V-plan leader quits group

Paul Clinton

SANTA ANA HEIGHTS -- Suffering a severe case of airport-issue burnout,

Russell Niewiarowski has quit the group he helped launch to support an

alternative El Toro airport.

Niewiarowski, in a June 7 letter to New Millennium Group board

members, resigned as president of the pro-airport organization. He had

been fighting for the V-plan runway alignment for the El Toro Marine

Corps Air Station.

That plan, created by retired Newport Beach engineer Charles Griffin,

has found little support outside a small cadre of dedicated volunteers.

“I’m tired of this airport fight,” Niewiarowski said. “That’s been the

tough sell, looking at what’s right. I can’t force people to look.”

Under Griffin’s V-plan, the two crossbar runways at the base would be

realigned in a “V” pattern to allow departing planes to head southwest

over undeveloped land.

The plan was born before this spring’s Measure W county vote changed

the zoning at the base from aviation to open space.

After the passage of Measure W in March, New Millennium members took

to the streets to float the Reasonable Airport, Park and Nature Preserve

Initiative.

The group found few supporters among local, Orange County, state or

federal officials. However, several airline pilots’ groups did say the

V-plan would be preferable to the current runway alignment.

Niewiarowski, 40, said he would no longer participate in activities

and bow out of his role as Web master of the group’s Internet site (o7

www.ocxeltoro.comf7 ).

The Santa Ana Heights resident and graphic designer said he would turn

his energies toward rehabilitating his home.

Other group members weren’t surprised by the decision. Villa Park

Councilman Robert McGowan, a group member, credited Niewiarowski as a

tireless worker, but said he understood his need to pull back.

“It takes a lot of time,” McGowan said. “He just got burned out.”

McGowan said other group members will pick up the slack and continue

the initiative drive. After several fits and starts with earlier ballot

measures, the group is now aiming for a countywide ballot in the spring

of 2003.

Griffin, who co-founded the group with Niewiarowski in June 2001, said

the decision would be a blow to the V-plan cause.

“He had the ability to stand up in public and bear the brunt of the

criticism,” Griffin said. “But there is more to life than El Toro.”