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
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.