L.A. jump-starts El Toro battle
June Casagrande
After months of ear-splitting silence, the debate over an El Toro
airport has suddenly roared back into the spotlight.
Local leaders and airport activists were abuzz on Friday with the
news that Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn has secretly asked the federal
government for a green light to open a commercial airport at the
closed El Toro Marine Air Base.
“I’m quite pleased with the leadership Mayor Hahn has shown on
this regional issue,” said Tom Naughton, president of the Airport
Working Group. “I think it’s long overdue. ... AWG supports it 100%.”
The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which sides with South
County residents who would be subject to the noise and other
downsides of El Toro, spoke out to oppose Hahn’s move.
“We are outraged that Los Angeles leaders have the effrontery to
try to usurp the will of the voters and the elected officials of
neighboring jurisdictions,” authority Chairwoman Mimi Walters said in
a statement.
The push to create a commercial airport at El Toro to accommodate
future air travel demand was effectively halted after voters approved
Measure W by a 2-1 margin in March 2002. In that ballot, voters
approved what some called the “Great Park” concept to designate the
land for a use other than as an airport.
Some saw the vote as the final word in the El Toro debate. Newport
Beach and Costa Mesa activists anxious to keep the idea of an El Toro
airport alive have had trouble finding an audience -- until now.
“Absolutely we support that, but I don’t think there’s anything
for us to do,” said Newport Beach City Councilman Tod Ridgeway, who
also sits on the influential Southern California Assn. of
Governments. “In Newport Beach, we have always said that we’re not in
the airport development business. This is a regional and national
growth issue and it’s not best addressed by cities or initiatives or
referendums.”
Neither the city nor the working group has any action planned in
the wake of Friday’s news, but Naughton predicted that it could mean
new momentum for the pro-El Toro movement.
“The reason I believe it could result in something tangible is
because Secretary [Norman] Mineta at the Department of Transportation
and the [Federal Aviation Administration] have been talking for many
years back in Washington about the need in the entire nation for
additional airports and runways,” Naughton said.
There was notable opposition to the idea among some of
Newport-Mesa’s elected officials.
Rep. Chris Cox met with federal officials on Friday and later
announced that there didn’t seem to be any movement in the federal
agencies toward the El Toro proposal.
“After speaking with officials at the Department of Transportation
and the Navy, it is clear that the federal government is committed to
creation of the second largest municipal park in the nation,” Newport
Beach’s Congressman said in a statement. “Today, the Department of
Transportation and the Department of the Navy stated definitively
that the federal government is not considering using the El Toro
property as a commercial airport.”
And Supervisor Tom Wilson, who represents Newport Coast along with
large swatches of anti-airport South County, released a copy of a
letter he sent to Mineta outlining opposition to Los Angeles taking
control of the airport.
“The Orange County Board of Supervisors will not tolerate any
attempt by the city of Los Angeles to overturn a local land use
decision made by the voters of Orange County and endorsed by its
political leadership,” Wilson wrote.
“Orange County’s decision is firm and final -- El Toro will be
transferred to private ownership and developed according to the
wishes of our citizens for non-aviation uses,” Wilson added.
* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She
may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at
june.casagrande@latimes.com.
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