A last-ditch El Toro advance

The most interesting -- OK, that’s far too generous -- political

battle in Newport-Mesa in recent (and not-so-recent) years has been

the battle over El Toro.

Famously in South County, and infamously here, it’s a battle that

Newport-Mesa has been losing since its earliest, now hollow,

victories.

Among the stealth attacks from this past summer was a lawsuit

filed against the city of Irvine and the Irvine Co. about plans to

build homes for about 35,000 people to the north of the closed Marine

Base.

At the heart of the suit were claims that the city’s environmental

review of the project was inadequate.

And the man who filed it argued that the project was far too dense

for the area.

Most saw it, though, as a stab at opponents of an El Toro airport,

since the homes would be built under the airport’s flight path.

The pertinent equation: Homes built equals no airport.

For those who follow the El Toro fight -- Measures F and W,

lawsuits, etc. -- this battle should have been one to be excited

about.

Why? Because the person behind it has a remarkable winning record

when it comes to such environmental challenges: Bob Caustin, of

Defend the Bay. And yet another victory could have altered the

terrain around the closed base.

As further proof that nothing in the airport fight is going

Newport’s way, a judge this month turned back Defend the Bay’s

challenge in a rather strongly worded decision.

The news earned small play in the Pilot. But given the background

of the lawsuit, it would appear to be all the more reason for Newport

Beach to pursue the John Wayne Settlement Agreement, which is coming

ever closer to approval by all the parties involved.

WHERE HAS ALL THE MONEY GONE?

As part of the continuing “It’s hard to believe Newport Beach

doesn’t contribute more money to political causes” debate comes this

fact:

Data for the 2002 election released by the Federal Election

Commission in early December shows that no Newport ZIP code is

anywhere near the top of the most generous places to live, according

to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The numbers include donations to federal candidates and parties,

but not to political action committees.

The top five ZIP codes, not surprisingly, are in Washington, D.C.

The top -- 20005, centered around consultant-heavy K Street --

accounts for $19.9 million. No. 5 accounts for $10.9 million.

From there, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago ZIP codes are

where the big spenders live. ZIP code No. 50, Nashville, Tenn.’s

37205, donated $1.8 million.

AND FINALLY ...

I’ll be off next week, which I hope means there won’t be a column

(if there is, treat it as suspect). So I’ll take this opportunity to

give you a list of what I hope will happen on the local political

scene in 2003.

* Chris Cox gets a dream appointment to some cushy job. Not

because I want him out of office, but because a rumor he might be

moving on set off the best purely political story in Newport-Mesa in

the past two years.

* Greenlight makes a comeback (if you agree that they’re down

enough to need it). They help make a one-party area (Republicans with

few opponents) a bit more lively.

* The folks behind “The West Wing” give Pilot staffers cameo

shots during Rob Lowe’s character’s run for a House seat here. We’re

ready for our close-up, Mr. Sorkin.

* An old-fashioned clash among the GOP’s more conservative

members and those in the New Majority. This seems to be just waiting

to happen.

* The Democratic Party of Orange County does something, anything,

south of Loretta Sanchez’s district.

Have a good new year.

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He can be reached at (949)

574-4233 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.