Newport Beach money better spent on utilities

In the story (“Newport to give nearly $3.7 million to El Toro

campaign,” March 15), the city of Newport Beach continues to follow the

same worn-out policies, using the same old players with the same old

rhetoric regarding El Toro.

Bruce Nestande -- the president and chief executive of Citizens for

Jobs and the Economy -- continues to stick his foot in his mouth with

impunity: “engage the public to understand the final options.”

Three million dollars last year, $3.7 million this year and pretty

soon you are talking real money -- money that could be spent for road

repair and bumps in Corona del Mar, West Newport and on the Peninsula.

Since Edison has fallen on hard times, that money could be spent for

putting utilities underground to actually increase our property values.

Has anyone ever figured out the total dollars spent by Newport Beach and

the county for promotion of the new El Toro airport?

The Airport Working Group, Barbara Lichman, Citizens for Jobs and

Economy, former Mayor Tom Edwards and Nestande continually point to the

funds spent by Irvine and the South County residents. However, those

cities don’t need underground utilities or their roads fixed.

The Daily Pilot might want to do a little investigative reporting on

this issue in the future, perhaps in September, when, as Nestande

suggests, “the final options” are understood.

RON and ANNA WINSHIP

Newport Beach

Other communities need to bare the burden

I have been a resident of Newport-Mesa since 1972. I have gone to

college here, gotten married here, built a business here and am raising a

family here. Why? Because I love the area, the weather, the beaches, the

Back Bay, the schools and the people.

I own real estate here, not much by local standards, but in a good

enough area where my daughter can attend an excellent public school in a

relatively safe neighborhood; one where we feel she will thrive. This has

not been easy or cheap.

My husband and I, being good middle-class citizens, work hard to

provide this environment for our family. And now we’re concerned, very

concerned when we see the potential for our hard-earned lifestyle

slipping away.

This John Wayne Airport expansion issue has us staying awake at night,

wondering and hoping that we won’t be affected by this whole El Toro

airport versus John Wayne Airport issue. How do we feel about constant

airport traffic and continual black jet spray on out patio? What will

happen to our property values? Not to mention the potential devastation

of the Back Bay. We don’t feel good folks. For the sake of fairness, my

husband and I know South County doesn’t want the airport, but neither do

we. Let’s promote an expansion of Ontario Airport and support a light

rail system solution.

However, it appears as though the battle lines are drawn and it will

be a fight to the end. So you might say that they moved into this area

already knowing about the airport and it serves them right. Does it

really? Should one small 500-acre area overlooking one of the last

natural estuaries in California and surrounded by communities full of

churches, schools and residential areas support all of the air

transportation for Orange County and the surrounding areas?

The South County residents are NIMBYs. No one wants jails or landfills

or airports. Every community needs to have these things to function and

survive in contemporary society. And as such, each community needs to be

responsible for maintaining its own burden. Please don’t place your

burden upon us.

JOAN RAMSTEDT-ANDERSEN

Newport Beach

‘Great Park’ would only add more unneeded traffic

Has anyone asked the question of how all the customers of the “Great

Park” are supposed to arrive and depart Orange County? Not only are South

County residents refusing to pull their weight and provide transportation

for their own area with a small regional airport at El Toro, it appears

they would create a new “Great Park,” attracting visitors on a scale

similar to that of Florida’s Disney World and Epcot Center.

John Wayne Airport and the freeways are not designed nor intended for

that sort of traffic flow, and we do not need this kind of attraction in

Southern California until there is a transportation system in place to

provide for it.

What better place to have that transportation system -- an airport --

than as a part of the “Great Park” itself, yet another reason for the El

Toro Airport.

In addition, there would be no need to expand the freeways to meet the

vastly-increased needs of travelers to the “Great Park” in El Toro from

John Wayne Airport.

CAROLYN COOPER

Newport Beach

Anti-El Toro Airport people should do something

Outstanding column by Joseph Bell (“And the El Toro fight goes

nuclear,” April 12) and letters by Dayna Pettit (“South County also

needs to endure an airport,” April 12) and Eleanor Tucker (Another

airport is absolutely necessary,” April 12). Pettit hit the nail on the

head when she scolded Newport Beach and Costa Mesa for having our heads

in the sand. She asked us to call the Airport Working Group of Orange

County to see how we could get involved in this fight of our lives to

determine what’s really fair. How about the Daily Pilot publishing this

phone number in big letters so we can call someone to offset the damage

that is being done by Meg Waters and her group? I, for one, would love to

volunteer. I’m sure there are others just wanting to help but don’t know

how.

BILL HAWKINS

Costa Mesa