El Toro supporters never say die

Martin Brower would simply love to gently tuck the El Toro issue into

bed once and for all. However, there’s a slight problem. The issue of

population growth and subsequent demand are wide awake and ever

growing. In more specific terms, John Wayne, Burbank, and Long Beach

airports are all in the crosshairs of the Federal Aviation

Administration’s targets for expansion by 2013.

It would sure be fantastic if all those aforementioned airports

could keep their caps forever. Then El Toro can forever be put to

bed, and we all kiss and make up. Afterward, we could then go to the

lovely “Great Park” to watch fuzzy animals frolic over the rainbow.

Then, to top it all off, we all hold hands, and sign Kumbaya.

Unfortunately, that is a utopian pipe dream that will never happen.

That is unless, those who fight against the supply of an airport

at El Toro will also fight with equal passion against demand as well.

Specifically, keeping development in check. I must say, I do find it

quite amazing that some of those who decried El Toro because of

“traffic” now have a passionate itch to get the former buffer zone

paved.

And now on the topic of home equity. The aviation easements for El

Toro have been deleted for South County homes. Therefore, it would

not be financially feasible for the airlines to take a take a “quick

right turn” or “quick left turn” after takeoff from El Toro as Brower

suggested would happen. In fact, look at John Wayne, and one will not

see jets quickly banking toward Newport Coast or north Costa Mesa

right after takeoff either. So, comparing El Toro to Los Angeles

International is like comparing apples to oranges.

Finally, Brower suggests the problematic Camp Pendleton for an

airport site. Nevermind that the Marines do not want to part with an

inch of it, especially with the Iraq situation exacerbating as I

write. Also, there is a nuclear power plant on the base. Then, the

place has tons of rugged terrain along with numerous days of coastal

fog that would make flying prohibitive. Let’s not forget jets having

to avoid flying artillery rounds as well. Well, at least with El

Toro, the Marines are gone. Yet, runways, freeway access and a train

station remain.

REX RICKS

Huntington Beach

Martin A. Brower sheds crocodile tears for neighbors of Los

Angeles International and doggedly argues against the planned El Toro

airport, but he fails to mention that he was once the director of

public relations for the Irvine Co., which is trying to market El

Toro real estate for development, (“Tearing apart the airport debate”

April 8.)

The issue of John Wayne Airport, the planned El Toro airport and

Orange County’s economy is a single issue that cannot be separated by

a spokesman for the housing industry. No one is in the noise zone at

El Toro but people are indeed in the noise zone at John Wayne

Airport, so it cannot grow. But the economy needs the airports.

The El Toro airport is ready to go. When the lights come on again

at El Toro, with flights all over the world, there will be thousands

of jobs and billions of dollars for the county. There is no other

alternative. Business needs the El Toro airport, and business is

bigger than housing.

DONALD NYRE

Newport Beach