Mesa needs to step up its role in JWA takeover

The table has been set and the seating arranged, as Newport Beach

politicians prepare to engage county officials about the possibility

of controlling John Wayne Airport.

And Costa Mesa leaders are wondering what happened to their

invitations.

As far as the hosts are concerned, there is limited seating. Space

is reserved for the three Newport Beach councilman who make up the

Sphere of Issues Committee -- created specifically to explore how the

city can play a bigger role in airport management -- and any or all

of the seven Orange County Supervisors, who currently oversee John

Wayne.

The airport is a county transportation hub and touches the borders

of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and Irvine. Its jets, with

loud roaring engines, share equal time on flight paths over parts of

both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. These factors, and others, have

prompted people to question why Newport Beach is the only city to

possibly have a hand in controlling John Wayne’s future?

The answer, while most may not like it, is simply because they are

the only city to take the initiative. Indeed, it is Newport not Costa

Mesa that has been entrenched in years of costly settlement

agreements with the county the FAA and other agencies over John Wayne

air traffic.

Newport Beach instigated the idea of taking over some of the

county’s duties, most notably control of JWA, and advanced that

possibility by creating a specific committee to study how that would

best be done. So far, it has been Newport Beach’s party and its

officials have the prerogative to limit the guest list.

Do Costa Mesa leaders have a right to have their voices heard?

Absolutely. And this is the perfect opportunity for the city to

reverse its historically flaccid stance on airport issues and

establish its weight in John Wayne discussions.

Costa Mesa Councilman Allan Mansoor is correct: Costa Mesa must

have a voice in the future of the airport -- its residents deserve to

have their best interests represented. Mansoor should continue to

pursue his fresh, aggressive approach to John Wayne issues and push

his council to take the necessary steps to hold their own discussions

with county leaders.

But if Costa Mesa wants a seat at the table regarding discussions

of the future of John Wayne, it must understand that it cannot simply

crash Newport Beach’s get-together, it must host its own.