange, Riverside and North San Diego counties. Now

that’s a real olive branch. That’s a clear call for a negotiated,

peaceful settlement and an end to the bitter warfare none of us wants.

DAVE BLODGETT

Organizer

Leisure World Residents for Cityhood