Airport Debate

Right decision on El Toro airport

Yes, yes, yes. As a city resident for more than 75 years, I certainly

say yes. I attended dozens of the most important meetings and hearings.

Often, I found myself under attack by just being there -- even when I

didn’t ask a question.

Sometimes when I was asked an important question by a member of a

committee or the Airport Working Group, I was cut off by a committee

chair or council member. I have lost good friends who no longer even

speak to me, but my concerns were worth it. Yes, there were two sides to

this story, but many only wanted to hear their side.

I attended the first major meeting eight years ago at the Balboa Bay

Club. I heard someone say we could tear down the John Wayne terminal if

we would build an airport at El Toro. I wrote a long article that was

published in the Daily Pilot. It covered my concerns -- especially about

costs and safety.

You never, ever take off downwind, uphill and into the mountains if

you can avoid it. That was the program for an international airport at El

Toro.

GEORGE GRUPE

Newport Beach

Congressman must assure that JWA never expands

Now that Rep. Chris Cox has managed to kill off El Toro as an

airfield, perhaps it is time that he truly represented us by guaranteeing

that John Wayne never expands. Let’s get with it.

BOB WOLFF

Newport Beach