Marine air station is ready for takeoff...

Marine air station

is ready for takeoff

Regarding the Pilot question, “Should the Airport Working Group

continue to pursue El Toro Marine air station as an airport?” Aug.

12, my response is, “Of course!”

This facility is in place, has installation of runways, which

would cost hundreds of millions to replace elsewhere, and can, with

limited cost, be transformed into a regional air transportation

center. The foundation issue is that air transportation is not a

county issue, nor a state issue. It is a national issue, and the

decisions on our national air transportation matters, of which a new

airport is an integral part, should be made by the national

transportation leaders. Unfortunately, we have cast it as a local

issue, and in an irrational and emotional voter campaign, the local

voters have yielded to money and developer interests, which paid for

both campaign and political influence.

It would be nice, sometime, to see the public address such issues

with the common, long-term community interest as its priority.

BILL KIRWIN

Newport Beach

El Toro valuable for future generations

I am amazed that apparently so many citizens would give El Toro

air station away for a gain to a few spectators. This land belongs to

the future generations and should not be squandered away so that a

few can profit.

I came to Costa Mesa in the 1950s and have watched this type of

steal take place, larger and smaller, over the years. I only hear

about the ones that the newspapers have documented. One of the

largest was the giving away of the Salt Creek area. That was one of

the few stopped by public outcry.

The citizens should show some concern for their children and

grandchildren and more descendants to come in the future.

D.L. WARWICK

Costa Mesa

Smith column right on the number, thank you

Regarding Steve Smith’s Pilot column, “Shame on me for pointing

out students’ low test scores,” Aug. 5, I was a teacher for 14 years.

For the last 25 years I’ve been an attorney working with educators.

His column is absolutely on point, exactly right on. It was good to

read something with that much common sense involved in it. Tell him,

I said thanks.

BRUCE BORK

Newport Beach

Company should

pack up the heat

Regarding the Plot story, “Bryco to reopen under new name,” Aug.

21, I think it’s disgusting that Bryco’s going to reopen and sell

guns under the name of Jimenez Arms. These are guns that will kill

our young people and innocent bystanders.

BETTY BEHR

Newport Beach

Group strives for decreased traffic

Regarding the Pilot article, “Candidates stump at forum,” Aug. 22,

focused on the airport as the principle problem facing Newport Beach.

Steve Rosansky, who was appointed to the council seat representing

the second district, advised the group that El Toro Airport was “off

the table” and that Newport Beach should concentrate on controlling

traffic at John Wayne Airport. The challenger for the second

district, John Earl Buttolph, spoke in favor of the Airport Working

Group, which advocates the opening of the El Toro Airport at the

former Marine air station in order to relieve pressure on John Wayne

Airport and meet the rapidly increasing demand.

There is a misunderstanding here. Trying to control the expansion

of John Wayne Airport and trying to open the El Toro Airport are not

mutually exclusive. The Airport Working Group has worked on

controlling traffic at John Wayne Airport from its inception, over 20

years ago. The Airport Working Group is a signatory to the settlement

agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration and Orange County

putting a cap on John Wayne air traffic.

At the same time, the Airport Working Group has been searching for

a second airport. John Wayne Airport is too small to handle all of

Orange County’s air traffic, and an El Toro Airport is uniquely

suitable for this requirement. It is large, has four long runways

facing in the direction that planes need to go, has no one in the

noise zone and is needed.

Newport Beach must continue to fight for the El Toro Airport while

at the same time working on controlling the expansion of John Wayne

Airport. The City Council must support this effort. It has strong

community support.

SHIRLEY A. CONGER

Corona del Mar